Erbzine.com Homepage
Original Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site
Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Webpages in Archive
Issue 0580
Presents a Combined Feature Compendium
with
ERBzine of the Silver Screen
and
ERB Emporium: Trading Cards & Comics
TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY (1952)


 Lex Barker

THE OTHER LEX BARKER TARZAN FILMS
Tarzan's Magic Fountain | Tarzan and the Slave Girl | Tarzan's Peril | Tarzan's Savage Fury | Tarzan and the She-Devil
FILM CREDITS
Tarzan's Savage Fury (1952)
Movie Credits:
Directed by Cy Endfield
Produced by Sol Lesser; MGM
Writing credits: Cyril Hume  ~ Hans Jacoby ~ Shirley White
Genre: Action / Adventure
Music: Paul Sawtell
Setting: An African jungle in the 1950s
Plot Summary:
Tarzan's cousin comes to Africa in hopes that Tarzan will help him secure a fortune in diamonds essential to England's military security. The cousin is immediately killed off by his guide Rokov who persuades Edwards to impersonate the cousin. Joey (Boy's substitute) was used by natives as crocodile bait until Tarzan rescued him.
Cast:
Lex Barker (Alexander Crichlow Barker Jr. ~ 1919-1973): Tarzan
Dorothy Hart: Jane
Patric Knowles: Edwards, English Traitor
Charles Korvin: Rokov, Russian Agent
Tommy Carlton: Joey

    Also Known As:
Tarzan, the Hunted (1952)
Runtime: USA: 81~ Black and White


LEX BARKER / TARZAN TRIVIA


Lex Barker was born Alexander Crichlow Barker, Jr. on May 8, 1919, in Rye, N.Y., and died in New York City on May 11, 1973.


Barker was a direct descendant of the founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, and of Sir William Henry Crichlow, historical governor-general of Barbados.


Lex Barker, a member of an extremely prominent family in New York society, was effectively disowned by his family upon his decision to become an actor.


In 1940 he appeared in the theater play "The Five Kings" which is directed by Orson Wells.


Barker was married five times: Constanze Thurlow (42.01.21 - 50.11.02), Arlene Dahl (51.04.16 - 52.10),  Lana Turner (53.09.08 - 57.07.22), Irene Labhardt  (1957 - 1962 died), Maria "Tita" del Carmen Cervera (1965 - 1972)

Lex Barker Stats: Height: 1.93 m ~ Weight: 86 kg
Barker fathered three children: daughter, Lynne (1943) ~ son, Alexander (March 25, 1947) ~ son, Christopher (1960).



Lex Barker, who plays Tarzan half clad, was listed as one of the best dressed men in Hollywood ~ 1950: Hollywood Report

Barker was one of the few movie Tarzans to perform his own ape yell -- a version similiar to the familiar MGM Weissmuller version.


The photo of Lord Greystoke in Tarzan's Savage Fury is really Lex Barker in a beard and mustache. Sol Lesser asked Lex Barker to feature his real son in the movie, but Barker declined... preferring to keep his son out of the public spotlight.

For safety reasons, Barker was prohibited from skiing during the filming of his series of Tarzan pictures.

Young starlet Marilyn Monroe was turned down for the role of Jane in Tarzan and the Slave Girl.

In La Dolce Vita (1959), Lex was Anita Ekberg’s jealous and drunken fiance, Robert, an American film actor who played in Tarzan films.

Cashing in on his popularity in "Kraut Westerns," Lex recorded two German love songs sung in the style of western ballads.

Lex Barker's Euro-Western film, Treasure of Silver Lake, has remained the great German box-office success story, unsurpassed even by Titanic.

Lex Barker and Ron Ely, the American TV Tarzan, performed a Tarzan sketch on German television.

Despite his International success as a movie actor ~ Tarzan, 73 films, awards ~ Lex Barker's achievements have never be acknowledge on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

Barker's younger son, Christopher, born in 1960 to Swiss actress Irene Labhardt,  now follows a career of his own as a singer and actor in Germany where he works in television and has recorded albums in German and English. 

Tarzan’s Peril was the first Tarzan film that was partly shot in Africa and not relying on African footage taken from other films (i.e. Trader Horn).

