Michael and Noel kick off the 1950s era of Tarzan movies with Lex Barker's second appearance as the ape man. Lee Sholem is back in the director's chair, but there's a new Jane as Vanessa Brown becomes the first of many actors to rotate through the role for the rest of Barker's run.
Michael, Noel, and guest David May review the decade in which Tarzan fully became king not only of the jungle, but also all of pop culture. We re-discuss the move of the film series from MGM to RKO under Sol Lesser's leadership while also covering the many comics and film imitators like Nyoka the Jungle Girl and Jo-Jo the Congo King. Opening music from Terry and the Pirates by Lee Zahler Closing music from Bomba the Jungle Boy by Edward J Kay
Noel and Michael watch the last Tarzan movie of the 1940s, in which Johnny Weissmuller has been replaced as the ape man by Lex Barker. They discuss Barker's alarming post-Tarzan behavior and how knowing that affects viewing his work, including Tarzan's Magic Fountain . And they also bid farewell to Brenda Joyce in her last appearance as Jane.
Michael and Noel wrap up the Johnny Weissmuller era the same way they began it , with guest Ron Marz ( Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Catwoman , Korak the Killer ), who'd just returned from South Africa with stories of an actual safari . It's mermaids in Mexico and memoirs about mammals in this very special episode.
Noel and Michael are joined by Tim from the CinemaSpection podcast to discuss Johnny Sheffield's last film as Boy. In many ways, Tarzan and the Huntress is a return to form for the series. Noel, Michael, and Tim talk about whether or not that's a good thing.
Michael and Noel welcome Carlin Trammel ( Nerd Lunch , Dragonfly Ripple , Pod James Pod ) for a jam-packed episode about leopard cults, home invasions, '50s sitcoms, colonialism, and Acquanetta.
Noel and Michael are joined by returning guest Melissa Kaercher ( A Reel Education , A Reel Education: Noir ) to discuss teenage Boy, the return of Jane, and a hidden civilization of warrior women in Sol Lesser and Johnny Weissmuller's third collaboration for RKO.
Michael and Noel are joined by Paxton Holley ( Nerd Lunch , Cult Film Club , Hellbent for Letterbox , I Read Movies ) to talk about Tarzan and Boy's spy adventure in the Sahara. It's an atypical Tarzan film and Pax - who's relatively fresh to the series - has lots of questions.
As Sol Lesser and RKO take over the Tarzan series from MGM, Noel and Michael welcome back guest Christopher Mills who helped review Lesser's first Tarzan film, Tarzan the Fearless , on Episode 8 of the podcast. In this new episode, we discuss whether the post-MGM series is in good hands, but also talk about the absence of Jane and of course Tarzan vs. Nazis.
Michael and Noel are joined by writer Martin Powell (Dark Horse Comics' Jungle Tales of Tarzan , Edgar Rice Burroughs Comic Strips ) to discuss the final chapter in MGM's Tarzan series.
Noel and Michael are joined again by Evie ( I Hate/Love Remakes ) to discuss the penultimate MGM Tarzan film, Tarzan's Secret Treasure , with Reginald Owen, Barry Fitzgerald, and Tom Conway's sinister mustache.
Michael, Noel, and guest David May review the decade that changed Tarzan forever in the public eye. We discuss not just the wild success of MGM and Johnny Weissmuller's interpretation, but the Burroughs novels from the decade as well as imitators from Bomba to Ka-Zar. Opening music from "Echoes of the Jungle" by Duke Ellington Closing music from "The Moon of Manakoora" by Dorothy Lamour
Noel and Michael are joined by guest Alan Middleton ( Relatively Geeky Podcast Network , Dorkness to Light ) to discuss the fourth MGM/Johnny Weissmuller film and the introduction of a major character to the series.
Michael and Noel are joined again by David May to discuss Sol Lesser's second Tarzan movie, the much maligned Tarzan's Revenge starring Glenn Morris. Is it as bad as its reputation or is it worth watching?
