Tarzan and the Jungle Boy

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan and the Jungle Boy

1968

Tarzan and the Jungle Boy

  • Tarzan: Mike Henry
  • Director: Robert Gordon
  • Producer: Sy Weintraub, Robert Day
  • Release Date: May 1968
  • Run Time: 99 min
  • Language: English

Plot

At home in Africa, Tarzan assists Myrna, a photojournalist, and Ken, her associate, in their search for Erik Brunik, a thirteen-year-old boy lost in the jungle since he was seven years old. Tarzan is assisted by his friend Buhara, whose brother Nagambi does not wish the boy found, and attempts to kill him before Tarzan saves the day.

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Tarzan and the Great River

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan and the Great River

1967

Tarzan and the Great River

  • Tarzan: Mike Henry
  • Dr. ann philips: Diana Millay
  • Director: Robert Day
  • Producer: Sy Weintraub, Steve Shagan
  • Release Date: September, 1967
  • Run Time: 88 min
  • Language: English

Plot

Tarzan is called to Brazil by an old friend (The Professor) to help stop the Jaguar Cult, led by Barcuma, from running off Dr. Ann Philips who is there to give much-needed inoculations to native villagers along the Amazon River.

Tarzan is assisted by Baron (a lion) and Cheeta (a chimpanzee), both of whom he brought from Africa, as well as Captain Sam Bishop, a riverboat pilot, and Bishop’s young ward, Pepe.

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Tarzan and the Valley of Gold

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan and the Valley of Gold

1966

Tarzan and the Valley of Gold

  • Tarzan: Mike Henry
  • Sophia renault: Nancy Kovak
  • Director: Robert Day
  • Producer: Sy Weintraub
  • Release Date: July 1966
  • Run Time: 90 min

Plot

Augustus Vinero, a wealthy international criminal, known for his habit of sending explosive wristwatches to those not in his favor, kidnaps Ramel, a small boy who may know the location of the fabled Valley of Gold in Mexico.

Tarzan is called in by an old friend to track the kidnappers and rescue the boy. Along the way, he rescues Sophia Renault.

The finale involves Tarzan battling Vinero’s hulking hennchman, Mr. Train, and a showdown with a helicopter.

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Tarzan’s Three Challenges

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan's Three Challenges

1963

Tarzan’s Three Challenges

  • Tarzan: Jock Mahoney
  • Director: Robert Day
  • Producer: Sy Weintraub
  • Release Date: June 1963
  • Run Time: 92 min
  • Information: The movie was filmed near Bangkok, Thailand and in the jungle near the Chiang Mai province. Some scenes were shot in the Temple of Buddha’s Footprint, the first film ever granted permission to shoot at this holy site. Crew members and cast removed their shoes and shot in almost total silence. Midway through the film, Mahoney contracted dysentery, dengue fever and finally pneumonia. His weight plummeted from 220 pounds to 175 pounds. Some critics, noting how thin and weary he appeared in some action scenes, said it undermined the film’s credibility. English Stuntman Ray Austin made the 120 ft dive for Mahoney at Begor Bridge. Forty-four years and four months old when the film was released, Jock Mahoney became the oldest actor to portray the apeman.

Plot

Tarzan is summoned to an unnamed Asian country to protect Kashi (Ricky Der), the youthful heir to the throne, from his evil uncle, Khan, played by Tarzan veteran Woody Strode. In the course of the film Tarzan must compete against Khan in three tests of strength.

First is an archery contest. Then Tarzan stands between two tall posts, grasps handles which are attached to two ropes which run over the top of each post and are attached to buffalo. When the buffalo are driven apart, Tarzan is lifted into the air and stretched. He passes the test by not letting go of either handle. Third, he and Khan are asked to answer a question designed to test their wisdom. When Tarzan triumphs all three times, he and Khan undergo a fourth challenge.

Tarzan kills Khan when they face each other with sabers on a net suspended above vats of boiling oil.

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Tarzan Goes to India

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan Goes to India

1962

Tarzan Goes to India

  • Tarzan: Jock Mahoney
  • Director: Sy Weintraub
  • Producer: John Guillermin
  • Release Date: July 1962
  • Run Time: 88 min
  • Language: English

Plot

Tarzan is called to India to save three hundred elephants that will be drowned if a dam is opened to create a man-made lake to power an electric plant. Tarzan is pitted against two engineers who ignore the catastrophic results their work will create.

