Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Good movie but grossly overrated

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

In Tarzan's Secret Treasure Johnny Sheffield finds gold at the bottom of the river where he and the family are out for their morning dip. The Boy knows nothing of what the yellow stuff is and Tarzan could care less as it doesn't effect his style of living, but Jane knows and wants it kept secret for all concerned.A scientific expedition saves young Sheffield from the clutches of a savage tribe and Johnny Weissmuller is naturally grateful. But when the kid gives away the secret of the gold two of the white men, Tom Conway and Phillip Dorn get real greedy as Maureen O'Sullivan knew they would. Not even the protestations of the expedition leader Reginald Owen dissuades the other two, in fact they withhold fever medicine from him so Owen dies.This episode of the Tarzan saga is nicely done and contains every kind of jungle peril out there, savage native tribes, attacking rhinoceros, lions, elephants and crocodiles. The last two figure in a very exciting climax when Tarzan puts things right in his jungle paradise.Tarzan's Secret Treasure also features a very droll performance by Barry Fitzgerald as a most lucky Irishman who was along on the expedition. Fitzgerald's character has a good heart and does earn Tarzan's gratitude for services above and beyond. But as the film ends I believe Weissmuller and O'Sullivan are trusting a bit much to man's better nature in regard to him.All in all, not too bad a Tarzan film.

I just saw this movie on DVD, and read comments about it in the IMDb comments section. I agree thoroughly with the comments by lovethoseclassics and lugonian, but wanted to add both my own enthusiastic thumbs up for this movie; and wanted to add a bit about my own reaction.First, the "basics" really are all there. I was delighted by the black-and-white cinematography. It is crisp and well-composed throughout this film. The pace is excellent and there is never a dull moment. The script provides a wonderful story with nothing wasted.I particularly liked the sequence in which we are given an opportunity to simply enjoy Tarzan and Jane and Boy and Cheetah in their life on the Escarpment, before the movie proceeds to a ripping classic adventure/action arrangement.There were some particular features of this movie that especially tickled me. For example, the persons composing the members of the expedition is something of a classic from Edgar Rice Burroughs and Rider Haggard. We have the South African Dutch Vandermeer: venal, cool, knowledgeable, experienced, dangerous; the Englishman Medford: wicked, sharp, greedy, ambitious, murderous; the Irish Dubliner O'Doul: funny, mordant, romantic, sentimental, alcoholic; and Professor Elliott: scientifically curious, generous, gentlemanly, respectful, naïve.The adventure scenes with Tarzan were provided with classic style and verve. Again in the grand tradition of Burroughs and Haggard, a typical scene combines the wonderful figure of Tarzan in action within the context of a delightful range of African venues. Consequently, we have: Tarzan facing savages and wild beasts in the depths of the lush jungle; Tarzan battling crocodiles and river-beasts and savages (again) in rivers teeming with dangers; Tarzan facing the wicked white men amid severe gorges and breathtaking drop-offs in the mountain fastnesses of the Escarpment. The pattern is dangerous micro-activity in the foreground, with breathtakingly scenic macro-landscapes in the background, and is to me wholly satisfying.Similarly, scenes like that of Tarzan swimming underwater, the river being punctured again and again by shafts of spears being cast at him, was to me gripping and scary and (again) wholly satisfying.And of course when Tarzan's elephants storm to his assistance, I felt once again that glorious sense of the Africa of Tarzan coming to the rescue in a mighty execution of justice that is (yes) wholly satisfying.All in all, this movie is such a delightful experience. I'm so grateful it was reissued, along with the other 5 Tarzan movies with classic Weismuller/O'Sullivan collaboration, in a DVD collection, which is the source from which I saw it this evening. I would recommend this movie to anyone.

Wow! I really enjoyed this one even if the formula at work here had gotten a little predictable...this still has fantastic action, great animal chase scenes(who knew a Rhino could be so mean and deadly?) and an entertaining supporting character in Barry Fitzgerald's O'Doul. Great fun! Favorite scenes: O'Doul outsmarts a crocodile ...

Nasty, great white hunters trick Boy and Jane into helping them steal Tarzan's secret cache of gold. During the getaway, they're captured by the even nastier Gaboni tribe who have some rather unpleasant activities planned for their captives. Tarzan to the rescue with the help of his elephant friends. This is one of my favorite Tarzan movies. Tom Conway is the epitome of debonair sleaziness and Barry Fitzgerald is great as a lovable Irishman who refers to the Ape Man as Mr. Tarzan.