JohnHowardReid Copyright 12 January 1943 by Principal Artists Productions. Presented by Sol Lesser. Released through RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Palace: 4 February 1943. U.S. release: 20 January 1943. Australian release: 23 December 1943. 7,601 feet. 84½ minutes. (Copyright length: 76 minutes).SYNOPSIS: Tarzan makes war on the Nazis. A political allegory in which Zandra represents Britannia (she is even costumed accordingly - at least to some degree), and Tarzan, American isolationist non-involvement.NOTES: Producer Sol Lesser's 5th Tarzan feature - but his first for RKO release.COMMENT: This is another Tarzan and the Lost City - not as interesting as Tarzan and the Amazons owing to the more clichéd script and pasteboard characters, the less inventive direction, and a distinctly second-string support cast. Nonetheless, despite its dated subject matter, it is still frequently aired on TV. There's more than enough action to compensate for the over-use of stock footage and other cost-cutting infelicities. What's more, Frances Gifford makes a most attractive heroine, while Sheffield is still young enough to grab the viewer's indulgence and Weissmuller himself is both comparatively animated yet still reasonably athletic.However, the comic relief from Sig Rumann's harassed sergeant and Cheta's harassing chimpanzee grows more than a trifle wearisome. The straight material with its obviously allegorical plotting is presented with the same degree of sledgehammer subtlety.Yet despite routine direction, Poverty Row sets, amateurish special effects and less than slick production values, Tarzan Triumphs holds the interest. The climax in which Weissmuller taunts the Nazi before leading him to a gruesome death (even though not explicitly shown on camera) has a prolonged, psychologically violent intensity rare in the kiddies' matinee film.OTHER VIEWS: Jane is away in England, so Tarzan battles the Nazis. Quickie, low budget offering, though the last half of the film is rather more expansively produced than the first and the climax itself is moderately exciting. - John Howard Reid writing as Geoge Addison.

sol ***SPOILERS*** Unintentionally hilarious WWII propaganda flick done in all seriousness, which makes it so funny, with the peace loving ani-gun and isolationist jungle man Tarzan, Johnny Weismuller, throwing away his pacifist ideas and taking the fight to the Nazis together with his jungle friends , lions elephants and chimpanzees, with all the fury of a summer monsoon.Like the famous Jimmy Durante quote "Everybody wants to get inta the Act" it was only a matter of time that Tarzan who was completely natural in the war between the allies and Nazi Germany would ends up joining the allies not because of anything what the Nazis were doing in Europe and North Africa but in his home ground darkest Africa! The evil Nazis lead by paratroop commander Col.Von Reichart, Stanley Ridges, had taken over the lost city of Palandrya and enslaved it's peace loving population to do the heavy lifting in mining and drilling the areas rich oil and mineral reserves. It's Tarzan's new girlfriend, with Jane now in London caring for her sick mom, Zandra, Frances Gifford, who gets the jungle man to take on the Nazis after they kidnapped his son Boy "The Boy Wonder", Johnny Sheffield.Tarzan as mad as a raging cape buffalo in that his private world, as well as son Boy, were being abused by the Nazis really goes bananas as he swings into action against them. In no time at all Tarzan has all the jungle animals as well as the now liberated and both now armed and non-passive Palandryans go on the warpath against the hated Nazi scum who thought that they could pull over them what they've been pulling over the occupied European population for the last three years. I noticed in the film that even though it was supposed to take place in darkest Africa there was not a single African or African/American actor in its entire cast?***SPOILERS***Memerable finale sequence with Tarzan chasing the now on the run, from the wild animals in the jungle, Col. Von Reichart taunting him by calling Col. Von Reichart "Nazi" which in Tarzan not being quite able to pronoun the world correctly sounded as if he was calling for ride by saying "Taxi". As things turned out it was one of Tarzan's jungle friends, a 500 pond lion, who ended up doing the colonel in by having him for lunch. We of course can't forget the real hero in the film, like he's in all Tarzan movies, Cheeta the friendly and mischievous chimpanzee who steals the show with both his crazy and monkey-like antics as well as his imitation of the Nazi German Fuhrer Adolph Hitler!

Petri Pelkonen Tarzan has to make war against The Third Reich, when the Nazis enter the jungle looking for some mineral resources of the lost city of Palandria.The white princess Zandra manages to escape and asks Tarzan to help the enslaved people of her city.He refuses at first, but then Boy gets kidnapped.Tarzan Triumphs (1943) is directed by Wilhelm Thiele.This film was made after U.S. State Department contacted the producer to tell him that a Tarzan film was an ideal way to spread the message of democracy's battle against Fascism to the American public.Johnny Weissmuller portrays the character once again famously.Weissmuller had portrayed the character six times with MGM, but this was his first one with the producer Sol Lesser at RKO pictures.Johnny Sheffield reprises his role as Boy.And naturally Cheetah is there.Jane is missing, since she is visiting her sick mother in England.Maureen O'Sullivan was unable to reprise her role due to her pregnancy.A couple of pictures later Brenda Joyce, who sadly passed away last month, took the part.The beautiful Frances Gifford plays Zandra.There is something going on between Tarzan and Zandra, that seems almost romantic, like when they're swimming together.But of course Tarzan couldn't cheat on Jane.Stanley Ridges plays Colonel Von Reichart.Sig Ruman is the somewhat comical Nazi Sergeant.Philip Van Zandt portrays Captain Bausch.This Tarzan movie is a great adventure flick that has a darker tone.Of course we all know what kind of damage The Third Reich caused back then, and now Tarzan gets to have his own battle against them.He shows them who the king of the jungle is.It's all very thrilling when Cheetah is chased by a Nazi and Boy is being captured.Cheetah brings some light comedy into the picture.In one funny scene he steals a fruit from smaller monkeys, and he gets thrown by a fruit by them on his face.And in the end he speaks to the Nazis in Berlin through the radio, and they believe it's Hitler that speaks.It should be an offense to Cheetah to be mistaken for such a man.This is a great Tarzan film that has a message.And that message is: In jungle, strong always win.

Space_Mafune This is the most unpleasant Weissmuller Tarzan film I've ever seen. There's simply too much pro-war rhetoric, too much violence and killing and nowhere near enough fun. Fun is what one expects from the Tarzan films of this era, not war propaganda. Still can't deny the ending scene with Cheetah is unforgettable.