AllMovie

The stunt casting is everything in Swamp Fire, a very B-level programmer that would not be worth even a passing glance were it not for the pairing of Johnny Weissmuller and Buster Crabbe, the former generally considered the premiere screen Tarzan, the latter better known for his science fiction heroes but also in fact a screen Tarzan himself. In addition, the two stars were "real life" swimming stars, so the notion of putting the two of them in an aquatic-set picture had "high concept" (if also "low budget") written all over it. It's a shame that no one decided to do anything once that concept was set, for Swamp is a dreadfully dull and unengaging little flick. The Daniel Mainwaring screenplay is one of those "a little from column A, a bit from column B" jobs which are not so much written as manufactured. Characters are all standard issue, plotting is by the book and dialogue is the kind that one really wants to just get through as quickly as possible. Some of the action set pieces are worth a look, and Weissmuller and Crabbe give the affair an appropriately masculine air.