Tarzan the Ape Man

During a scene involving Jane attempting to get away from Tarzan, Miles O'Keeffe found himself face-to-face with Neal, a full grown African lion, who took on the part of the gallant gentleman saving the damsel in distress. Neal, escaping his holding pen, dived into the fray, apparently more intent on protecting Bo Derek than attacking Miles O'Keeffe (it was noted that the two-hundred-pound man wasn't injured by the five-hundred-pound cat). The handler was on the scene almost immediately and stopped the interaction. Although neither human star was injured, rumor had it that Miles O'Keeffe thereafter made a habit of checking the security of the holding pen whenever other scenes of "violence" toward Bo Derek were done, citing a deep respect for Bo Derek's formidable self-appointed bodyguard.

There are no wild orangutans in Africa. They are native to Borneo and Sumatra.

On the MGM logo, the MGM lion's roar is replaced with Tarzan's yell.

CBS edited 17 minutes from this film for its 1983 network television premiere.

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Michael Landon/Bo Derek (1981)