3-D TRADING CARDS ~ Part I
Scenes 1-15
Copyright T.C.G  Ptd. in U.S.A.
Courtesy Sol Lesser Productions, Inc.
Put On Your 3-D Glasses: Red and Green
1. JUNGLE MASTER
1. JUNGLE MASTER
Tarzan of the Apes faces a gorilla as he passes through the jungle. The giant ape stares at the lord of the jungle, and challenges the ape-man to mortal combat.  Tarzan answers the challenge, and the two are soon locked in a fight to the death. The struggle is fierce until Tarzan's strong arms circle the gorilla's body in a vise-like grip. Then it is over!
2. TREACHERY
2. TREACHERY
Far from Tarzan's tree-house, a strange scene is taking place. Lord Greystoke, Tarzan's cousin, is going through the jungle, looking for the apeman. His guide, Rockoff, sights a lion. "Quickly," says Rokoff. "Shoot him, I'll stay back to cover you." Then, while Lord Greystoke is not looking, Rokoff fires. But his shot is not aimed at the lion. He kills Tarzan's cousin!
3. A STRANGE PLAN
3. A STRANGE PLAN
Rokoff, the jungle guide, tells his companion, Edwards, that he has just killed Tarzan's cousin. "Now," says Rokoff, "it will be easy for you to make believe you're Lord Greystoke. Tarzan never saw his cousin, and he won't know the difference." They go through the murdered Lord Greystoke's thins, and travel through the jungle to find Tarzan. Danger travels with them.
4. LIVING BAIT
4. LIVING BAIT
On his way back to his treehouse after his fight with the gorilla, Tarzan comes upon a scene of terror! A white boy is in a stream, attracting a fierce crocodile towards him.  Then, as the crocodile rushes for  the boy, natives on the shore pull a rope attached to the boy's waist . . . pulling him to shore. But the rope catches on a branch, and the boy is stuck. Tarzan dives in!
5. GAPING JAWS
5. GAPING JAWS
Tarzan races through the water and reaches the crocodile just before its jaws can close on the struggling boy. He throws his powerful arms around the scaly body and hangs on.  They turn in the water, the crocodile trying to tear the ape-man's body with its teeth. Then Tarzan plunges his knife into the heart of the great beast. With a sudden shudder, it sinks to the bottom! 
6. TARZAN FIGHTS
6. TARZAN FIGHTS
As soon as Tarzan has killed the crocodile, he swims to the shore and faces the startled natives. "Why do you throw boys into stream!" he asks. The natives explain they use them for bait.  "You not do that!" orders Tarzan. "We do what we please," answer the natives as they jump on Tarzan. Tarzan grabs the first one and throws him against the rest. They all run!
7. TARZAN MEETS JOE
7. TARZAN MEETS JOE
After the natives have run away, Tarzan looks at the boy and asks him who he is. "My name is Joseph Martin," says the boy. "My parents were killed in he jungle, and I've been living with natives. I ran away from the missionary school."  Tarzan tells the boy that he must go back to the school. But Joseph doesn't want to. He wants to stay with Tarzan, keeps following him.
8. JUNGLE FRIENDS
8. JUNGLE FRIENDS
In spite of Tarzan's annoyance, Joseph insists on following the ape-man through the jungle instead of going back to the missionary school. "All right," says Tarzan. "I keep you with me until we get to Jane. She decide what to do." Before long, the two of them are good friends, and Joseph does tricks before the camp-fire as Tarzana and Cheeta applaud. But trouble is coming. 
9. FOOD NEEDED
9. FOOD NEEDED
Tarzan and Joseph are making the long journey to Tarzan's tree-house, when Joseph complains that he is hungry. Tarzan grunts, "I show you how to catch food in the jungle!"  They creep to the edge of an open area where an unsuspecting animal is waiting. Then Tarzan jumps. One plunge of his knife and food is ready!
10. TERROR-FILLED EYES
10. TERROR-FILLED EYES
After they have eaten, Tarzan and Joseph are startled by the nearby roar of Numa, the lion. Joseph jumps. "I am afraid. Lions killed my father and mother!"  Tarzan looks at Joseph and says, "You must not have fear. Look lions in the eyes, and show them you are master!" Joseph and Tarzan stare long and hard at the lion. Numa puts his tail between his legs and slinks away!
11. JUNGLE TRAVEL
11. JUNGLE TRAVEL
Tarzan and his new friend, Joseph, are on their way to Tarzan's tree-house. "Travelling on ground too slow," says Tarzan. "Can you swing through trees?" Joseph answers, "I sure can try."  Tarzan shows him some of his tricks, and soon all of them . . .  Tarzan, Joseph, and Cheeta . . .  are flying through trees on the way home. This is the way to travel through the jungle!
12. TARZAN AND JANE
12. TARZAN AND JANE
At last, Tarzan and Joseph arrive at the tree-house, where they are met by Jane. Tarzan greets his mate and then introduces her to Joseph. "This my new friend," says Tarzan. "He stay here with us for a while."  Jane smiles and says, "All right. But first he must get washed. You are both filthy from the long trip." Tarzan picks Joseph up and tosses him into the water!
13. IN THE WATER
13. IN THE WATER
Tarzan and his little friend, Joe, are splashing around in the lake below Tarzan's tree-house. Off to one side, Jane is seated comfortably and watching. "See that you both get good and clean," she says.  Tarzan and Joe look at each other and smile. Then they dive under the surface, and swim under water. When they reach the spot where Jane is seated, they grab her. She gets wet, too!
14. DANGER APPROACHES
14. DANGER APPROACHES
Tarzan's new friend, Joe, is standing on a high rock when he sees something moving in the distance. As he watches, it comes closer and closer, until he recognizes it as a safari.  He runs to tell Tarzan, not knowing that the leaders of the safari are criminals. Rokoff, the leader, has killed Tarzan's first cousin and has arranged for the other white man, Edwards, to pretend he is the cousin. 
15. THE MEETING
15. THE MEETING
Rokoff, the villainous leader of the safari, introduces Tarzan to Lord Greystoke, Tarzan's cousin. But Tarzan doesn't know that Rokoff has killed the real Lord Greystoke, and this man is an impostor.  The ape-man's jungle training tells him that something is wrong, but he doesn't know what it can be. He invites them to stay in his tree-house for the night, and they do!