Noel and Michael are joined again by Melissa Kaercher ( A Reel Education , A Reel Education: Noir , Xanadu Cinema Pleasure Dome ), this time to talk about the first of many Bollywood Tarzan movies. Among other things, we discuss whether Toofani Tarzan is a remake or a ripoff, what Stormy Tarzan cologne would smell like, and most importantly: just what the hell is Dada?...
David May returns as guest when Michael and Noel jump back to MGM for the third movie in the Johnny Weissmuller series: Tarzan's Return . Or was it Tarzan and the Vampires ? No, wait, The Capture of Tarzan . Oh, that's right: Tarzan Escapes ! Featuring studio meddling, killer iguanas, the Hayes Code, and what happens when you let the monkey cook the roast.
Noel and Michael are joined by guest Melissa Kaercher ( A Reel Education , The Sound and the Foley ) to discuss Edgar Rice Burroughs' sole attempt at financing a Tarzan serial himself (with co-producer/actor Ashton Dearholt). We talk about the extremely troubled production, from its poor planning and even poorer sound to its Mayan space queens and wife-swapping producers. Was anything good able to come of the mess? Tune in and find out!...
Michael and Noel are joined by Kay from Fan Girl Blog and the Hyperspace Theories podcast to talk about MGM's second Tarzan film. Inspired by King Kong and a pivotal film in the history of the Hays Code, Tarzan and His Mate offers a lot to discuss.
Noel and Michael are joined by writer Christopher Mills ( Femme Noir , Gravedigger , Perils on Planet X , and the excellent blog Space: 1970 ) to discuss Tarzan the Fearless , a 12-chapter serial starring Buster Crabbe ( Buck Rogers , Flash Gordon ) and Julie Bishop ( The Black Cat ). It's also the first Tarzan film by legendary Tarzan producer Sol Lesser. Opening music from Tarzan the Fearless Closing music from "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult...
Michael and Noel welcome special guest, comics writer Ron Marz ( Batman/Tarzan: Claws of the Catwoman , Korak the Killer ) to talk about the first in the MGM/Weissmuller series: the iconic Tarzan the Ape Man . Opening music from "Voo Doo Dance" by George Richelavie (arranged by Paul Marquardt and Fritz Stahlberg) Closing music from "Tarzan and Rain," a mashup by The Reborn Identity...
Noel and Michael review the stories that influenced and were influenced by Tarzan up through 1929. Starting with Gilgamesh and ending with Tarzan the Tiger , we talk about Tarzan books, comics, and theater as well as connections to H Rider Haggard, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mickey Mouse. Opening music from "Wild Cat" by Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti Closing music from "Diga Diga Doo" by Duke Ellington
Michael and Noel wrap up the 1920s with guest David May and another 15-chapter serial. This time it's director Henry McRae's Tarzan the Tiger , starring Frank Merrill as Tarzan, Natalie Kingston as Jane, and Kithnou as Queen La of Opar. There's treasure, amnesia, and (thanks to this being a transitional film into the sound era) our first listen at a Tarzan yell.
Noel and Michael are joined this month by Evie ( I Hate/Love Remakes ) to discuss JP McGowan's Tarzan and the Golden Lion featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs' hand-picked Tarzan actor, Tarzan's sister(!), and Boris Karloff in blackface.
Michael and Noel are joined once again by David May to discuss Elmo Lincoln's return to the role of Tarzan in the 1921 serial The Adventures of Tarzan . Parts of it are lost, but The Serial Squadron has edited the remaining footage together, so we talk about how that worked, whether our opinions of Lincoln have changed since Tarzan of the Apes , and the introduction of some important elements of Tarzan lore....
Noel and Michael are joined again by David May to discuss the silent, 15-chapter serial, The Son of Tarzan, starring P. Dempsey Tabler as Tarzan, Karla Schramm as Jane, Gordon Griffith and Mae Giraci as young Korak and Meriem, and Kamuela C. Searle and Nita Martan as adult Korak and Meriem.
Noel and Michael are joined again by Michael's son David to discuss Scott Sidney's silent Tarzan of the Apes , starring Gordon Griffith and Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan and Enid Markey as Jane.
Noel and Michael are joined by special guest David May to build our jungle cabin and move in. We discuss our history with Tarzan (in film and otherwise), jungle adventures in general, and the format for the show.
