This interesting Czechoslovakian satire opens with Tarzan -- half ape, half man -- in the center of a circus ring. As the story unfolds we find that Tarzan is a count who was lost in the jungle during childhood. Subsequently, he was found and educated to the ways of man, which he rejects. "People are not animals, there are no tigers among people," Tarzan postulates, or would it be a little different? For Count Wolfgang von Hoppe, aka Tarzan, beautifully played by Rudolf Hrusinsky, it is increasingly difficult for him to find his way in the human world. His cry, "people, what are you doing, people!" sounds like a powerful memento, not only in the context of the time in which the film takes place (pre-war Nazi Germany), but actually in the context of any time. I have to appreciate this film for this message alone. "The Death of Tarzan" is an inventive and lighthearted -- perhaps sarcastic -- philosophical meditation on morality. Despite not being the typical successful savage, Tarzan is compelling in his introduction to civilization, revealing contradictions and masks with noble grace. Society's promise of progress and prosperity is undermined by the corrupting influence of power and wealth, leading to a disintegration of faith in humanity. The film captivates with its raw execution, perspective, and depth of thought, blending tragicomedy with philosophical reflection.
