Tarzán y la fuente mágica

Tarzan's Magic Fountain (1949)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

After Johnny Weissmuller walked away from the Tarzan series RKO was quick to replace him with Lex Barker and the first of the new series actually turned out to be a good little film. Tarzan (Barker) and Jane (Brenda Joyce) find a cigarette case, which just happens to belong to Gloria Jessup (Evelyn Ankers), a pilot who went missing twenty-years earlier. It turns out that her plane crashed and she was taken in by a local tribe who also happen to have a magic fountain that can keep something youthful forever. Gloria returns back to her homeland but begins to grow old so she wants Tarzan to take her back to her village. TARZAN'S MAGIC FOUNTAIN certainly isn't a masterpiece but it's still a lot better than the previous five films from the Weissmuller series. I think a lot of the credit has to go to Curt Siodmak who co-wrote the screenplay. Film buffs will recognize his name as the man behind many of the Universal horror movies like THE WOLF MAN and BLACK Friday. He certainly knows how to add in some good touches and he turns this typical story about youth into a pretty good adventure film. I think the screenplay does a nice job at not taking itself too serious but at the same time it works well for adults. The previous few films were certainly aimed at children but this one here has a more serious tone including a couple rather violent deaths and another sequence with some nice black humor involving the skeletons of the plane crash victims. There's no question that Weissmuller was the greatest screen Tarzan so Barker had a large loin cloth to fill. For the most part I thought he was decent in the role as he certainly has the physical appearance for the part and he handled most of the dialogue just fine. Joyce, in her final appearance as Jane, isn't too bad either but I'm a little surprised the producers brought her back considering they were trying to start a new series. Ankers is as charming as ever and Albert Dekker makes for a good villain. The screen's very first Tarzan, Elmo Lincoln, appears quickly at the start of the film as a fisherman. There are a few pacing issues and there are some dry moments here and there but it's hard to not say that the series at least got going back in the right direction after some pretty lifeless films.

Edgar Rice Burroughs' Ape Man creation had already seen some rocky cinematic days by the time "Tarzan's Magic Fountain" was released in 1949. Still, this inoffensive adventure will most likely placate fans of the series, particularly with Lex Barker making his debut in the leading role. Story has Tarzan discovering a mystical valley where no one grows old, a scenario which appears to perplex Brenda Joyce's Jane (who seems catatonic) and two funny, neurotic chimps (one paces, the other bites her nails). Handsomely-produced entry with some amusing asides. Barker is a bit bland and slow to start, but Tarzan-addicts might want to cut him some slack: this was quite a daunting part to fill. ** from ****

Lord of the jungle Lex Barker (as Tarzan) and beautiful blonde Brenda Joyce (as Jane) are given an old cigarette case and journal "Cheeta" the chimp finds while frolicking with a mate. They belong to famous pilot Evelyn Ankers (as Gloria James), who disappeared in a 1928 plane crash. As it turns out, Ms. Ankers survived the crash and took up residence in a "Shangri-la" known to only a select few, Tarzan being one of them. He retrieves Ankers because she can clear a man unjustly accused of murder...

But the fact that she didn't age while living in "The Blue Valley" for 20 years attracts the criminal element...

RKO and producer Sol Lesser kept the "Tarzan" series going by green lighting Mr. Barker as a replacement for the departing Johnny Weissmuller. In his first appearance as the character, Barker fills the loincloth comfortably. This was the last appearance of Ms. Joyce as Tarzan's "Jane" and it's also her best-acted appearance. Albert Dekker and Charles Drake make fine villains. Considering how the film ends, "The Magic Fountain" provides an implicit explanation for Tarzan's suddenly more youthful appearance.

***** Tarzan's Magic Fountain (2/5/49) Lee Sholem ~ Lex Barker, Brenda Joyce, Evelyn Ankers, Albert Dekker

Tarzan learns that a female aviator who crashed in the jungle a couple of decades ago may hold the key to helping a man wrongly accused of a crime. Not only does Tarzan know the woman, he knows where to find her. Everyone is shocked when the woman returns looking as young as she did the day she crash landed. But what's her secret to seemingly eternal youth? And to what lengths will some people go to get that secret?

After watching Johnny Weissmuller labor through his last Tarzan outing, Lex Barker was certainly a welcome sight. For his first Tarzan adventure, RKO gave Barker quite a bit to work with in Tarzan's Magic Fountain. Even though everything is obviously stage-bound, the jungle and mountain sets are far better than I expected given RKO's most recent history with the Tarzan series. There are a couple of especially nice matte paintings that add to the film's look. The movie includes moments of danger (rainwater suddenly and violently filling the gorge where Jane and Co find themselves trapped) and violence (a burning arrow to the chest) that add to the atmosphere and tension. Nicely done! The supporting cast is solid with Evelyn Ankers and Alan Napier providing notable performances. Finally, I wasn't a bit surprised to learn that Curt Siodmak was, at least partially, responsible for the screenplay. It's just more interesting than a lot of the previous Tarzan films.

A few other quick things I noted while watching Tarzan's Magic Fountain:

1. Yet another all white tribe in the middle of Africa. The only black Africans I can remember are a couple of kids who keep Cheeta entertained for a few moments with bubble gum.

2. What was up with those crazy leopard-print headbands worn by the Blue Valley guards? They looked ridiculous.

3. When Cheeta drinks from the magic fountain, why does she turns into a small monkey and not a baby chimpanzee?

6/10

Sol Lesser replaces Weissmuller after he was getting older, then come out a new one Lex Barker with Brenda Joyce as Jane, the story is great, as the early Tarzan's stories , a magic fountain that supply a youth almost forever arouse a greedy from two men Mr. Trask and Mr. Dodd who intent to sell it to make a fortune, somehow Baker is quite distinct from Johnny Weissmuller, something better as younger, suitable to the role, and mainly running away from those stereotyped dumb style imposed by Weissmuller and others no quite, he sounds a bit cold, distant, lack and worst when he uses those stupid shoes, Joyce is the same, gorgeous than never, the picture was made on Tarzan's back lot and on a lavish sound stage, the special effects is quite effective, and the village at the Magic Fountain is amazing and extremely embellished by dozen of beauties, cheetah gave to the picture a guidance well-humored!!!

Resume:

First watch: 1978 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 6.5