 
JUNGLE LAND
A small illustrated feature found on the back of each of the
Tarzan's Savage Fury 3-D Trading Cards.
1. In Africa the lion is the menace of the watering hole. Zebra, gazelle and even the crocodile fall victim to his 500 lbs. of power and temper.

2. A native tracker carries a pouch of powdered wood ashes to help detect changes of wind. The pattern of dew on a leaf has a meaning for him.

3. The tribal canoe has many uses - hunting, trading and fighting. It is sometimes manned by as many as 60 carefully chosen husky paddlers.

4. In Africa, man and beast alike are salt starved and salt is eaten like candy. The native readily trades ivory or furs for this precious item.

5. The sailor shipwrecked on the shores of Africa might have been better off adrift, for often his head soon decorated a pole in a nearby village.

6. Not long ago the sailor, the explorer and the hunter never got far from the big flat sandy beaches because jungle war parties drove him off.

7. Some tribesmen believe animal souls can enter their bodies and turn them into beasts. These Leopardmen prowl the night trails to slay and maim.

8. In some remote places, warning signs or taboos are set in the trails to warn the trespasser to go no further under pain of sudden death.

9. Each witch doctor has his own magic words and methods and knowledge of herbs and poultices. Many of them are keen students of human nature.

10. The African elephant has an ear-spread of up to 15 ft., weighs 4 tons, is 11 ft. tall, yet many are speared to death by hungry tribesmen.

11. The King of Beasts is also the tyrant of the plains and is hunted down by relentless spearmen with especially long bladed hunting spears.

12. Among some tribes an enemy's head must be collected in battle before a young man may be considered a full-fledged warrior ready for marriage.

13. The lion is feared and respected by all natives. When he has been slain, the spearmen dance in a circle and chant songs about his great bravery.

14. Next to the chief, the witch doctor is the most important man in the tribe -- sometimes is both judge and jury when a crime has been committed.

15. The silent quicksand can catch and hold the mightiest of beasts, and the native must be ever watchful when traveling the great swamp country.

.
TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY (1952) REVIEW (2011)
Classic Horror Film Board Member Review

The fourth of Lex Barker's Tarzan films is probably the most exciting of the Barker outings, thanks in large part to snappy direction by Cy (MYSTERIOUS ISLAND) Endfield and a strong script filled with rapid-fire pulp-action and some actual references to E.R. Burroughs' Tarzan books.  I suspect that of the four writers credited on imdb Cyril (FORBIDDEN PLANET) Hume was the most likely to have provided these references, since he had also penned three previous Tarzan films before this, not least TARZAN THE APE MAN (1932), which jumpstarted the ape-man franchise for the sound era.

The plot here strongly recalls 1943's TARZAN TRIUMPHS, in which the sociological quarrels of the outside world impinge on Tarzan's jungle paradise.  In the earlier film, the jungle is invaded by Nazi troops, but as FURY takes place during the Cold War, the villains are Communists-- although only one, Rokov (Charles Korvin), is faithful to the cause.  His accomplice Edwards is an Englishman who, under Rokov's tutelage, poses as Tarzan's cousin from England. The cousin does accompany Rokov and Edwards to Africa, for the purpose of getting Tarzan's help in securing a treasure of diamonds for England's military security.  However, once there Rokov kills the cousin, so that he and Edwards can obtain the diamonds for the sake of the Communist regime. References to Rokov's politics are spotty, the best being where he sneers at Edwards' being promoted from "bourgeousie" to the aristocracy through just one bullet.

