Tarzan and the Mermaids
- Johnny Weissmuller: Tarzan
- Brenda Joyce: Jane
- George Zucco: Palanth
- Linda Christian: Mara
- Fernando Wagner: Varga
- Edward Ashley: Bezirksvorsteher Connors
- John Laurenz: Benji
- Andrea Palma: Mara's mother
- Gustavo Rojo: Tiko
- Matthew Boulton: Inspector General
Tarzan is in danger of an American adventure film directed by Robert Florey, staged in 1948. Basis for the screenplay were the Tarzan novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The film was premiered on March 29, 1948 in New York. In Germany the film was first shown on December 5, 1951 in the cinemas.
Action
On a river island of the tribe of Aquatanier who live on fishing and pearl diving lives. They worship Balu, a deity who was created by the power-hungry priest Palanth. Palanth has the Aquataniern prohibited from entering the summit of the mountain island, as there Balu resides. In truth, Balu is a merchant named Varga, the pearls that are the root as a tribute sold. The beautiful Mara is chosen as Balu's Bride and is led to Balu's statue. But Mara recognizes the dizziness and flees. She jumps into the bay and swim upstream. Soon they reached the jungle, living in the Tarzan and Jane.
Tarzan noticed the swimmer and jumps into the water. Mara tries to escape, but is unable to continue with exhaustion. Tarzan brings Mara Jane, who is Benji, a constantly singing postman visited. Soon Mara is restored and can tell their story. Full of gratitude for their salvation are Mara Jane and Tarzan a large black pearl. Jane wants to give the pearl of the new district leader, which is an open-minded and progressive man.
While Benji puts the pearl to the officials, Palanth sends out a search party to track down the Mara. The squad finds Mara and catches them. Tarzan the men who take a boat down the river, follow up to their island. Tarzan sneaks into the temple and observed Varga, who strips off his disguise and leaves the island. At the same time Benji has delivered the pearl. The district director and the Inspector General are suspicious. The head can be guided by Benji to Jane. Jane has found Tiko, one banished from the island man is in love with Mara. Tiko told the district director Mara's story, whereupon he breaks up with Tiko, Jane and Benji to the island. When they arrive, Palanth can bring the four to the temple for questioning. To Palanths surprise Balu appears and orders the release of Maras and Tiko, to be also taken up in the trunk. Even the newcomers to get a free retreat. Jane noted that Tarzan occurs as Balu. Palanth may Balu's claims not help and leaves the group from the temple. Maras and Tiko's wedding is performed.
Meanwhile, Varga has arrived in the district town Nyata and is interrogated by the Inspector General. Then Varga flees back to the island. Back in his costume as Balu he bursts into the wedding ceremony. By Palanth he orders that the invaders are to kill. Tarzan returns with Vargas captors a fight in the river and must be a case even an octopus resist. After he won, he goes to the temple and unmasked Balu / Varga as a fraud. The Aquatanier chase Varga and Palanth and set the wedding celebration continues.
Reviews
" Naive jungle adventure based on known patterns of the species. "
Background
The film is the twelfth and last appearance of Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan. The estimated budget for this production of RKO Pictures was U.S. $ one million. The film was shot in Mexico. During the filming of White miller Stuntman Angel Garcia died in a cliff jump died.
Fernando Wagner was born in 1906 in Göttingen. After he had made several films in the U.S., he went to Mexico, where he was later a well-known television director. Gustavo Rojo, born in Uruguay, played in the 1960s in some Karl May movies and spaghetti westerns with. As in all the Tarzan films from RKO the natives were played not by Africans but by Latin American actors and extras here.
Composer Dimitri Tiomkin won four Academy Awards in the 1950s for his film scores and songs. Costume designer Norma Koch won an Oscar in 1963.