Tarzan, the Ape Man

This particular Tarzan movie (made by the Metro Goldwyn Mayer studio) has long had a very bad reputation, which may explain why Turner Classic Movies (which has free access to all the older MGM movies) seldom shows it. Is the movie really deserving of its bad reputation? Pretty much so, in my opinion. Made during the start of the long decline of the studio, it's really obvious that the top brass did not give the filmmakers adequate funds or resources. For example, the movie is jam-packed with stock footage, even having the gall to showcase some stock footage that was originally filmed in black and white while the newly shot footage was shot in color. Things aren't much better when it comes to the newly shot footage. The newly shot footage often looks cheap, with (among other things) tacky set dressing and poor special effects. There's also no feeling of great adventure, or even awe and wonder. Instead, scene after scene seems to have been shot with great haste without considering if the scenes would grab an audience. This may explain why the actors seem to be going through the motions. This includes the title character, who comes more like a lucky doofus instead of someone who has skill and knowledge about how to conquer every challenge and danger in the jungle. And believe it or not, Tarzan pretty much comes across as a secondary character instead of being up front and center! It's then a real surprise that Tarzan in this movie doesn't keep letting out a loud shout of pain instead of his familiar yell.

From 1959 until 1981 this film reigned as champion of the "Bad" Tarzan films. It then relinquished it's title to the 1981 movie of the same name with Bo Derek swinging on the vine. Denny Miller is Tarzan and borrows the yell from the Johnny Weissmuller films. Of course a must see for any Tarzan film fan. AMC ran it during their Tarzanathon a while back. Miller was not the worst Tarzan ever he just happened to be in a bad picture about the legendary ape man. Take a look if you want but it helps if your a real Tarzan fan.

I remember seeing this in the theater when it was first released and being appalled at its lousiness. So strong was that impression that I remembered now, 45 years later, that I could find it by searching IMDb for "Denny Miller". I talked for days, weeks, months and now years afterward about the miserable "borrowing" of scenes from the original Weissmuller films and color-tinting them in a vain attempt to blend in with the new footage. One example: a burning pygmy village features brown tinted film with flames overprinted. The pygmies calmly go about their quiet life while their huts supposedly burn around them. This is undoubtedly the WORST Tarzan movie ever made. Even Elmo Lincoln is better.

Jane Parker travels to Africa to reunite with her father Col. James Parker. Business has been going badly due to tribal conflicts and he has not been sending money to his daughter. Without money, she got dumped and has no place in society. She helps a local which only exacerbates the tribal conflict. Father and daughter escape. Along the way, they are attacked by rampaging elephants and Tarzan rescues Jane.

Apparently, this was cobbled together from old footage and filming on the backlot. I like a lot of the animal footage which are most likely previously filmed. The footage with the actors is less compelling. The movie deteriorates after the rescue. Holt and her father turn into douches. After getting shot at, Tarzan is incredibly understanding. He should think that Jane had been kidnapped and they're trying to kill him. It becomes a knot of conflicting interest and no happy flow. Characters would fight one minute and work together the next. The writing is messy. Also, the ending has a distasteful aspect. It's downhill slide to the finish.

After watching this I had to write a comment about it. So many actors played Tarzan, so many directors directed Tarzan, so many actresses played Jane but this one is one of the worst acted and directed Tarzan Movie. Tarzan swings on the Liane to one place to another and then back to the former place. The Movie begins with a hilarious scene about a Watusi on a board of a steamer. We'll never found out what he was doing on the ship and why some wounded leave the ship. I've not seen a Tarzan Movie for a while and of course not all were masterpieces but at least somehow entertaining. This is entertaining but on another way. So bad that's funny and annoying too. There are some bad footage taken from an old BW Tarzan Movie. What did they thought the audience wouldn't recognize black & white scenes in a color movie? There are also other footages taken from other movies. Most of the scenes are terrible hilarious. BTW what is a spider doing on the top of a mountain? Aren't Pygmies people of short stature? Please watch out the attack of the natives. Interesting Tarzan cannot doesn't say many words only the scream in that. The scream is clearly taken from Johnny Weissmuller but I don't think that he would like this movie. Next to the Bo Derek Tarzan this is the worst. Better you don't watch it.