Tarzan and the Lost Safari

Tarzan and the Lost Safari
Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	April 12, 1957; 69 years ago
Founder	H. Bruce Humberstone (director)
Headquarters	Nairobi, British East Africa
Products	Action-adventure film

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Tarzan and the Lost Safari, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 2025

Tarzan and the Lost Safari is a 1957 action-adventure motion picture that showcases Edgar Rice Burroughs' legendary jungle character Tarzan, featuring performances by Gordon Scott, Robert Beatty, Yolande Donlan, and Betta St. John. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, this film marks the first instance of a Tarzan movie produced in color, utilizing Eastman Color. As the nineteenth installment in the Tarzan franchise, which originated with 1932's Tarzan the Ape Man, it represents MGM's return to producing Tarzan films after a hiatus since 1942. The production was shot on location in Nairobi, British East Africa, and notably omits the character of Jane. It premiered on April 12, 1957, and was succeeded by Tarzan and the Trappers in 1958.

Plot

Set in 1956, an aircraft crashes deep within the jungle of the Kenya Colony in British East Africa, leaving passengers Gamage Dean (Yolande Donlan), Diana Penrod (Betta St. John), "Doodles" Fletcher (Wilfrid Hyde-White), Carl Kraski (George Coulouris), and Dick Penrod (Peter Arne) stranded. Just before the plane tumbles into a ravine, Tarzan (Gordon Scott) intervenes, rescuing them and guiding them back toward civilization.

Diana is abducted by warriors from Opar, led by Chief Ogonooro (Orlando Martins), who intend to offer the group as a sacrifice to their lion deity. Tarzan teams up with hunter Tusker Hawkins (Robert Beatty) to retrieve her; however, Hawkins’ romantic advances are rebuffed. Secretly colluding with the Oparians, Hawkins plots to sell the stranded survivors for ivory.

Sensing Hawkins’ duplicity, Tarzan exposes his scheme. Subsequently, Hawkins assists in capturing the group during Tarzan’s absence. Returning just before the sacrificial ceremony, Tarzan rescues everyone with help from his chimpanzee companion Cheeta, who ignites a blaze that destroys the village. He successfully leads the group to safety.

In the end, Hawkins is killed by the Oparians after Tarzan signals his treason using jungle drum beats.

Cast

Gordon Scott as Tarzan
Robert Beatty as Tusker Hawkins
Yolande Donlan as Gamage Dean
Betta St. John as Diana Penrod
Wilfrid Hyde-White as 'Doodles' Fletcher (credited as Wilfrid Hyde White)
George Coulouris as Carl Kraski
Peter Arne as Dick Penrod
Orlando Martins as Oparian Chieftain Ogonoore

Notes

Compared to other Tarzan films of its time, this movie incorporates more elements from Burroughs’ original novels, including a brief recounting of Tarzan’s origin to the female protagonist—though it mistakenly refers to his she-ape guardian as “Kerchak.” The depiction of Opar is present but simplified into a typical native settlement rather than Burroughs’ elaborate lost city. A male lion named “Numa,” consistent with Burroughs’ terminology, appears early in the story. While Tarzan is portrayed somewhat as a taciturn simpleton, he demonstrates considerable cleverness and ingenuity, foreshadowing later portrayals that restored Burroughs’ depiction of an intelligent and versatile hero.

The film grossed $915,000 domestically (US and Canada) and $1.4 million internationally, resulting in a profit of $432,000.

Critical reception

Variety commended the authentic jungle settings and vibrant Technicolor African footage combined with studio scenes, emphasizing how these elements enhanced the visual impact of the adventure. Gordon Scott received praise for his appropriate physical presence and satisfactory portrayal in the leading role. Conversely, The New York Times acknowledged Scott’s impressive physique but criticized the film for toning down Tarzan’s characteristic flamboyance, noting his reluctance to perform signature activities such as swinging through trees or yodeling.

Novelization

Whitman Publishing Company issued a hardcover adaptation of the screenplay designed for a younger audience. While no official credit was given, the work is commonly believed to have been written by Frank Castle.

External links