Tarzan and the Great River (1967)

Director:

Robert Day

Writers:

Bob Barbash (screenplay)
Bob Barbash (story)

Release Date:

September 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

More action... More thrills... More heart-stopping adventure than anything now on the screen!

Plot:

Tarzan is summoned to Brazil by an old friend to stop an evil tribal cult from destroying native villages and enslaving the survivors...

Plot Keywords:

Native | Jungle | Tarzan | Bare Chested Male | Sequel

Cast

Mike Henry	...	Tarzan
Jan Murray	...	Captain Sam Bishop
Manuel Padilla Jr.	...	Pepe
Diana Millay	...	Dr. Ann Philips
Rafer Johnson	...	Barcuma
Paulo Gracindo	...	Professor

Also Known As:

Tarzan and the Big River (USA) (working title)
Tarzan, Brazil (USA) (working title)
Tarzan, Spain (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA | Switzerland

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:12 (1968) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:G (re-rating) (1974) | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Brazil

Company:

Allfin A.G.

Trivia:

In the second week of filming, Dinky the chimp bit Mike Henry on the jaw. It took 20 stitches to repair the wound. Henry had monkey fever delirium for three days, and took three weeks to recuperate. The chimp was destroyed and replaced. Henry later sued the production company for negligence. He won the suit, but the amount was not made public.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

Dull, plodding Tarzan film

A really boring film with very little to recommend in it. Only the beautiful scenery and a funny performance by Jan Murray makes viewing this bearable. Mike Henry is OK as Tarzan but he seems much too stiff in the non-action scenes. He doesn't seem at ease in the role like earlier Tarzans Gordon Scott or Jock Mahoney. He is fine in the action sequences but looks out of place otherwise. The pacing in this film is deadly. There are long stretches where not much happens and too little action when something does. Villain Rafer Johnson as Barcuna isn't given much to do except to try to look menacing. The climactic fight between him and Tarzan is not very exciting. Jan Murray as Captain Bishop is the bright spot of the film. His goofy performance is fun to watch. Diana Millay as the good doctor is basically a two dimensional character played without much enthusiasm. Overall this film is not as good as Henry's previous Tarzan outing-Tarzan and the Valley of Gold-which had some exciting action and a much more enjoyable story. Give this one a miss. I give it 3 river-boats out of 10.