This is a public domain adventure featuring Bruce Bennett and it is exciting to watch Tarzan and the Green Goddess (1938). It is a jungle classic rare that was filmed in Guatemala and is now available to stream.
Tarzan and the Green Goddess (1938) – A Lost Jungle Jewel.
Tarzan and the Green Goddess is a 1938 adventure movie in the form of a feature length film that features Bruce Bennett playing the legendary Lord of the Jungle. In fact, the second half of the 1935 serial The New Adventures of Tarzan was condensed into this film, that was edited into two separate movies. The difference with this film is that closer to the vision of a jungle man that Edgar Rice Burroughs had in mind when he created Tarzan is a more sophisticated, well-educated nobleman who felt a sense of duty and honor.
It was filmed on location with its filming taking place in Guatemala and brings forth mystery, exotic locations and non-stop action utilizing a fast moving public domain treasure.
🗺️ Plot Synopsis The Search of the Green Goddess.
The story is an adventure that revolves around the search of a mythical idol called The Green Goddess. People claim that there was more in this ancient artifact than just invaluable jewels, it also held some secret of an explosive that was powerful.
Major Martling, in an expedition to locate the idol, has with him Tarzan and Ula Vale whose fiancee died in an attempt to locate the idol. In the meantime, the evil Raglan attempts to steal the Green Goddess to benefit himself. Our heroes lead a desperate task through the Guatemalan jungle after saving the friend of Tarzan, d’Arnot, who was captured by a native tribe. They have to deal with wild animals, tribal threats as well as internal betrayals.
The expedition ends at the sea where a raging hurricane strikes and Tarzan has to struggle not only to save the idol but also his life.
👥 Cast
- Bruce Bennett as Tarzan / Lord Greystoke
- Frank Baker as Major Francis Martling
- Dale Walsh as Alice Martling
- Harry Ernest as Gordon Hamilton
- Lewis Sargent as George, the comic relief assistant
- Jiggs as Nkima, Tarzan’s chimp companion
- Merrill McCormick as Bouchart / Pedro
- Ula Vale and others from the original 12-chapter serial (appearing in recut footage)
🌿 Why This Film Still Matters
- True to Burroughs: This is among those few Tarzan movies where the character is depicted as a well-spoken, intelligent English lord – more like what he was in books.
- Exotic Location: It is shot entirely on the Guatemala jungles, with some real jungles and real ruins, which provides it with a visual advantage over studio-bound films.
- Public Domain Classic: The productions of Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises, which it became, later became the public domain and is thus a free cultural artifact worthy of reconsideration.
- Alternative Tarzan: Bruce Bennett plays the role in a very different manner than the grunting jungle man of Johnny Weissmuller and this provides an interesting insight into what could have happened.
📽️ Tarzan and the Green Goddess (1938) Watch or Download
🎥 Movie Source: Internet Archive (archive.org)
🖼️ Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
▶️ Watch Full Movie
🏷️ Tags
Public domain Tarzan, Tarzan and the Green Goddess 1938, jungle adventure film, classic Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs, public domain adventure film, Guatemalan film locations, 1930s serial film.
