Tarzan's Fight for Life (1958)

Dr. Sturdy is trying to establish a modern hospital in the jungle. His efforts are strongly opposed by Futa, the witch doctor, and Ramo, a native warrior. There are kidnappings, a race ... See full summary »

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters), Thomas Hal Phillips

Stars:

Gordon Scott, Eve Brent, Rickie Sorensen

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gordon Scott	...	Tarzan
Eve Brent	...	Jane
Rickie Sorensen	...	Tartu, Tarzan's Adopted Son
Jil Jarmyn	...	Ann Sturdy
James Edwards	...	Futa
Carl Benton Reid	...	Dr. Sturdy
Harry Lauter	...	Dr. Ken Warwick
Woody Strode	...	Ramo

Storyline

Dr. Sturdy is trying to establish a modern hospital in the jungle. His efforts are strongly opposed by Futa, the witch doctor, and Ramo, a native warrior. There are kidnappings, a race against time for serum, capture of Tarzan, the struggle of modern medicine against magic, etc.

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Plot Keywords:

sequel | bare chested male | bare chested male bondage | character name in title

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Genres:

Action | Adventure

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tarzans Kampf ums Leben

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sol Lesser Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gordon Scott was nearly killed by the 18.5-foot python with which he was wrestling in this movie. It took six men to pull the snake off him.

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Quotes

Ramo: Why not take heart of Tarzan instead of warm heart of lion?

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Connections

Followed by Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)

User Reviews

Minor but colorful

True, the use of studio sets rather than on-location filming is pretty obvious, but what handsome sets, and how brightly photographed! That 1950s color seems stronger and more vivid than most of the color work seen today.

Gordon Scott, one of the better Tarzans, is in fine form here and his physical power is shown off in an arresting way. Rather than simply showing him performing feats of strength, this movie's last reel has him captured and in bondage. First he's hauled up river to a jungle village while spreadeagled face-down between two canoes. (Face-up would have been even better.) Then he's hauled through the village with his arms outstretched and tied to a wooden pole. Finally, still bound to that pole, he's tied between two posts inside a cave-like chamber where he's due to have his heart cut out. Contrasting his physical strength with the trappings of bondage somehow emphasizes rather than diminishes his aura of power.

(MGM apparently thought along similar lines. Virtually all the ads for this movie showed Gordon Scott with outstretched arms tied to a pole.)

Of course, it must be pointed out that the plot here is "Rama of the Jungle" stuff and all the scenes with Jane and Boy are pretty laughable. The fact that Cheetah wears a loincloth is beyond camp. And seeing a fine actor such as Roy Glenn wasted in a bit part is sad, sad, sad.