Tarzan's Fight for Life (1958)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters)
Thomas Hal Phillips (writer)

Release Date:

July 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Plot:

Dr. Sturdy is trying to establish a modern hospital in the jungle. His efforts are strongly opposed by Futa...

Plot Keywords:

Tarzan | Sequel | Shirtless Male Bondage | Character Name In Title

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

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

France:-12 | West Germany:6 (nf) | Finland:K-12

Company:

Sol Lesser Productions

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.

Quotes:

Tarzan: If you do not let me go, young chief will die.

Movie Connections:

Follows Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942)

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.