Tarzan and the Mermaids *** (1948, Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce, Linda Christian, John Lanenz, George Zucco) – Classic Movie Review 6136

‘BARBARIC RITUALS!…SAVAGE THRILLS!…PAGAN SPLENDORS! ‘ Director Robert Florey’s 1948 jungle adventure is Johnny Weissmuller’s last Ape Man movie. It is the twelfth part of the saga.

This time, he fights a giant octopus and armed natives before saving Jane (Brenda Joyce) and the lovely Mara (Linda Christian). George Zucco enjoys a grand character star support role as Palanth the High Priest, who is trying to force a young woman to marry an evil pearl trader posing as the god Balu.

With John Laurenz as the singing postman Benji, Fernando Wagner, Gustavo Rojo, Matthew Boulton, Andrea Palma and Edward Ashley also in the cast, this is a bright, engaging, well-produced romp, filmed in Mexico. The lively original story and screenplay are by Carroll Young, based on the characters by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

It is made by Sol Lesser Productions, runs 68 minutes, is an RKO release, is shot in black and white by Jack Draper, is produced by Sol Lesser and is scored by Paul Sawtell.

Mexican authorities rejected the claim that Weissmuller’s stunt double Ángel García was allegedly killed while performing the famous cliff dive into the ocean at Acapulco, Mexico.

When Weissmuller asked for a pay increase to renew his Tarzan contract, it was terminated with the lame excuse that he was out of shape. But he carried on successfully with the similar Jungle Jim adventure films.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6136

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com