..............and His Very Best Performance as TARZAN !
IN HIS 1968 film book, TARZAN OF THE MOVIES, author Gabe Essoe calls this entry into the series, "Tarzan the Best !" Without a doubt, this claim is not any sort of puffing on his part. Every aspect of the story, with the possible exception of there being no Jane, fits together like the parts of a jigsaw puzzle in the construction of a very intelligent and even "adult" Tarzan adventure.
TO BEGIN WITH, the production team has Tarz portrayed in a very civilized and intelligent manner. This is in keeping with the original concept as formulated by author/creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. This is further enhanced by the heretofore unrevealed of the high level of acting that was achieved by Gordon Scott. In turn the supporting players did a yeoman's job in delivering just what was needed.
THE STORY THAT we have was both simple and straight forward. Some truly evil thugs rob the local native village bank and in the process manage to kill a few people. Fleeing across the savanna in their War Surplus Jeep, they are encountered by Tarzan; who demonstrates a high of proficiency as an archer.
UNSEEN AND IN a rapid fire succession of on-target shots, he quickly manages to get the upper hand on the gang. The rest of the story is basically concerned with the Jungle Lord's returning to the victimized villagers with the wanted killer.
THE FILM IS interesting for its being shot mostly in Kenya, east Africa.This location provided the film makers with may an authentic, true to life footage; which greatly enhanced the movies believably.
AS IS SO often the case, the old adage of "less is more" applies here. The entire scenario revolves around the brutal killings and robbery; followed with the Ape Man's tracking down and bringing the killer to justice.
ODDLY ENOUGH, AND not accidentally, this story could well have been an "Oater",set in the Old West of the USA. It has all the right elements' other than its venue in the jungles and savannas of Equatorial Africa. Even its antagonists, the"Banton Family" (father John Carradine & 3 sons) bear a strong resemblance to the Clantons of the John Ford Western MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (20th Century-Fox, 1946).
ONE BIT OF irony in this film's history is that eldest Blanton son, Jock Mahoney, would be stepping into the Tarzan part in 1962's TARZAN GOES TO INDIA. Although we found Mr. Mahoney's portrayal to be more than just credible, it's a shame that TARZAN THE MAGNIFICENT marked the end of the Jungle trail for Gordon Scott. Both the tone of this story and his acting leads us to believe that there would have been some great vine swinging yet to come ! Pity !
IN HIS 1968 film book, TARZAN OF THE MOVIES, author Gabe Essoe calls this entry into the series, "Tarzan the Best !" Without a doubt, this claim is not any sort of puffing on his part. Every aspect of the story, with the possible exception of there being no Jane, fits together like the parts of a jigsaw puzzle in the construction of a very intelligent and even "adult" Tarzan adventure.
TO BEGIN WITH, the production team has Tarz portrayed in a very civilized and intelligent manner. This is in keeping with the original concept as formulated by author/creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. This is further enhanced by the heretofore unrevealed of the high level of acting that was achieved by Gordon Scott. In turn the supporting players did a yeoman's job in delivering just what was needed.
THE STORY THAT we have was both simple and straight forward. Some truly evil thugs rob the local native village bank and in the process manage to kill a few people. Fleeing across the savanna in their War Surplus Jeep, they are encountered by Tarzan; who demonstrates a high of proficiency as an archer.
UNSEEN AND IN a rapid fire succession of on-target shots, he quickly manages to get the upper hand on the gang. The rest of the story is basically concerned with the Jungle Lord's returning to the victimized villagers with the wanted killer.
THE FILM IS interesting for its being shot mostly in Kenya, east Africa.This location provided the film makers with may an authentic, true to life footage; which greatly enhanced the movies believably.
AS IS SO often the case, the old adage of "less is more" applies here. The entire scenario revolves around the brutal killings and robbery; followed with the Ape Man's tracking down and bringing the killer to justice.
ODDLY ENOUGH, AND not accidentally, this story could well have been an "Oater",set in the Old West of the USA. It has all the right elements' other than its venue in the jungles and savannas of Equatorial Africa. Even its antagonists, the"Banton Family" (father John Carradine & 3 sons) bear a strong resemblance to the Clantons of the John Ford Western MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (20th Century-Fox, 1946).
ONE BIT OF irony in this film's history is that eldest Blanton son, Jock Mahoney, would be stepping into the Tarzan part in 1962's TARZAN GOES TO INDIA. Although we found Mr. Mahoney's portrayal to be more than just credible, it's a shame that TARZAN THE MAGNIFICENT marked the end of the Jungle trail for Gordon Scott. Both the tone of this story and his acting leads us to believe that there would have been some great vine swinging yet to come ! Pity !