Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)

User Rating:

2.8/10   

Director:

John Derek

Writers:

Tom Rowe (screenplay) and
Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters)

Release Date:

24 September 1981 (West Germany)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

Unlike any other "Tarzan" you've ever seen!

Plot:

The Tarzan story from Jane's point of view. Jane Parker visits her father in Africa where she joins him on an expedition...

Plot Keywords:

Tarzan | Orangutan | Sexploitation | Beautiful Woman | Gorilla

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Bo Derek	...	Jane Parker
Richard Harris	...	James Parker
John Phillip Law	...	Harry Holt
Miles O'Keeffe	...	Tarzan
Akushula Selayah	...	Africa
Steve Strong	...	Ivory King
Maxime Philoe	...	Riano
Leonard Bailey	...	Feathers
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Club Member
Laurie Main	...	Club Member
Harold Ayer	...	Club Member

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 (cut) (1981) | Iceland:L | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Seychelles

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

During a scene involving "Jane" attempting to get away from "Tarzan", Miles O'Keeffe found himself face to face with a full grown lion, who took on the part of the gallant gentleman saving the damsel in distress. The lion, escaping his holding pen, dived into the fray, apparently more intent on protecting Bo Derek than attacking Miles O'Keeffe (it was noted that the 200 pound man wasn't injured by the 500 pound cat). The handler was on the scene almost immediately, stopping the incident. Although neither human star were injured, rumor had it that Miles O'Keeffe thereafter made a habit of checking the security of the holding pen whenever other scenes of "violence" toward Bo Derek were done, citing a deep respect for Bo Derek's formidable self-appointed bodyguard.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jane fights the snake in the river, it changes from a reticulated python to a Burmese python and back several times.

Quotes:

Parker: Jane, do you know what he wants? What this ape wants?
Jane: He's not an ape!
Parker: He is an ape. He lives like an ape, he kills like an ape. But do you understand what he wants?
Jane: You know everything...
Parker: Well, this ape son of a bitch wants you.
Parker: I'm gonna catch that animal son of a bitch, Mr Holt!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Great British Sunday (2008) (TV)

Absolutely the worst Tarzan film ever made

For that matter one of the worst FILMS ever made. Plot goes as follows. Slog through jungle looking areas for 10 minutes or so. Have Bo go somewhere and strip. Slog through the jungle some more. Give Bo another excuse to strip. Back to the jungle. Oh look! There's a Tarzan looking guy! Strip, Bo - strip. Kill the safari people. Tarzan looking guy has a fight scene. Saves Bo. Bo strips. Run credits. Run credits, run.