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Tarzan The Magnificent

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan The Magnificent

1960

Tarzan The Magnificent

  • Tarzan: Gordon Scott
  • Fay ames: Betta St. John
  • Coy banton: Jock Mahoney
  • Abel banton: John Carradine
  • Director: Robert Day
  • Producer: Harvey Hayutin, Sy Weintraub
  • Release Date: 1960
  • Run Time: 82 min
  • Language: English

Plot

The Bantons (father, Abel and four sons, Coy, Ethan, Johnny and Martin) rob a pay office in a settlement, killing some people. Coy Banton is tracked down to their camp and taken away by policeman, Wyntors. Taking him back to town, Wyntors is killed as two of the brothers seek to rescue Coy. Tarzan appears and kills Ethan Banton. The other brother escapes. Tarzan decides to take Coy to Kairobi for the $5000 reward so he can give it to Wyntors’ widow. However, no one in the town of Mantu (same town as beginning of Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure) wants to help him. The boat he is waiting for to take him and his prisoner to Kairobi is ambushed by the Bantons who send the passengers off and destroy the boat.

Tarzan decides on an overland trek and agrees to take along the boat passengers and the boat’s mate, Tate. The presence of so many people to watch out for hinders Tarzan. The Bantons threaten to kill anyone who helps Tarzan. Pausing only to shoot the doctor who has told them what they want to know, the Bantons set out after the party and Coy.

Ames is a boastful windbag whose wife begins to detest him. Seeing this, Coy plays up to her, knowing he might be able to use her later. The party are captured by natives and the leader wants to kill Coy who killed his brother when the Bantons raided their village. However, the chief’s wife is having a difficult childbirth labour, and since Conway (who was a doctor) is able to help her have her baby (a breach birth), the chief agrees to let the party go.

Coy sees his chance and escapes. Thanks to Ames, Tate is shot and later dies. Tarzan captures Coy and he hides them both in a quicksand pit as the other Bantons search for them. Later, Lori wanders off and is caught by Johnny Banton. As she screams, Tarzan comes on them and after a fight, Johnny dies with an arrow in him. Later, seeing his grave (along with Tate’s) Martin Banton has had enough of a father who taught them to steal and murder by age sixteen and leaves him.

Coy’s wiles have paid off and Fay Ames releases him while the others sleep, and they leave camp together. Tarzan goes after them and finds Fay’s scarf. Coy left her behind when she was out of breath and a lioness found her. Tarzan eventually comes on Coy and Abel Banton, and in a roving battle, a ricochet from Coy’s rifle kills Abel. A prolonged battle on rocks, on sand and underwater follows before Tarzan finally knocks Coy out. The film ends with Tarzan and the remaining three people handing Coy over to the Kairobi police on the border and telling them to make sure Wyntor’s widow gets the reward money.

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Tarzan, The Ape Man

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan, The Ape Man

1959

Tarzan, The Ape Man

  • Tarzan: Denny Miller
  • Jane: Joanna Barnes
  • Director: Joseph M. Newman
  • Release Date: 1959
  • Run Time: 82 min
  • Language: English

Plot

The plot of the film reprises that of the 1932 version, with James Parker (Douglas) Harry Holt (Danova) and Parker’s daughter Jane (Barnes) on an expedition in Africa in which they encounter Tarzan, a wild man raised by apes. Various adventures ensue.

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Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan's Greatest Adventure

1959

Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure

  • Tarzan: Gordon Scott
  • Angie: Sara Shane
  • O bannion: Sean Connery
  • Director: John Guillermin
  • Producer: Sol Lesser
  • Release Date: 1959
  • Run Time: 88 min
  • Language: English

Plot

A native village is robbed, supposedly by natives. Before a man dies, he mentions the name “Slade”. Black colouring is found on his hand so they know it is white people who did it, disguised as blacks. Tarzan arrives, remembering Slade from a year previously as a man who let 3 of his men die and has a grudge against him. A woman (Angie) turns up, Sanchez’ latest woman, flying one of his planes. Later she buzzes Tarzan in his canoe, and crashes the plane so now Tarzan is stuck with her as he goes after Slade. Slade has 3 men and a girlfriend with him. He knows where a diamond mine is and has got his supplies for his trip by stealing them. Tensions run high amongst his men. Kruger is an ex-Nazi and a diamond expert. O’Bannion is an Irish rebel, a drunk and a trouble maker who keeps hassling Dino till Dino decides to kill him but falls foul of a wild animal and quicksand.

