a_chinn Dull Tarzan outing is filled with a higher than average amount of racist stereotypes of African native people. In this one they are depicted as big eyed simpletons amazed by magic and believers in human sacrifice. The story has Tarzan acting as a guide for a couple of British diamond hunters, but as usual the great white hunters have ulterior motives and Tarzan has to save the day. Also, after watching a few of these Lex Barker Tarzan pictures, I've noticed a pattern that they all seem to end with Cheetah doing something funny and everyone laughing. Ho hum... don't bother with this Tarzan film. FUN FACT! This film was directed by Cy Endfield, who'd go on to direct the classic "Zulu."

Michael_Elliott Tarzan's Savage Fury (1952) ** (out of 4) Fourth installment in Lex Barker's turn as the legendary ape man. This time out Tarzan and Jane (Dorothy Hart) are fooled by a man pretending to be Tarzan's cousin who claims to be from the Greystoke family. It turns out that the man wants Tarzan to lead him to a valley full of priceless diamonds and the ape man goes along for the ride but soon realizes that he's been lied to. TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY is another mildly entertaining entry in the series, which was clearly running out of ideas. The one new thing is that this film offered up Tarzan's connection to the riches, which had been left out of the previous three Baxter films as well as all twelve Weissmuller films. Who knows why they decided to bring it up at this point but it does add for some mildly entertaining scenes and especially some early stuff where Tarzan talks about how he ended up being raised by apes. The rest of the film is pretty much "B" movie material as we get your typical action scenes, poor stock footage and even some very sloppy moments here. The sloppy moments happen during a scene where Tarzan is trying to prevent a rhino from charging. Of course, Baxter is in the frame with the rhino thanks to rear projection but take a look at the footage being shown. There are a few seconds were the footage is missing some frame, which gives the rhino these weird movements. Even worse is when the scene is over and the rhino basically disappears right in front of your eyes! Whoever knew Tarzan could do magic? There are some pretty campy moments to be found here including one sequence where some natives are using young boys to lure crocs into the river so that they can be caught. This entire sequence of boys being chased by wooden crocodiles is rather silly and especially how fake the crocs look. Barker is certainly in fine form as the ape man and he manages to get a few good laughs here. The actor was clearly into character and he has some nice chemistry with Hart who was playing Jane for the first and last time. Patrick Knowles (THE WOLF MAN) adds some nice support in his role as does Charles Korvin as another one of the bad guys. Tommy Carlton plays "Joey", a kid Tarzan finds at the croc hunt and who he brings home. He was clearly meant to be a replacement for "Boy" and the actor does a nice job in terms of charm and bringing some life to the material. The action scenes are mainly cheap and there's no question that the budgets kept getting cut down but there's some nice material to be had with some of the campiness including the before mentioned fake crocodiles. TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY certainly isn't going to make anyone forget CITIZEN KANE but at the same time there's enough cheap charm if you enjoy "B" movies or jungle adventures. At the same time, it's clear that the series was never going to return to those early MGM classics.

wes-connors A cousin from the Greystoke family goes to visit jungle king Lex Barker (as Tarzan) in his African home, and is quickly killed by greedy uncut diamond-hunting Charles Korvin (as Rokov). Next, the Russian-accented villain arranges an impersonation and expedition to get Mr. Barker's help in obtaining a tribe's treasure. Meanwhile, Barker saves cute American orphan Tommy Carlton (as Joseph "Joey" Martin) from becoming alligator food, and adopts him as a new "Boy" companion. They get into the usual danger, along with pretty mate Dorothy Hart (as Jane) and pet "Cheeta" the chimpanzee.The previous entry in the series, "Tarzan's Peril" (1951), didn't really benefit from a modest increase in location footage. Conversely, this film wisely makes full use of RKO's studio jungle, with the direction and photography by Cy Endfield and Karl Struss most outstanding. The editing (Frank Sullivan) and "trick" photography are also improved. The rotating "Jane" looks the part again; fresh-faced but familiar, she's back in long hair and dressed to arouse. The plot incorporates some elements from writer Edgar Rice Burroughs' actual "Tarzan" stories and includes the film's popular "Boy" character.******* Tarzan's Savage Fury (3/14/52) Cyril Endfield ~ Lex Barker, Tommy Carlton, Dorothy Hart, Charles Korvin

bkoganbing Tarzan's Savage Fury was one of the only Tarzan films to make reference Tarzan's noble background. At least since the Johnny Weissmuller films started I don't recall another movie mentioning Tarzan being the Earl of Greystoke. But it's a false Greystoke played by Patric Knowles who with his guide Charles Korvin comes calling on Lex Barker and Dorothy Hart as Jane. What is family for, but to call on them for aid. The real Greystoke was killed at the beginning of the film and Knowles takes his place. The object is to get to a tribe which has a fortune in diamonds and uses them in their animist religious rites. Although it's never said, Korvin's accent is a broad hint that there is a foreign power behind these proceedings. The Cold War at last comes to the Tarzan series. With RKO under the control of Howard Hughes would you expect nothing less?The cast acquits themselves well and now it seemed that finally black people were playing the African natives in the series for good and all time now.