Tarzan Finds a Son! Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Tarzan and Jane adopt a baby dropped off by plane, then have to fend off greedy relatives and a tribe who want their little airborne bundle of joy (and his inheritance).

🍿 Tarzan Finds a Son!: Detailed Plot Synopsis

An Unexpected Arrival

A private airplane crashes deep within the African jungle, killing the passengers, a young British couple, and their pilot. Miraculously, their infant son survives the wreckage. Tarzan’s chimpanzee companion, Cheetah, discovers the crying baby. Cheetah takes the infant to Tarzan and Jane in their treetop home, presenting them with the sole survivor of the crash.

Raising Boy

Tarzan and Jane decide to adopt the child, naming him simply ‘Boy’. They raise him as their own son, teaching him the ways of the jungle, including vine swinging and the famous ape call. Five years pass, and Boy has grown into a young, adventurous boy, fully integrated into Tarzan and Jane’s unique family life.

Search Party Arrives

A search party from England arrives in the jungle, looking for any trace of the crashed plane and its passengers. The group includes Boy’s relatives, led by Sir Thomas Lancing, along with other family members and a guide. The relatives are motivated not only by finding the boy but also by a significant inheritance. Boy is the heir to a large fortune, which they hope to control.

Conflict and Choice

Upon discovering Boy, the relatives reveal his identity and the inheritance. They attempt to persuade Tarzan and Jane to let them take Boy back to civilization in England. Tarzan is resolute in keeping Boy with them in the jungle, while Jane is torn, believing civilization might offer Boy a safer future, unaware of the true, greedy intentions of some of the relatives.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller): The jungle lord who finds and adopts a young boy, defending his newfound family from avaricious outsiders.
• Jane (Maureen O’Sullivan): Tarzan’s mate and the boy’s adoptive mother, who struggles with the decision of allowing their son to return to civilization for his inheritance.
• Boy (Johnny Sheffield): The orphaned child adopted by Tarzan and Jane, raised in the jungle but the target of a search party due to his large inheritance.
• Austin Lancing (Ian Hunter): A greedy relative seeking to gain control of Boy’s inheritance by removing him from Tarzan and Jane’s care.
• Sir Thomas Lancing (Henry Stephenson): A benevolent relative on the search party who genuinely cares for Boy’s well-being and opposes the unscrupulous plans of his kin.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Tarzan: “What’s the matter? People!” – Tarzan, upon encountering the search party from civilization, expresses his characteristic disdain.
• Tarzan: “Cheetah find.” – Tarzan’s simple explanation to Jane when she asks where the baby came from.
• Tarzan: “Food.” – Tarzan’s typically concise response when guests ask the name of a fruit they are eating.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $2,265,020
• Worldwide Gross: $4,551,840

💥 Tarzan Finds a Son! Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched ‘Tarzan Finds a Son!’ and it was surprisingly fun! I went in expecting some cheesy old-school jungle adventure, and while it definitely had that (hello, back projection!), it also had this sweet core story about Tarzan and Jane becoming parents. The scenes of Tarzan and Boy swimming together were absolutely gorgeous, totally transporting me. And seeing Tarzan navigate being a dad, even with his limited vocabulary, was genuinely charming. Maureen O’Sullivan is fantastic as Jane, especially as she grapples with the conflict of wanting what’s best for Boy versus keeping their jungle family together. Cheetah also gets some great moments; that chimp is a star! Yeah, some of the villain stuff and tribal depictions are pretty dated and uncomfortable by modern standards, and Boy gets himself into peril a *lot*, but overall, it was a really enjoyable watch. It felt like a cozy, exciting Saturday afternoon movie from a bygone era. It’s definitely one of my favorite Weissmuller Tarzans so far.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Hollywood adventure films”
  • “Viewers interested in the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan series”
  • “Families looking for vintage jungle adventure (with reservations for outdated elements)”
  • “Those curious about film history and the impact of the Hays Code”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depictions of native tribes which reflect outdated and potentially racist stereotypes common in films of this era.”
  • “Mild peril and action sequences, including animal encounters and tribal conflict.”
  • “Potential discomfort with early special effects (back-projection, use of stock footage).”

