Wuchak Released in 1934, "Tarzan and His Mate" stars Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan in the eponymous roles. Two "great white hunters" (Neil Hamilton & Paul Cavanagh) come to Tarzan's territory, one a former romantic interest of Jane's intent on talking her into coming back to England. Jane catches the fancy of the partner as well. The hunters are desperate and intent on taking ivory from the secret elephant burial grounds, which Tarzan opposes.Weissmuller did twelve Tarzan movies and "Tarzan and His Mate" was the sequel to his first one, 1932's "Tarzan the Ape Man." The Weissmuller films deviate from Burroughs' intelligent character and offer a more dim-witted character who speaks in monosyllables. While this is a turn-off if you're a fan of the books, like me, it's an acceptable movie interpretation of the character and it worked at the time seeing as how Weissmuller's Tarzan is by far the most popular. Besides, Weissmuller is just so likable in the role. He exudes goodness, nobility and innocence with a child-like edge. This is balanced out, of course, by his athletic jungle skills.Although "Tarzan and His Mate" is old as dirt and shot in B&W, this is easily one of the best Tarzan flicks, filled with action, adventure and African animals. The elephants, by the way, are Asian, but they're decorated with fake African Elephant ears, which almost works. In any case, this was pre-code era Hollywood and cutie Maureen O'Sullivan surprisingly appears in her birthday suit. No kidding. Moreover, her jungle outfit was one of the most revealing costumes in screen history at the time: a halter-top and a loincloth that leave her thighs and hips exposed. No wonder men flocked to the movie in droves.While there were plans to film in Africa, they were scrapped in favor of several locations around Los Angeles, including Sherwood Forest, Lake Sherwood, Whittier, Big Tugunga and China Flats. You wouldn't think Southern California would work as a substitute for Africa, but it does. The locations are excellent and the black & white photography obscures the fact that it's Southern California.The uncut version runs 104 minutes, which is the only version I've seen.GRADE: A

dougdoepke Plot-- Two money-hungry Englishmen organize a safari to Africa to bring back prizes of elephant ivory and a reluctant Jane Parker. Trouble is she seems to prefer an apeman, a loincloth, and a cave to city sophisticates, evening gowns and country mansions. In the safari process, however, they overlook that even the jungle has its laws.Thanks TCM for showing the movie's uncensored version. I expect the morality watchdogs must have overdosed on 1934 viewing. But there's a heckuva lot more to the movie than bared female skin and two unmarried people living together. O'Sullivan's absolutely enchanting as Jane. Her charm even outshines herds of stampeding elephants and bands of chattering chimps. More importantly, I think I've got her bare hips memorized. Then too, add a man of few words, the lean and lithe Weismuller, to the movie mix. He's perfect as lord of the jungle, more at home in the wilds than in the city, traveling by swinging vine instead of clogged freeway. Then too, I detect a topical allegory lurking in the subtext. Something about living in harmony with nature rather than trying to plunder it. Sure, nature here is a creation of studio wizards at MGM, and not the real Africa. Still, the results are impressive as heck, even with backscreen projection and liberal use of matte. But since when did I go to adventure movies expecting documentary realism. That I'll leave to the textbooks and PBS. Actually, my favorite movie moment is when thoughtless chimp Cheetah decides to tease three baby lions, only to find that a muscular mother doesn't quite understand. It's an amusing little touch. Anyhow, if there's a better Tarzan movie, I haven't seen it, even if this one is an antique. Meanwhile, I'm off to the jungle with visions of loincloth Jane dancing in my head. Okay, maybe not, but it's still a big thanks to this great movie.