In addition, the filmmakers apparently gave some thought to giving Tarzan and Jane a new "boy," played by Tommy Carlton, who in 1952 was two years older than Johnny Sheffield was when he essayed the role in TARZAN FINDS A SON! (1939). Though Tarzan calls the kid "boy" a few times, this time the orphan has a real name, Joey.  Tarzan, upon hearing the kid speak English, presumes that Joey is English, and comically insists that the boy is English even after Joey claims to be an American. Carlton gives a good performance in scenes where Tarzan has to talk him into facing his fears, and even helps Tarzan out in a climactic scene, but Joey made no more appearances (and neither did Carlton as an actor).

Many Tarzan films fall into a fairly routine pattern of perils but FURY keeps up a good variety of pitfalls.  After Tarzan, Jane and Joey lead Rokov's party through a scorching desert (prefiguring Endfield's later hot-spot encounter in SANDS OF THE KALAHARI), the group has a dangerous encounter with a cannibal tribe before being taken prisoner by another tribe, the Waziris, who have access to the coveted diamonds.  Tarzan leaves the village in the company of a village elder, and in his absence Rokov beguiles the natives with some wild magic tricks.  (This is probably one of the few, if not the only, Tarzan films that can fit my trope "enthralling hypnotism and stage magic!")  Rokov then repays the natives' trust by killing their witch doctor and stealing some of their diamonds.  For good measure he leaves Edwards to die in a lion pit and then tries to drop Tarzan into the pit as well.  After Joey helps Tarzan escape, Tarzan returns the favor to Rokov (as seen in the illo above) and then rushes back to the village, where he's just in time to keep Jane from being sacrificed beneath the jaws of an alligator-idol.

A word on the aforementioned Burroughs-references: in the novels "the Waziri" are the first African tribe to pledge allegiance to Tarzan, and appear in many later books as his retinue.  In FURY they remain autonomous to the end, and are presented with some degree of respect.  The script even suggests that Darby Jones' witch doctor may have some psychic talent, since after casting the bones he sees a vision of a diamond.  This causes him to intercept Rokov in the middle of ripping off the tribe's diamonds, though the witch doctor dies for his trouble.  FURY is one of the few sound films to reference Tarzan's aristocratic heritage, though for convenience the origin is rewritten so that Tarzan and his father actually lived together in the jungle for some time before the father's death.  In fact, the Waziri remember Tarzan's father as a man who tried to teach them the "Good Book," but thankfully this missionary motif gets very little screen time.

Rokov probably takes his name from one of the print-Tarzan's better villains, Nikolas Rokoff, a Russian (but not Communist) malefactor who gives the apeman a hard time in RETURN OF TARZAN.  Here Rokov invades the jungle not with the massive *forza* used by the Nazis in TRIUMPHS, but with *froda.* One might imagine that the guile Rokov uses in his magic performance touches on the manipulations of Communist rhetoric, though to be sure the magic tricks may've come about simply because Endfield himself was a well-regarded practitioner of stage magic.  Moreover, FURY was directed roughly a year after Huac named Endfield a Communist-- which may well explain why, even though the film's villains are implied Communists, there's really very little anti-Commie rhetoric here.  That said, the film does suggest, better than many Tarzan films, the fate of Africa and other third-world areas being caught up in the quarrels of two opposed "Great Powers."

 Tarzan’s Savage Fury
A 1951 Review in Variety
A series of unexciting jungle heroics are offered in Tarzan's Savage Fury. The long-lived film series introduces a sort of Tarzan Jr, in the person of young Joey (Tommy Carlton), a jungle boy taken in by Tarzan and Jane (Lex Barker, Dorothy Hart). Moppet tags along when the jungle lord and ride lead a party into dangerous Wazuri country on a diamond hunt.

Tarzan has been sold a bill of goods by Rokov (Charles Korvin) and Edwards (Patric Knowles), latter posing as Tarzan’s English cousin, that the diamonds are for England’s war industry. Trek through jungle and over desert and mountains is dragged out very slowly by Cy Endfield’s direction.

Carlton is introduced while being used as crocodile bait by some native hunters. Kid’s muscular physique fits in with the demands of the series. Technical credits are standard.
 