Professional Reviews

• Fictional: “This fourth Tarzan outing brings a new dynamic with the introduction of ‘Boy,’ shifting the tone towards family adventure. While some effects are dated and the plot is somewhat recycled, the film’s heart shines through. Weissmuller and O’Sullivan anchor the story, delivering charm and dramatic weight to the parenting struggles.
• Fictional: “‘Tarzan Finds a Son!’ leans into its family-friendly premise with engaging sequences, particularly the stunning underwater photography at Silver Springs. Despite predictable villains and formulaic elements common to the series, the central trio’s chemistry and the lively action sequences make for solid matinee entertainment that holds up surprisingly well.

Audience Reactions

Viewers loved the introduction of Boy and the new family dynamic.: Many praise the chemistry between Tarzan, Jane, and Boy, highlighting the sweet and fun moments shared, especially the underwater scenes. The film is often remembered fondly as a classic, entertaining entry in the series despite its age and dated special effects.

Overall Consensus: A beloved classic entry in the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan series, praised for its charming family element, exciting action, and memorable underwater photography, despite acknowledging its dated effects and recycled plot points.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Due to the Hays Production Code, which prohibited depiction of non-marital cohabitation resulting in children, the plot was devised to have Tarzan and Jane ‘find’ a son rather than biologically conceive one.”
• “The original ending of the film featured the death of Jane, but test audiences and fans protested vehemently, leading to the studio reshooting the ending to allow Jane to survive.”
• “Johnny Weissmuller reportedly personally selected young Johnny Sheffield out of hundreds of candidates for the role of Boy.”
• “Many of the famous underwater swimming sequences were filmed at Silver Springs, Florida, utilizing its clear waters.”
• “Some scenes used Asian elephants fitted with prosthetic ears to appear as African elephants, though reviewers noted it looked better than in previous films.”

🖥️ How to Watch Tarzan Finds a Son!?

Finding ‘Tarzan Finds a Son!’ for streaming can be a challenge as it’s a classic film from 1939. It may not be consistently available on major subscription services like Netflix, Hulu, or Max. However, it is often available for digital rental or purchase through platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, or Vudu. Physical copies on DVD or Blu-ray may also be available for purchase from online retailers like Amazon, providing another way to watch this classic adventure.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Tarzan Finds a Son!, you might like these similar films:

• Tarzan the Ape Man (1932): The first and arguably most iconic film in the Johnny Weissmuller/Maureen O’Sullivan series, establishing the characters and their jungle life.
• Swiss Family Robinson (1960): Features a family adapting to and surviving in a wild, unconventional environment, dealing with both nature and external threats.
• Gunga Din (1939): A contemporary adventure film from the same era, featuring action, exotic locations, and colonial themes.
• The Jungle Book (2016): A modern, visually stunning adaptation of another classic story about a human child raised by animals in the wilderness, dealing with threats and identity.
• Sheena (1984): A cult classic jungle adventure film about a female counterpart to Tarzan, raised in the wild and protecting her home from outsiders.

🛒 Tarzan Finds a Son! Related Products

• Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan Book Series (Paperback or Kindle): Explore the original stories that inspired the films. Dive deep into Tarzan’s adventures and the world created by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
• Tarzan Johnny Weissmuller Collection (DVD/Blu-ray): Own a collection featuring multiple classic Tarzan films starring Johnny Weissmuller, including this title. Experience the full scope of this iconic era.
• Vintage Tarzan Movie Poster Print: Decorate your space with a reproduction print of classic Tarzan film posters, capturing the adventurous spirit and vintage style.
• Jungle Adventure Board Game or Video Game: Immerse yourself in a jungle-themed adventure. Choose from board games focused on exploration and survival or digital games set in lush, wild environments.

🎧 Soundtrack

Tarzan Finds a Son! features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Cannibal Carnival” – performed by Sol Levy

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Tragic Death of Johnny Weissmuller & His Son (Tarzan of the Jungle)

Want to know more about the iconic guy who *was* Tarzan for so many? This video dives into the fascinating life and sad end of Johnny Weissmuller, the legend behind the yell – it’s quite a story.

Tarzan Evolution in Movies & Cartoons

Ever wonder how many times Tarzan has swung across the screen? This video gives you a whirlwind tour of Tarzan’s history in movies and cartoons, showing where this film fits in the wild jungle saga – it’s cool to see the character change!

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