Tarzan and The She-Devil

Tarzan and The She-Devil is a 1953 action-adventure film, the last of five made by RKO Pictures featuring Lex Barker as the iconic Tarzan. The film is known for having an intriguing story, filled with adventure, exotic locations and remarkable characters. Directed by Kurt Neumann and co-starring Joyce Mackenzie, Raymond Burr, and Tom Conway, the film takes audiences on a thrilling journey, filled with challenges and unforgettable moments of bravery and action.

The plot reels in viewers instantly, with Tarzan and his companion, the perennially intelligent Jane (Joyce Mackenzie), living in the African jungle, a vast expanse filled with wild and beautiful creatures. They have mastered their jungle abode's language and quirkiness, becoming custodians of sorts. The couple's world is suddenly disrupted when they're dragged into a conflict brewing from the outside world – the industrialized and greedy civilization.

Raymond Burr adopts the villainous role in Lyra, the infamous Ivory Queen who leads her band of ivory hunters into Tarzan's domain. Her charm is matched only by her ruthlike ruthless; she stops at nothing to get what she wants, and she is after the region's elephants' ivory. This sinister queen is known for commandeering natives by getting them drunk and exploiting them to further her business, caring little about the otherwise balanced ecosystem and the natural way of life.

Tarzan is portrayed as a strong, fearless leader, keen on protecting the jungle's wonders from insatiable human greed. His empathy towards animals, especially the elephants, is deeply rooted and unflinchingly steady. It becomes a personal quest for the vine-swinging hero to safeguard his own people along with the jungle's inhabitants, both from Lyra and her harmful activities, and the grip of alcohol, which she uses as a tool to exploit the naive natives.

Adding to the film's dramatic arch is a suspected affair between Tarzan and Lyra the "She-Devil." Joyce Mackenzie makes a memorable Jane, strong, intelligent, and spirited, with a profound understanding of Tarzan and a fierce loyalty to their shared home. The dynamics between her and Lex Barker's Tarzan make for compelling, heartfelt viewing.

In contrast to RKO's usual take on Tarzan, Barker's portrayal is less of the pulp fiction hero living in treehouses and wearing leopard-skin loincloths, and more of the original noble jungle lord envisioned by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This change in characterization presents a more realistic, relatable Tarzan, bringing an element of depth and dynamism to the film.

The film doesn't shy away from addressing colonial issues. Lyra may be an ivory trader, but she is also an embodiment of the destructive force of exploitation driven by capitalism, disturbing the peaceful sphere of animals and the natives in their home. The story subtly emphasizes the importance of respect for all forms of life and the dire impacts of humanity's reckless pursuit of wealth and power.

Tarzan and the She-Devil offers a rich canvas of exotic locales, backdropped by the lush African forests, teeming with diverse wildlife and humbling landscapes. The film features an exciting range of exotic animals – a hallmark of the Tarzan series. These majestic creatures play their own supporting characters, used tastefully to enrich the viewing experience and uphold the sense of being right in the heart of the wild.

One of the potent aspects of the film is its intense action sequences. From fast-paced chases, precarious treetop swings, to nerve-wracking fights, the film is packed with adrenaline-inducing scenes. Barker is convincing as the mighty Tarzan, infusing the character with vigor and litheness, ensuring excitement at every turn as he takes on the villains single-handedly in a volatile concoction of action and danger.

For fans of adventure and drama, Tarzan and The She-Devil delivers a stirring dose of both, wrapped in a timeless saga of survival and struggle. While providing your fill of action, it subtly confronts topics of exploitation, providing food for thought in its wake. It's a must-see for Tarzan fans and those nostalgic for the 1950s cinema epoch that produced the quintessential adventure films.