romanorum1 Tarzan and His Mate was the fourth significant Tarzan movie overall (going back to Elmo Lincoln's portrayal in 1918) and the second one that featured Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan. This incredible movie has so much excitement that one practically has to be strapped to his seat or else become part of the action! Fantastic battle sequences present an awful burst of African carnage and also feature wild-beast fights to the death, whether humans are pitted against humans, humans against animals or animals against animals. There is even an "artistic" Pre-Code nude swim. Asian elephants, though smaller than the African, are used because of their easier handling. One can easily spot the plastic coverings that are used to wrap their smaller ears. Jane Parker's jilted lover Harry returns with his charming but devious hunter friend Martin to locate the ivory-rich elephant graveyard (fictional) that Harry had visited earlier (Tarzan the Ape Man, 1932), when he was the sole survivor. Martin tells Harry that they must succeed, as "I am broke." But Harry and Martin's map is stolen by another pair of white hunters, who get a jump start on the "legitimate" group, taking even 50 of their baggage bearers. Undaunted, Harry and Martin make their final preparations and begin the tortuous 14-day journey through swamp, high ground, jungle, and waterfall. Martin exemplifies his character early-on when he cold-bloodily shoots to death a bearer who refuses to tread onto the Mutia Escarpment, a land inhabited by the fearless Gabonee. As the hunters approach the Mutia, they find that the "illegitimate" expedition has been wiped out, dispatched by the Gabonee. The latter soon attack, and in an absolutely massive blood-letting scene, use various means to kill off the bearers by the score (this sight must have been horrifying to 1930s theater-goers). The leaders and surviving bearers scarcely escape the fierce Gabonee, who have white-painted heads and fear neither modern weapons nor men, black or white.The expedition has barely recovered by this reverse when it moves into the high ground. More bearers plunge to their deaths after falling from a perilous precipice. Suddenly boulders are flung at them from above by mountain apes, and still more men die until the aggressors are called off by Tarzan's coming. Jane soon follows, and introductions are made. Noticing that Martin has sustained a left arm wound from a poison-arrow, Jane sucks out the blood. Martin smiles lustfully. At camp Harry (encouraged by Martin) tries fruitlessly to entice Jane to return to the modern world by giving her feminine finery and jewelry. Carried away by Jane's beauty, Martin rapaciously kisses her fully on the lips, before she pushes him away. She blames herself equally. Jane's famous nude swimming scene with Tarzan follows (the actual swimmer is a double). Soon there is trouble with river hippos, and fights between Tarzan and a lion, and between Tarzan and a rhino. The rhino's attack results in the demise of Big Cheetah, although Little Cheetah survives. Later on the Ape Man tackles a nearly prehistoric-sized crocodile.When Tarzan discovers that the intention of the explorers is not hunting but ivory taking, he refuses further help. True to form, Martin fires upon and wounds an elephant, knowing the dying beast will lead the hunters to the graveyard. But after they arrive, they are blocked by Tarzan and a large herd of elephants. To extricate the safari from a difficult situation, Martin deviously feigns a change of heart, saying that he realizes Tarzan's noble aim of leaving the grave-site intact. Later, while Tarzan is searching for food he is shot by Martin. Tarzan, though, is saved by a hippo, and then afterward revived by a large group of chimpanzees. Meanwhile Martin tells Jane that Tarzan was surprised and eaten by a crocodile. Understanding that she would be alone in the jungle, Jane reluctantly joins the expedition that has taken as much ivory as could be carried. Little Cheetah catches up and demonstratively tries to take Jane away to Tarzan. "Tarzan's alive," says Jane.Just then they hear the sound of JuJu drums. Quickly the fierce JuJu surround the safari. Jane tells Harry and Martin that they can make a run and seek refuge at nearby high rocks, and that their escape may be facilitated because the JuJu do not know guns. Nevertheless, although they shoot their way out, they sustain absolutely frightful losses. Only Jane, the two white hunters, and two black African bearers make it to the rocks. But a dropped ammunition box lies on the ground near the unmoved JuJu, out of the survivor's reach. Then the JuJu, with their loud horns, summon lions, of which vast numbers arrive. Little Cheetah escapes in order to fetch help from Tarzan. Faithful bearer Saidi bravely tries to retrieve the ammo box, but is captured and tied up to a stake. And, in a poignant scene unusual for the time, white Harry heroically dies trying to save the life of a doomed black man. The lions soon get the last bearer and now-regretful Martin; there are no expedition survivors. Meanwhile the chimps led by Cheetah return and attack the JuJus in the trees, knocking them to the lions below. Thinking quickly, temporarily unprotected Jane lights a quick fire to separate her from the lions. But she has little fuel, and when the fire subsides she briefly lies down motionless to confuse the animals. Her rescue is complete when Tarzan arrives with his elephant allies that attack the lions. Surprisingly, some of the lions counterattack. The elephants, though, crush them and give chase to the survivors. In the end Tarzan and Jane happily lead the elephants, carrying the ivory, back to the graveyard. The nine star-rating applies to the 103-minute version, better than the 93-minute version, but slightly shorter than the 105-minute version that apparently circulates. Alhough this is a great movie, it is too violent for younger viewers.

wes-connors This first sequel to "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1932) finds rope-swinging Johnny Weissmuller (as Tarzan) and beautiful Maureen O'Sullivan (as Jane) mated in the jungle. The story begins with explorer Neil Hamilton (as Harry Holt) deciding to go back to see if he can get Ms. Sullivan to leave Mr. Weissmuller and return to civilization. He brings along pal Paul Cavanagh (as Martin Arlington) and some easily frightened African men. They are still interested in valuable ivory. Will O'Sullivan leave her lover? Not if her satisfied smiles are any indication. Will the men get the ivory? Not if "Tarzan" has anything to say about it...This is the most sexually explicit of the Weissmuller films.First, the title confirms finds the twosome "honeymooning" since the first film and they are shown sleeping together. Since there had been no mention of marriage, moralists objected. There is also nudity. Mr. Cavanagh starts things off by getting undressed for a bath - a large trunk conceals most of him, but you see some cheek as he steps into the tub. That's nothing compared to what comes next, though. The two-piece costume chosen for O'Sullivan is the cheekiest of the series, and would not appear again. With a body double, the "Jane" character also has a nude swimming scene. No wonder every animal in the jungle was after her.****** Tarzan and His Mate (4/16/34) Cedric Gibbons ~ Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, Paul Cavanagh