Tarzan & The Green Goddess (1938)

Tarzan and the Green Goddess is a feature-length film edited from the 1935 serial The New Adventures of Tarzan, starring Herman Brix (later known as Bruce Bennett) as a more intellectual and articulate Tarzan, closer to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original literary creation than the grunting jungle man popularized by Johnny Weissmuller.

Plot Summary
Tarzan joins an expedition to Guatemala in search of a sacred artifact known as the Green Goddess, which contains not only immense cultural value but also secret military documents. The journey pits Tarzan against treacherous explorers, jungle hazards, and local resistance, as he fights to protect the relic and uphold justice.

This 1938 film is essentially the second half of the original serial, repackaged for theatrical release. It continues the storyline from Tarzan’s Revenge and The New Adventures of Tarzan, focusing on the climax of the search and the final confrontation with the villainous Major Martling and his associates.

Cast Highlights

• Herman Brix as Tarzan
• Ula Holt as Ula Vale
• Frank Baker as Major Martling
• Lewis Sargent, Ashton Dearholt, and Don Castello in supporting roles

Production Notes

• Filmed on location in Guatemala, giving it a more authentic jungle backdrop than studio-bound productions
• Produced by Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises, with Edgar Rice Burroughs himself involved in the project
• Brix’s portrayal emphasized intelligence, athleticism, and diplomacy, contrasting sharply with the more primitive portrayals of the era
• The serial was split into two features: The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935) and Tarzan and the Green Goddess (1938), both using the same footage but edited for standalone viewing