Question for the plus-30 set about TARZAN AND HIS MATE (the Weissmuller movie)

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

Those of us of a certain age may recall seeing this movie over and over in the 70s and 80s. I have a question for such persons about a particular scene, viewable through the link in the spoiler box:

Jane and Tarzan go skinny-dipping. I put it here because, though it’s very obscure, there is nudity in the scene.

Does anyone recall how much of this scene was shown on TV back in the day? I ask because I want to refer to it in a story as a plot point.

Thanks,
StR

[74westy]

Obviously pre-hays code. According to IMDB, that scene was removed early on and lost until the 1990s.

@imdb

The infamous nude swimming scene was originally filmed in three different versions: with Jane wearing her traditional costume, with Jane topless and with Jane fully nude. US states were empowered at that time to enact individual censorship laws, and three different versions of the scene were filmed in order to allow individual states to select the version of the scene which best conformed to its laws. All three versions were eventually removed from the film due to protests from conservative religious groups, particularly the powerful Catholic Legion of Decency. The nude version of the scene was discovered in the vaults of Turner Entertainment during the late 1990s following its purchase of the MGM film library, and was restored to most subsequent versions of the film on the direct orders of Turner Entertainment chairman Ted Turner. In the restored version of the scene, Tarzan is depicted wearing his traditional loincloth while Jane appears fully nude, her costume having been torn off when Tarzan playfully tosses her from a tree to the water below. The scene as it exists today is approximately four minutes in duration.

[Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle]

Well, that’s the first time I’ve ever seen it. And the nudity is quite up-front, so I’m sure I would have remembered.

[TruCelt]

I’ve never seen that before, and I’ve watched the movie several times. Why, one would almost think that prior generations had known about secks! ? ?

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@74westy

Obviously pre-hays code. According to IMDB, that scene was removed early on and lost until the 1990s.

@imdb

The infamous nude swimming scene was originally filmed in three different versions: with Jane wearing her traditional costume, with Jane topless and with Jane fully nude. US states were empowered at that time to enact individual censorship laws, and three different versions of the scene were filmed in order to allow individual states to select the version of the scene which best conformed to its laws. All three versions were eventually removed from the film due to protests from conservative religious groups, particularly the powerful Catholic Legion of Decency. The nude version of the scene was discovered in the vaults of Turner Entertainment during the late 1990s following its purchase of the MGM film library, and was restored to most subsequent versions of the film on the direct orders of Turner Entertainment chairman Ted Turner. In the restored version of the scene, Tarzan is depicted wearing his traditional loincloth while Jane appears fully nude, her costume having been torn off when Tarzan playfully tosses her from a tree to the water below. The scene as it exists today is approximately four minutes in duration.

Okay. That jibes with my memories and I’ve rewritten the scene as appropriate. I was wondering because I remember seeing things on broadcast tv showing bare boobage in the same time period, but only in the pre-dawn hours. That was always a National Geographic thing, though, and doubtless allowed on account of being a) educational and b) not of white chicks.

Apropos of nothing, Maureen O’Sullivan’s body double was v. pretty. Of course, the Irishwoman was no slouch her ownself.

[TriPolar]

I remember seeing the movie in the 60s. The scene was cut right where she’s thrown from the tree. All the underwater footage was cut out. But the reverse thong she was wearing at the start of the film made me a lifelong fan.

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@TriPolar

I remember seeing the movie in the 60s. The scene was cut right where she’s thrown from the tree. All the underwater footage was cut out. But the reverse thong she was wearing at the start of the film made me a lifelong fan.

Yes. Then, in the next movie, for some idiotic reason they started putting O’Sullivan in a dress that covered most of her interesting bits, and also dumbed Jane down considerably. The Jane of T&HM may have been a damsel in distress (I mean, who wouldn’t be, next to Tarzan?) but she was no wilting flower. Her reaction to being trapped by cannibals who are setting lions on her is to say, “Gimme that rifle. I’ve got some killing to do.”

[TriPolar]

@Skald_the_Rhymer

Yes. Then, in the next movie, for some idiotic reason they started putting O’Sullivan in a dress that covered most of her interesting bits, and also dumbed Jane down considerably. The Jane of T&HM may have been a damsel in distress (I mean, who wouldn’t be, next to Tarzan?) but she was no wilting flower. Her reaction to being trapped by cannibals who are setting lions on her is to say, “Gimme that rifle. I’ve got some killing to do.”

What a woman!

Yeah, Jane sent that weasel Hays over the edge, even after the nudity was cut out.

And I prefer to believe that the body double was just a story they made up.

[aceplace57]

I never believed the body double story either. I don’t think there was such a thing in the early 1930’s. Talkie movies had only been out a few years and the studio system was like a factory job. They literally clocked in and worked all day. Actors were either in classes, wardrobe fittings, on the set or something. This was the depression and they were lucky to have a cushy film job. I can’t imagine any actress demanding a body double for a simple swimming scene. Especially a relatively unknown actress just starting her career. Stunt doubles yes, but not body doubles.

[Manduck]

It wasn’t just swimming, though - it was some pretty fancy choreographed underwater swimming. I think an expert swimmer would have been needed, even without the nudity.

[samclem]

@TriPolar

And I prefer to believe that the body double was just a story they made up.

@aceplace57

I never believed the body double story either. I don’t think there was such a thing in the early 1930’s. Talkie movies had only been out a few years and the studio system was like a factory job. They literally clocked in and worked all day. Actors were either in classes, wardrobe fittings, on the set or something. This was the depression and they were lucky to have a cushy film job. I can’t imagine any actress demanding a body double for a simple swimming scene. Especially a relatively unknown actress just starting her career. Stunt doubles yes, but not body doubles.

Tarzan and His Mate (1934) - Trivia - IMDb

Maureen O’Sullivan does not appear as Jane during the film’s famous nude swimming sequence. O’Sullivan is instead doubled by Josephine McKim, a member of the 1924 and 1928 U.S. Womens’ Olympic Swim Teams and one of the four U.S. swimmers on that team to win the 1928 gold medal in the 400-Meter Freestyle Relay

[aceplace57]

oh well another fantasy shot to hell. So I never got to see Maureen O’Sullivan’s boobies after all. I’ll get over it soon enough. lol

[BMalion]

Is this available on DVD?

[TriPolar]

@samclem

Tarzan and His Mate (1934) - Trivia - IMDb

Maureen O’Sullivan does not appear as Jane during the film’s famous nude swimming sequence. O’Sullivan is instead doubled by Josephine McKim, a member of the 1924 and 1928 U.S. Womens’ Olympic Swim Teams and one of the four U.S. swimmers on that team to win the 1928 gold medal in the 400-Meter Freestyle Relay

If you choose to believe the questionable sources of some internet page over my well established fantasies, go ahead. Where will that get you?

[Skald_the_Rhymer]

@Manduck

It wasn’t just swimming, though - it was some pretty fancy choreographed underwater swimming. I think an expert swimmer would have been needed, even without the nudity.

DO NOT BOTHER US WITH LOGIC!

The group has spoken. That was Maureen O’Sullivan in all her naked glory.

[Chefguy]

@BMalion

Is this available on DVD?

I’m sure if you went to an obscure site like, say, Amazon, you could find out.