Surprisingly adult considering it is (a) a Tarzan film and (b) from MGM - but then it was before the production code. Not really much of a story (searching for the elephant graveyard), it follows the same structure as the first film - setting out on the expedition which is almost wiped out, then Tarzan and Jane fluff around, then the expedition is almost wiped out again. In this case, though, the whole expedition is killed (there was one survivor before - this one has none, and throws in an earlier expedition to be wiped out as well).The violence is very adult: the body count would be well over a hundred and the deaths are quite horrible, with stabbings and maulings, etc. Even more adult are Tarzan and Jane, living in sin in very skimpy costumes (Maureen O'Sullivan's shows nothing on the side); there's no doubt they are sleeping together, and a typical day seems to go like this: wake up, Tarzan tells Jane "I love you" (no wonder the films have appeal to women - move to Africa, live with a hunk who you can train up and have visiting men fight over you), go for a nude swim, be threatened with death by animals three times and have Tarzan save you (the film got a bit repetitive around this point), meet some ivory traders, have sex. Not a bad life provided you don't get eaten!
Despite the lack of story the action is spectacular and well done and the sex stuff fascinating. The two white men who lead the ivory hunting aren't very nice at all, continually sacrificing up their carriers and shooting elephants (Neil Hamilton is supposed to be a "nice" one because he isn't as bad but he still goes along with everything bad his mate does) - it's good that they both die. If there is an emotional through line its that Jane, who was all gung-ho about inviting Hamilton back to raid the elephant grave yard at the end of the first film, learns why Tarzan is upset about and decides to stay in Africa for good. Still has some wonky men in gorilla outfits but still a top notch adventure film.
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