Tarzan's Secret Treasure

Tarzan's Secret Treasure
Tarzan's Secret Treasure
	theatrical poster
Directed by	Richard Thorpe
Screenplay by	Myles Connolly; Paul Gangelin
Based on	Characters created; by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Produced by	B.P. Fineman
Starring	Johnny Weissmuller; Maureen O'Sullivan; Johnny Sheffield; Barry Fitzgerald
Cinematography	Clyde De Vinna
Edited by	Gene Ruggiero
Music by	David Snell
Production; company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Loew's Inc.
Release date	December 1, 1941;
Running time	81 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	English ; Unidentified African language

Tarzan's Secret Treasure is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Sheffield. Based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it is the fifth in the MGM Tarzan series to feature Weissmuller and O'Sullivan.^[2] Original prints of the film were processed in sepiatone.^[3]

The next film in the series would be Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942), the last in the series to feature Maureen O'Sullivan, and the last before the series moved to RKO.^[4]

Plot

An expedition team arrives on Tarzan's escarpment. By chance, the two villainous members Medford and Vandermeer find out that there is plenty of gold on the escarpment. They kidnap Jane and Boy in order to make Tarzan show them the location of the gold. After Tarzan complies, Medford shoots him and mistakenly presumes he is dead. Soon the group is captured by natives, whereupon Tarzan comes to their rescue.

Cast

Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan
Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane Parker
Johnny Sheffield as Boy (as John Sheffield)
Reginald Owen as Professor Elliott
Barry Fitzgerald as O'Doul
Tom Conway as Medford
Philip Dorn as Vandermeer
Cordell Hickman as Tumbo
Johnny Eck as Bird (uncredited)
Everett Brown as Native (uncredited)

Critical response

Film critic Bosley Crowther wrote in The New York Times that the film has "nothing about it which would distinguish it from other Tarzan films," that "the fanciful concept of the whole thing is, as usual, pleasantly lacking in guile," and "it concludes in the customary fashion with Tarzan conscripting his faithful friends, the beasts, to put the outsiders in their places and to save his African solitude."^[5] A review of the film in Variety reported that it "swings into straight meller for the second half," that "direction by Richard Thorpe injects a good pace to the script," and "Weissmuller adequately handles the Tarzan role in his usual style [...] O’Sullivan carries quite an English accent into the jungle, which is apparent throughout."^[6] The film was described on Turner Classic Movies as "fast-moving," that "O'Sullivan is charming in her brief scenes, particularly in the opening sequence when she uses 'Jungle Modern' conveniences to prepare dinner," that it "sports an impressive array of reliable character actors," and that it "boasts some well-executed effects shots [and] its fair share of stock footage."^[7]

References

^ P. Nochimson, Martha (July 5, 2010). Screen Couple Chemistry: The Power of 2. University of Texas Press. p. 336. ISBN 978-0292788008.
^ Fury, David (1994). Kings of the Jungle: An Illustrated Reference to Tarzan on Screen and Television. McFarland & Co. pp. 89–94. ISBN 0-89950-771-9. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
^ Griffin, Scott Tracy (August 2, 2016). Tarzan on film. Titan Books. p. 66. ISBN 978-0857685681.
^ "Turner Classic Movies article".
^ Crowther, Bosley (December 25, 1941). "' Tarzan's Secret Treasure' Ushers In Holiday at Capitol, 'Look Who's Laughing' at Palace". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
^ "Tarzan's Secret Treasure". Variety. Variety Media LLC. December 31, 1940. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
^ Miller, John M. (January 26, 2011). "Tarzan's Secret Treasue (1941)". Turner Classic Movies. Turner Classic Movies Inc. Retrieved May 15, 2025.