Tarzan Escapes 1936

On a remote African escarpment, Jane, Maureen O’Sullivan, learns that her two cousins, Eric, William Henry, and Rita, Benita Hume, have arrived to tell her about a fortune left to her back home and to urge her to return with them. They are led toward Tarzan’s escarpment home by Captain Fry, John Buckler, a hunter with an agenda of his own. She promises that their separation will be only temporary and agrees to travel back with Eric and Rita, while Tarzan, Johnny Weissmüller, remains in the jungle.

Fry’s treachery includes making a deal with a hostile native tribe to supply him with food, canoes, and protection in exchange for handing over Jane, Eric, and Rita, and for taking away Tarzan—the greatest ju-ju, in his eyes. The plan centers on capturing Tarzan so he can be put on public display, all while using the four white travelers as bargaining chips to secure a smooth return journey.

Fry’s plan goes wrong when the natives capture Tarzan in his cage and all four white travelers are taken prisoner. Tarzan, aided by elephants and Cheeta, manages a perilous escape and then leads the remnants of Fry’s party through a cave passage filled with treacherous quicksands. Just before they exit to safety, Tarzan forces Fry to retreat the way they came, a punishment for his betrayal. In a last act of defiance, Fry seizes a heavy branch to attack Tarzan, but tumbles into a quicksand bog filled with poisonous iguanas and is swallowed by the sands.

Rita and Eric tell Jane that it is not necessary for her to return with them and that she belongs with Tarzan. The film ends with Tarzan and Jane reunited at their tree house.