JohnHowardReid
Copyright 12 January 1943 by Principal Artists Productions. Presented by Sol Lesser. Released through RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Palace: 4 February 1943. U.S. release: 20 January 1943. Australian release: 23 December 1943. 7,601 feet. 84½ minutes. (Copyright length: 76 minutes).SYNOPSIS: Tarzan makes war on the Nazis. A political allegory in which Zandra represents Britannia (she is even costumed accordingly - at least to some degree), and Tarzan, American isolationist non-involvement.NOTES: Producer Sol Lesser's 5th Tarzan feature - but his first for RKO release.COMMENT: This is another Tarzan and the Lost City - not as interesting as Tarzan and the Amazons owing to the more clichéd script and pasteboard characters, the less inventive direction, and a distinctly second-string support cast. Nonetheless, despite its dated subject matter, it is still frequently aired on TV. There's more than enough action to compensate for the over-use of stock footage and other cost-cutting infelicities. What's more, Frances Gifford makes a most attractive heroine, while Sheffield is still young enough to grab the viewer's indulgence and Weissmuller himself is both comparatively animated yet still reasonably athletic.However, the comic relief from Sig Rumann's harassed sergeant and Cheta's harassing chimpanzee grows more than a trifle wearisome. The straight material with its obviously allegorical plotting is presented with the same degree of sledgehammer subtlety.Yet despite routine direction, Poverty Row sets, amateurish special effects and less than slick production values, Tarzan Triumphs holds the interest. The climax in which Weissmuller taunts the Nazi before leading him to a gruesome death (even though not explicitly shown on camera) has a prolonged, psychologically violent intensity rare in the kiddies' matinee film.OTHER VIEWS: Jane is away in England, so Tarzan battles the Nazis. Quickie, low budget offering, though the last half of the film is rather more expansively produced than the first and the climax itself is moderately exciting. - John Howard Reid writing as Geoge Addison.
dbborroughs
Jane is in London, so boy and Tarzan must take on a group of Nazi's who invade the jungle, and more importantly a hidden city. Its war time action and daring do as Tarzan refuses to get involved until his family and friends are put under the gun by the bad guy Nazi's.Its over done and a great deal of fun with several bits that must have brought cheers (Tarzan go to War Now) and laughs (the final fade out). Its clear its no longer MGM but the films are still a blast.(and I don't think we hear the Tarzan yell at any point) Definitely worth searching out. This film is a lot of fun.8 out of 10
Michael_Elliott
Tarzan Triumphs (1943) *** (out of 4) War propaganda 101 as Nazi's take over a lost city but Tarzan shows up to kick their ass. This probably should have been called Triumph of Tarzan's Will but the politically incorrect humor works just fine for this film. The story is pretty stupid and the German bashing stuff might not go over well today but the film remains a lot of fun due in large part to the animals. Cheetah and the various other monkeys really steal the show here as they're giving a lot of fun things including the one scene where Cheetah steals a bunch of food from three monkeys. Weissmuller is in great form again and Frances Gifford is entertaining as well. There's plenty of nice humor (if politically incorrect) and the action is great. This first RKO Tarzan ranks right up there with the best from MGM, although it does get a little long winded at the end.
Ben Burgraff (cariart)
While Tarzan was a popular moneymaker at MGM, with the outset of WWII, the studio felt Johnny Weissmuller was getting too old, Maureen O'Sullivan wanted out of the series, and the overseas market was lost, so the series was dropped...but RKO would prove the Ape Man had a LOT of life left in him! Veteran producer Sol Lesser, 53, loved the character, and snapped up the rights for the studio, wisely keeping Weissmuller, 39, and 'Boy' Johnny Sheffield, now nearly 12, in their signature roles. O'Sullivan, no longer interested in 'Jane', was written out (caring for her ailing mother in London), and the elements that fans loved best (nearly superhuman heroics, comedy from chimp co-star, Cheetah, wild animal footage) were 'beefed up', dropping the romantic interludes, the large number of black 'extras', that provided authenticity (but were expensive for a smaller studio to maintain, for a single series), and, indeed, most of the 'glossiness' that marked the MGM entries. Even the signature Tarzan 'yell' had to be replaced (as the manufactured howl, part Weismuller, part studio magic), was the property of the studio; Weismuller created a 'new' one, that would become so popular that it would be kept, long after he finally retired from the role.The first RKO entry was perhaps the best of their series; TARZAN TRIUMPHS brought the Nazis into the jungle to tap the mineral resources of a 'lost' city, eventually kidnapping Boy, and leading the previously isolationist Ape Man to utter the famous tag line, "Now Tarzan make war!" With lovely Frances Gifford as a native princess, providing sex appeal (and a really weird scene of Boy trying to 'hook up' the princess and lonely Ape Man, to enlist his help against the Nazis), and Sig Ruman, who went from Marx Brothers' foil to one of Hollywood's busiest 'Nazis', as one of the villains, the action adventure is very entertaining (if extremely violent...Tarzan actually encourages the locals to grab a gun and kill, Boy shoots one Nazi soldier with a pistol, and even CHEETA machine guns one!), and the film was a huge hit for the studio.Tarzan, at a new home, was back in the 'swing' of things!
