Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939)

Sadly Over-hyped

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

During my early teenage years l used to watch on TV or even at theatre sometimes some Tarzan's movie it were funny but mostly of them silly,because of Johnny Weissmuller's dumb behavior,but put into practice revisiting movies,this one watch carefully surprise me deeply,it's was so well produced,in several places without repeat as usually has been and the restoration process was so great bring brightness in a black & white movie,so the l've changing my vote to a new level!! Resume: First watch: 1976 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7

Well unlike the previous movie, this one actually lived up to its title, which was actually quite unexpected. I thought it would be about Tarzan having a son, but instead it's just about him literally finding one and raising him. The plot's pretty basic, with a family having a plane crash into Tarzan's jungle and him finding their infant whom he and Jane raise. Five years later, people come to take the child back. I will admit that this wasn't as good as the other movies. I think it's because the Tarzan films are starting to become formulaic. This is still by no means a bad movie. There are some really good scenes in this.My favorite is probably when Tarzan and the kid are swimming. It's just a long scene that has no dialogue but is so wonderfully shot. It probably helps that I've lived near the ocean for more than a decade of my life. I just love this imagery and how quaint it is. I think the movie got a bit weak when it did the same thing where the natives were the villains. But honestly, it was still handled pretty well. I especially like the final fight with them. It's not very long, but what it does show is quite entertaining. I guess I was getting a "Swiss Family Robinson" vibe from it. ***

Mysterious air currents and mechanical failures cause a private plane to crash in Africa, with only a baby boy surviving. Tarzan's chimp "Cheeta" swings by and tosses the blanketed lad to jungle king Johnny Weissmuller (as Tarzan), who has arrived to investigate. Mr. Weissmuller brings the baby home to pretty Maureen O'Sullivan (as Jane). They adopt the baby by declaration and decide to call him "Boy" (an unimaginative name, but it fits). The baby quickly grows into cute preteen Johnny Sheffield. As young Sheffield learns the ropes from Weissmuller, an expedition of his surviving family members is investigating. Naturally, they will want to take the Lancing baby away from Tarzan and Jane...Much has been made of the fact that "Tarzan Finds a Son!" has the jungle couple's son arriving by plane crash, instead of vaginally. This is due to moral guidelines set by the Hays production code being more rigorously enforced in 1934. This raises some questions, however. It has been generally accepted that Weissmuller's "Tarzan" and O'Sullivan's "Jane" never marry, and that they adopt "Boy" in this film. However, the script of this film suggests a legal marriage has taken place off-screen. Their on-screen "adoption ceremony" appears to be on much shakier ground. More obviously, plot potential favored Sheffield's arrival by plane. This entry's highlight is sparkling underwater photography.****** Tarzan Finds a Son! (6/16/39) Richard Thorpe ~ Johnny Weissmuller, Maureen O'Sullivan, Johnny Sheffield, Ian Hunter

I first seen Tarzan Finds a Son when I was quite young and have seen it several times since. It is one of the best Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movies.An aeroplane crashes in the jungle and the only surviver seems to be a baby boy. The rest of the party look like they were taken away by headhunters, including his parents. Tarzan brings the baby to his tree house and shows it to Jane and they call it simply "Boy" and raise him as their own. The movie then goes on a few years and we see Boy swinging through the trees and swimming. A search party then comes looking for the plane and then discover Boy is the young couple's son. Jane reluctantly agrees to give him to his relations but they get kidnapped by headhunters but Boy runs to get Tarzan who brings with him a heard of elephants and the headhunters' village is trampled by these. Jane recovers from a wound after a spear went into her and everyone is OK at the end and Boy stays with Tarzan and Jane.As well as Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan and Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane, the cast also features Johnny Sheffeld in his first role as Boy, British actor Ian Hunter and Henry Stephenson.Watching Tarzan Finds a Son is a great way to spend an hour and 20 minutes one afternoon. Excellent.Rating: 4 stars out of 5.