Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941, Richard Thorpe)
Although Tarzan’s Secret Treasure follows the formula like an obedient sheep, it is a total pleasure from beginning to end. It is the fifth in the series, and the first movie of the MGM franchise that feels like a bona fide ‘B’ movie. Gone are the elaborate action set-pieces or the glossy sets. In fact, it reuses a lot of footage from previous films. You won’t see anything that you haven’t seen before. The budget of the films keep going down but that sad fact does not interfere with the enjoyment of the film.
Nevertheless, if you like the franchise, you won’t be disappointed. The amiable cast is the secret of the film’s success. Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan have one lovely scene in which they recall their initial jungle courtship – it is by far the best moment in the entire film. Weissmuller and O’Sullivan remain the main reason the series of films are enjoyable. an older Johnny Sheffield returns as Boy. Tom Conway (Cat People, I Walked With A Zombie, and other RKO productions) is good as the main villain and Barry Fitzgerald (Going My Way) and Cheetah play every trick in the book in order to steal scenes – of course, Cheetah walks away with most of the show.
If your are not a fan of the franchise this is a film hard to sell. But if you bother to come this far, it means that you’ve fallen in love with the characters and the formula. It is like spending time with old friends. Tarzan’s Secret Treasure is fun.
Yes and ya know that Boy, Johnny Sheffield, is still alive and kicking in Yuma Arizona. He has a fantastic recall of his Tarzan days.