Tarzan and the Amazons

Tarzan and the Amazons
Film poster
Directed by	Kurt Neumann
Written by	John Jacoby Marjorie L. Pfaelzer based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Produced by	Sol Lesser Kurt Neumann
Starring	Johnny Weissmuller Brenda Joyce Johnny Sheffield Henry Stephenson Maria Ouspenskaya
Cinematography	Archie Stout
Edited by	Robert Crandall
Music by	Paul Sawtell
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Release date	April 29, 1945 (1945-04-29)
Running time	76 mins.
Language	English

Tarzan and the Amazons (1945) is an adventure film starring Johnny Weissmuller in his ninth outing as Tarzan. Brenda Joyce makes the first of five appearances as Jane and Johnny Sheffield returns as Boy. Henry Stephenson and Maria Ouspenskaya co-star. The movie was produced by Sol Lesser and Kurt Neumann, written by John Jacoby and Marjorie L. Pfaelzer (based on characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs) and directed by Kurt Neumann. It was released on April 29, 1945.

Plot summary

Tarzan and Boy, on their way to meet Jane, who is returning from nursing work in England to support the war effort, rescue an "Amazon" woman from an attack by a black panther. During the attack, she drops a golden bracelet which Cheeta picks up. The Amazon woman's ankle is twisted in the incident and she cannot walk. Telling Boy to wait for him, Tarzan carries the woman through a mountain pass to the valley where her city of Palmyria is located. Boy disobeys Tarzan, follows them at a distance, and discovers the location of the city, then returns to wait for Tarzan.

After they reunite with Jane, a group of explorers, led by Sir Guy Henderson, discover the bracelet Cheeta has, and its markings are matched to other relics supposedly from a lost city of Amazons. The explorers attempt to enlist Tarzan to lead them to Palmyria. Tarzan refuses, but Boy, believing he is aiding the advancement of science, is duped into guiding them there.

Boy and the party are captured by the Amazons, and their queen declares that in lieu of the death penalty for invading their city, they will all be forced to work the rest of their lives in the Palmyrian quarries with the other men they keep for labor. The woman Tarzan saved from the panther takes pity and releases them. The group, led by Ballister, Henderson's unsavory second-in-command, and Anders, then sets about looting the city's treasure vaults. When Henderson objects, Ballister kills him, then fatally knifes the woman who released them. She is able to sound an alarm before she dies, and the invaders are all killed save Ballister and Anders, who escape with two pieces of treasure.

Boy is recaptured and condemned to die. Cheeta warns Tarzan of Boy's impending doom. Tarzan races to Palmyria, meets Ballister and Anders, and backs them into a mud bog in which they sink and die. He returns the Amazon's treasure in exchange for Boy's freedom.

Cast

• Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan
• Brenda Joyce as Jane
• Johnny Sheffield as Boy
• Henry Stephenson as Sir Guy Henderson, well-meaning explorer
• Maria Ouspenskaya as Amazon Queen
• Barton MacLane as Ballister, villainous member of Henderson's party
• Don Douglas as Anders
• Steven Geray as Brenner
• J. M. Kerrigan as Splivens
• Shirley O'Hara as Athena

Production notes

• Maureen O'Sullivan was originally announced to be returning as Jane prior to production when the actress appeared interested in a new offer made by Sol Lesser. She then changed her mind and the role was recast.
• Brenda Joyce portrayed Jane in five Tarzan films. Four opposite Johnny Weissmuller and one opposite Lex Barker.
• From this film onwards, Tarzan's home was no longer on top of the Great Escarpment, but seemingly just up river from the nearest trading post. The change was not explained or alluded to.
• This adventure film was shot in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden and Lone Pine, California.

References

• Essoe, Gabe. Tarzan of The Movies, 1968, published by The Citadel Press.

External links

• Tarzan and the Amazons at IMDb