The New Adventures of Tarzan: Chapter 5 – Unseen Hands (1935) Director: Edward A. Kull, Wilbur F. McGaugh Studio: Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises / Ashton Dearholt Productions Starring: Herman Brix (Tarzan), Ula Holt (Ula Vale), Ashton Dearholt (P.B. Raglan), Frank Baker, Lewis Sargent Release Date: May 1935 Runtime: ~20 minutes (Chapter 5) Format: Black & White | Mono | Sound | Serial | Live Action Country: United States Language: English Genres: Adventure | Jungle Serial | Action | Mystery Summary: In Chapter 5 – "Unseen Hands", Tarzan and his companions push deeper into the jungle, unknowingly entering territory where danger is not just seen—it’s felt. As members of the expedition start vanishing without a trace and sabotage slows their progress, it becomes clear that someone—or something—is watching from the shadows. Booby traps, falling debris, and eerie signals hint at a hidden enemy manipulating events from behind the scenes. Tarzan must rely on his instincts and jungle cunning as mysterious forces begin to pull the party apart. But the jungle's grip tightens, and the line between natural danger and human treachery blurs in this tense, suspense-driven chapter. Background: Unseen Hands shifts the tone of the serial toward mystery and paranoia, leaning into the pulp tradition of unseen enemies and conspiratorial tension. By this point in the series, character relationships are more defined, the stakes are higher, and Tarzan’s leadership is tested. The filmmakers continued using authentic Guatemalan jungle locations, giving the serial a rare sense of realism compared to studio-bound productions of the era. Actor Herman Brix (later known as Bruce Bennett) continues to bring a heroic and cerebral portrayal of Tarzan—true to Edgar Rice Burroughs' vision of a noble and articulate jungle lord. Trivia: "Unseen Hands" marks a turning point in the serial, moving from pure adventure into mystery-suspense territory. The “unseen” sabotage elements were achieved with practical effects and clever in-camera trickery. Much of the serial’s tension stems from jungle sounds and unseen threats, a technique ahead of its time for building atmosphere. The Tarzan seen in this serial is multilingual and highly intelligent, aligning with the books rather than the popular “Me Tarzan” stereotype. The serial has entered the public domain and remains a unique take on the Tarzan mythos. Ula Holt, who plays the female lead, was romantically involved with producer Ashton Dearholt during filming. Hashtags: #NewAdventuresOfTarzan #UnseenHands #TarzanSerial #HermanBrix #ClassicTarzan #1930sAdventure #EdgarRiceBurroughs #JungleMystery #SerialCinema #PublicDomainFilm #GoldenAgeAdventure #VintageAction #PulpFictionSerial #TarzanFans #JungleCinema #GuatemalaFilming #BMovieClassic #OldHollywoodAdventure #SerialChapter5 #JungleSuspense