TARZAN’S SECRET TREASURE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 168, 11 September 1942, Page 9

TARZAN’S SECRET TREASURE

(M.GMJ

ROUSSEAU would have rejoiced at this revelation of life as lived by Tarzan Weissmuller and Mate Maureen O'Sullivan. But he would have

had grave doubts about the education of the fruit of their jungle love, John Sheffield, aged seven, who can already read and write and ask his mother intelligent questions about civilisation and the law af supply and demand. In this respect, it must be pointed out, little John is some distance ahead of Papa, who in spite of having lived with Mate Maureen for several odd (very odd) years has scarcely got further than guttural grunts and simple phrases like "Tarzan hungry" or "Tarzan go," or, in cases of extreme delight "Tarzan happy, Tarzan got Jane." (Here we might add, for the benefit of the few who have neither read Edgar Rice Burroughs nor seen earlier Tarzan epics, that Jane is not a common but a proper noun.) Tarzan and Jane have made their jungle home in one of the few bright spots in darkest Africa, in the depths of a thick forest that rises in contravention of all geographical laws at the top of a mountain-high escarpment. At the bottom of the escarpment is a limitless plain over which gallop hordes of the giraffes, mumbo jumbos, gnus, etc., already noted in Sundown and Sanders of the River. And over the limitless plain also plods little John, who has run away from home to find civilisation. Which he does, among the Mumbo-Jumbos, who seize him savagely and are just toasting his toes whenChug! Into the middle of the clearing gallops a large truck laden with American explorers andYippee! Into the middle of the clearing explodes Tarzan and rescues the lot. After which he has no alternative but to take everybody home to dinner. Mrs. Tarzan receives her guests in a one-piece ensemble cut on clinging lines. After dinner (there was enough to go round) the Tarzans are introduced to some of the benefits of civilisation, such as moving pictures, whisky (Tarzan him say Phooey), can-openers, etc. After this things move-rapidly, several members of the party go down with plague, the two villains form a dastardly plot to seize Tarzan’s Secret Treasure, Tarzan’s Mate, Tarzan’s Son, and ‘Tarzan’s Jungle Home. In which, we are glad to say, they are completely unsuccessful. We enjoyed this film, so will most people who enjoy entertainment merely as entertainment. The unsophisticated (we recommend 7.S.T. especially for children) will love the antics of Tarzan’s ‘Tame Chimpanzee, and Tarzan’s Baby Elephant, and the hordes of feathered Boogie-Woogies, The sophisticated will find amusement in posing awkward questions about the prevalence in the jungle of ropes, hot pools, and squares of calico for the writing of

notes, and the possibilities of catching a live fish by swimming rather faster than it does. We ourselves could suggest a few improvements-a colourful sarong for Maureen and a haircut for Tarzan would add to the aesthetic appeal of the series. And after seven years of domestic bliss we would like to see a few more little Tarzans. Though perhaps not. We can’t altogether agree with the sentiments expressed to Tarzan and Mate by the last | character to leave the Tarzan ménage: "If there were more folk like you in the world it would be a sweet and smiling place." The imagination boggles.