Bowl of Serials: Tarzan the Tiger Episode 12

Bowl of Serials delves into the world of movie serials in cinematic history, one episode at a time.  First up, Tarzan the Tiger, a 15 episode serial that ran in theaters weekly between 1929 and 1930.  The episodes starred Frank Merrill (Tarzan), Natalie Kingston (Jane), Al Ferguson (Werper), and Kithnou (La) and were directed by Henry MacRae.
We return to our story to find Tarzan has left Jane to track down some approaching baddies. Unfortunately, the bad guys find Jane before Tarzan finds them. Jane retreats onto a log which crosses a crocodile-infested river. The log breaks, Jane falls, and the crocs move in.

Tarzan leaps into the water and makes the save, wrestling and killing one of the beasts. The couple head on to find treasure and the amnesiac Tarzan's lost memories. Their enemies, the high priestess La and Tarzan's false friend Werper lay plans to trap our heroes.

Back in England at the Greystoke estate, Tarzan's advisor Beardsley expresses concern that no one has heard from the Greystokes since they entered the jungle. Tarzan's cousin Annersley volunteers to go to Africa to find his missing relatives. However, when he's alone, Annersley reads a letter from Werper directing him to come to the jungle.

Next, we are back in Africa and Tarzan and Jane have found the Temple of Opar, home to massive treasure and (Jane hopes) the key to regaining Tarzan's memories. Tarzan recognizes the building, but remembers it looking different. As the apeman clears debris from the entrance, one of La's men sees the couple and reports back to the high priestess.

Tarzan and Jane enter the treasure room and Tarzan seems to be regaining memories. Werper tries to sneak up on our hero, but he senses the attack and a fight ensues. Locked in combat, the two seem to fall over a ledge as La's men converge on Jane.


There are some good things here. The crocodile fight is awesome. Putting the amnesia subplot behind us had me cheering. The Tarzan-Werper battle feels like a cliffhanger.

So why for the love of the Flaming God are we heading to England to introduce characters as we enter the serial's climax? There are only three episodes after this. I want Werper to die horribly. I want La to be spurned but survive. I don't care a bit what happens to this new villain a continent away that I'm just meeting.

With the exception of the England scene, this was a good entry in the series. I cannot wait to see how it ends.