Tarzan the Fearless (1933)
Directed by Robert F. Hill and produced by Sol Lesser, Tarzan the Fearless is a fascinating entry in the early cinematic legacy of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ jungle hero. Released in 1933, it starred Buster Crabbe—an Olympic gold medalist swimmer—as Tarzan, marking one of the few times the character was portrayed by a blonde actor. The film was originally conceived as a 12-chapter serial, though only a condensed feature version survives today.
Plot Summary
Tarzan helps Mary Brooks (played by Julie Bishop, credited as Jacqueline Wells) search for her missing father, Dr. Brooks, who has been captured by the mysterious High Priest of Zar, ruler of a jungle cult that worships the god of the Emerald Fingers. As Tarzan battles wild animals, hostile natives, and treacherous terrain, he ultimately rescues Mary and her father, taking them to safety in his jungle domain.
Cast Highlights
- Buster Crabbe as Tarzan
- Julie Bishop as Mary Brooks
- Edward Woods as Bob Hall
- Mischa Auer as the High Priest of Zar
- Philo McCullough, E. Alyn Warren, and Matthew Betz in supporting roles
- Features Jiggs as Cheeta the chimpanzee
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The original 12-chapter serial included titles like The Dive of Death, Voodoo Vengeance, and Jungle Justice
- The complete serial version is considered lost, with only the 86-minute UK feature version surviving in full. The shorter 61-minute U.S. version left many plot threads unresolved
- The film was released with a trailer teasing future chapters, but some theaters failed to show it—leading to confusion over the abrupt ending
- Crabbe’s Tarzan was mostly silent, relying on pantomime and physicality rather than dialogue. His Tarzan yell was notably subdued compared to Johnny Weissmuller’s iconic version
- The production used stock footage liberally, including scenes of non-African wildlife like American alligators