 
 

.
TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY
PHOTOS & LOCATIONS GALLERY


Click for full-screen image
Lex Barker and Dorothy Hart portrait by Dave Hoover
From Tarzan's Savage Fury


Savage Fury Movie Poster from SpainSavage Fury Movie Poster from ArgentinaSpanish PosterSavage Fury Movie Poster from Yugoslavia
Cliffs of Nyoka at Iverson RanchGarden of the Gods at Iverson Ranch - Wazuri Village


Click for full sizes



MANY MORE IMAGES AT
TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY
LOBBY DISPLAYS I and II
 www.erbzine.com/mag5/0580a.html
 www.erbzine.com/mag5/0580b.html

TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY 
COMPENDIUM CONTENTS
ERBzine SILVER SCREEN SERIES
ERBzine 0580
Film Credits
Lex Barker Tarzan Film Trivia
Pt. I: 3-D Cards 1-15
Jungle Land 1-15 | Posters and Locations
LOBBY DISPLAY I: Posters | Lobby Cards
LOBBY DISPLAY II: Glossies and Lobby Cards
ERBzine 0581
Lex Barker Biography
Lex Barker Photo Gallery
Pt: II: 3-D Cards 16-30
Jungle Land 16-30
ERBzine 0582
Pt III: 3-D Cards 31-45
Jungle Land 31-45
Lex Barker Filmography (IMDB)
Lex Barker Filmography & Links (E-Online)
Tarzan's Savage Fury gallery of Movie Stills
ERBzine 0583
Pt. IV: 3-D Cards 46-60
Jungle Land 46-60
Lex Barker Gallery of Comics Covers
Lex Barker Tarzan Film Reference Links

THE OTHER LEX BARKER TARZAN FILMS
Tarzan's Magic Fountain | Tarzan and the Slave Girl | Tarzan's Peril | Tarzan's Savage Fury | Tarzan and the She-Devil


TARZAN'S MAGIC FOUNTAIN TARZAN'S MAGIC FOUNTAIN
ERBzine 0629
(1949 ~ 73m ~ RKO)
LOCATIONS: CA: RKO Culver City 40 Acres backlot
CAST: Lex Barker ~ Brenda Joyce ~ Elmo Lincoln cameo
LOBBY DISPLAY: Posters ~ Lobby Cards ~ Stills
TARZAN AND THE SLAVE GIRL
ERBzine 1950
(1950 ~ 74m ~ RKO)
LOCATIONS: CA: Arboretum ~ Iverson Movie Ranch ~ 
RKO Culver City Studio 40 Acres backlot
CAST: Lex Barker ~ Vanessa Brown
TARZAN AND THE SLAVE GIRL

TARZAN'S PERIL
TARZAN'S PERIL
ERBzine 1951
(1951 ~ 79m ~ RKO)
LOCATIONS: CA: Arboretum ~ Iverson Movie Ranch ~ 
RKO Culver City Studio 40 Acres backlot
CAST: Lex Barker ~ Virginia Houston
LOBBY DISPLAY 1
LOBBY DISPLAY 2
TARZAN AND THE SHE-DEVIL
ERBzine 1952
(1953 ~ 76m ~ RKO)
LOCATIONS: RKO Culver City Studio 40 Acres backlot
CAST: Lex Barker ~ Joyce Mackenzie
LOBBY DISPLAY
TARZAN AND THE SHE-DEVIL

From
ERBzine Weekly Webzine
ERBzine.com
The Fantastic Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs
ERB Companion Sites Created by Bill Hillman
Tarzan.com
Tarzan.com
ERBzine Weekly Webzine
ERBzine.com
Danton Burroughs Website: Tarzana Treasure Vaults
DantonBurroughs.com
Tarzan.org
Tarzan.org
Burroughs Bibliophiles
BurroughsBibliophiles.com
John Coleman Burroughs Tribute Site
JohnColemanBurroughs.com
Tarzine: Official Monthly Webzine of ERB, Inc.
Tarzan.com/tarzine
John Carter of Mars
JohnCarterOfMars.ca
Edgar Rice Burroughs
ERBzine.com/edgarriceburroughs
ERBzine Weekly Webzine
Weekly Webzine
Danton Burroughs Weekly Webzine
Weekly Webzine
Pellucidar
Pellucidar.org

John Carter Film

ERB, Inc. Corporate Site

ERB Centennial

tarzana.ca



Volume 0580

BILL HILLMAN
Visit our thousands of other sites at:
BILL AND SUE-ON HILLMAN ECLECTIC STUDIO
ERB Text, ERB Images and Tarzan® are ©Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.- All Rights Reserved.
All Original Work ©1996-2010/2023 by Bill Hillman and/or Contributing Authors/Owners
No part of this web site may be reproduced without permission from the respective owners.