Tarzan and Angie lose their canoe but take an overland short cut where he fells some trees into the water to stop Slade’s boat. Tarzan attacks them with arrows but they respond with (stolen) dynamite and Tarzan is injured. He later kills O’Bannion but collapses, needing Angie’s help. Angie is captured trying to get penicillin for Tarzan and the group continue in their boat. Tarzan recovers and follows them to the diamond mine. Toni (Slade’s girlfriend) falls into a trap meant for Tarzan. In the cave, Kruger realises that Slade is more interested in danger than diamonds and tries to kill him but is in turn killed. Slade then goes out to wait for Tarzan with his prepared weapon, a metal noose for garrotting him. There is a final fight between the two on a cliff top.

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Tarzan and the Trappers

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan and the Trappers

1958

Tarzan and the Trappers

  • Tarzan: Gordon Scott
  • Jane: Eve Brent
  • Director: Charles F. Haas
  • Producer: Sol Lesser
  • Release Date: 1966
  • Run Time: 70-74 min
  • Language: English

Plot

The idyllic jungle life of Tarzan (Gordon Scott), Jane (Eve Brent) and Tartu (Rickie Sorensen) is interrupted by a drum message telling them of predatory hunters loose in the jungle. Tarzan disrupts the animal-collecting expedition of the hunters, Schroeder (Lesley Bradley) and Rene (Maurice Marsac); he frees a baby elephant whose mother they have killed and then leads the elephant herd against them when they make hostages of Tartu and Cheeta the chimp. Afterwards he warns off two other hunters, Sikes (Saul Gorse) and Lapin (William Keene), seeking to plunder the lost city of Zarbo. He is attacked by their men, but escapes and shadows their party. Aware of Tarzan’s continued presence, the hunters capture his native friend Tyana (Sherman Crothers), and trap the ape man when he tries to free him. Tyana’s tribe rescues the two. Finally, the hunters reach Zarbo, but find it empty of both people and treasure. In a final conflict, Tarzan overcomes the villains, who are then turned over to the authorities by the natives.

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Tarzan’s Fight for Life

Posted on October 21, 2012

Tarzan's Fight for Life

1958

Tarzan’s Fight for Life

  • Tarzan: Gordon Scott
  • Jane: Eve Brent
  • Director: H. Bruce Humberstone
  • Producer: Sol Lesser
  • Release Date: July, 1958
  • Run Time: 86 min
  • Language: English
  • Information: Tarzan’s Fight for Life was the second Tarzan movie released in color, and the last movie to portray him speaking broken English until Tarzan, the Ape Man in 1981.

Plot

Jungle medics Dr. Sturdy (Carl Benton Reid) and his daughter Anne (Jil Jarmyn) are opposed by witch doctor Futa (James Edwards) of the Nagasu tribe, who regards their work as a threat to his own livelihood. Futa incites the tribe to waylay Anne’s fiance Dr. Ken Warwick (Harry Lauter), who is saved by Tarzan (Gordon Scott). Later Tarzan and his adopted son Tartu (Rickie Sorensen) enlist the doctors’ services on behalf of Jane (Eve Brent), suffering from appendicitis. Futa hypnotises Moto (Nick Stewart), a native assistant of Sturdy, to murder Jane, but Tarzan thwarts the plot. Learning that the young Nagasu chief (Roy Glenn) is sick, Tarzan attempts to persuade them to let Sturdy treat them. Seizing his chance, Futa has the ape man taken captive and condemned to death. To restore his own credentials, the witch doctor then undertakes to cure the chief himself, hedging his bets by having his henchman Ramo (Woody Strode) steal medicine from Sturdy. Unfortunately, Ramo purloins a poison by mistake. Freeing himself, Tarzan intervenes and prevents the administration of the poison to the chief; Futa then swallows it himself to demonstrate that there is no harm in it — and dies. Dr. Sturdy is consequently called in, successfully curing the chief.

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