I Watch Films: Tarzan And The Trappers

 

Tarzan And The Trappers

In Africa Tarzan (Gordon Scott) is living easily with his wife Jane and his son Tartu, plus some animal companions, especially Cheeta the chimpanzee. He’s interrupted by a drum message; hunters are capturing animals on his territory, where that is forbidden. Tarzan frees a baby elephant they have trapped; in return they take Tartu and Cheeta hostage only for Tarzan to rescue them and send a stampede of elephants destroying their camp (and killing them? Not clear).

Other hunters come, though they intend to plunder the lost city of Zarbo. Tarzan warns them not to do it, and they send their men after him. He escapes and shadows them. They capture Tarzan’s friend Tyara (Scatman Crothers) luring Tarzan into a trap. Fortunately Tyara’s tribe rescue them and when the hunters get to the lost city they find it empty and deserted.

Gordon Scott is an okay Tarzan, maybe just a little too clean cut. He and Jane seem to have adjoining tree houses which is a little prudish when they also have a son. At one moment Tarzan mounts a giraffe to ride after the bad guys. Tartu has little to do but get captured; Jane even less. Cheeta’s chimpanzee comedy rather outstays its welcome. This was apparently supposed to be a TV show; when that fell through they spliced together the three episodes they shot into this.

Watch This: Tarzan fights illegal hunters
Don’t Watch This: Incoherent, also fairly obviously from before the “no animals were harmed in the making of this picture” era