Red River Scrapbook
Movie Night at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum Nov. 14
By Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum
Nov 12, 2009

Greenville -- Tarzan fans will enjoy November’s movie as (in my opinion) the best Tarzan of all, Johnny Weissmuller, and Frances Gifford star in Tarzan Triumphs. 

In this 78-minute film, Nazi paratroopers invade the hidden city of the lost civilization of Palandrya with plans of mining the jungle of its minerals and natural resources to aid Hitler's war effort. Palandryan princess Zandra (Frances Gifford) comes to Tarzan for help from the invading Nazis but reluctant Tarzan becomes involved only after the Nazis shoot him and capture Boy.

Zandra revives the wounded Tarzan who growls the immortal line: "Now Tarzan make war!" Tarzan and Zandra lead the Palandryans in an assault on the Germans.

This is the first Tarzan film in which the ape man does not have Jane by his side; she is visiting relatives in England.  Frances Gifford, while not romantically linked to Tarzan, provides the feminine touch.  

Made during wartime, the film contained much anti-Nazi propaganda and emphasized Tarzan as a symbol of freedom and spokesman for democracy and the American way of life while presenting the Nazis as being vicious and sub-human.

Movie Night at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum, which will begin at 6pm on Saturday, November 14  is free; popcorn and soft drinks will be available. We will also show Chapter 3 of “Tailspin Tommy."