Why a 1939 Tarzan film had to kill off Jane—and why fans stopped it
In short: When MGM produced Tarzan Finds a Son!, they planned to write Jane out of the series permanently by having her die from a spear wound. The studio intended to replace her with an adopted child, but test audiences were so outraged by the decision that the ending was hastily rewritten.
Released in 1939, Tarzan Finds a Son! was the fourth entry in MGM's popular series starring Johnny Weissmuller as the jungle hero and Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane. The plot centers on the adoption of an orphaned infant, whom the couple names Boy. The child is revealed to be the heir to the Greystoke family fortune, a revelation that triggers a dangerous search party led by greedy relatives. The narrative follows the couple's struggle to protect their new family from these intruders, who are ultimately thwarted by the jungle's dangers and Tarzan's intervention.
Behind the scenes, the film served a specific narrative purpose: to address the concerns of morality groups regarding the unmarried status of Tarzan and Jane. Furthermore, O'Sullivan was eager to move on from the role. During production, the actress was expecting her first child with her husband, director John Farrow, and the studio had planned for her character to perish in the film's climax. However, early screenings triggered such intense negative reactions from fans that MGM executives reversed course. They scrapped the tragic conclusion, opting instead for a happy ending where Jane survives.
The production faced various logistical challenges, including a three-year gap following the previous installment, Tarzan Escapes. MGM had briefly lost the film rights to independent producer Sol Lesser, whose own attempt at a Tarzan movie failed to resonate with audiences. Once MGM regained control, they leaned into the series' established formula, even incorporating stock footage from earlier films. Despite the production hurdles, the movie was a commercial success, generating over $2 million in global revenue and a profit of $528,000. Johnny Sheffield, who portrayed Boy, later credited Weissmuller with personally mentoring him in swimming and acting for the role.
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