A spectacularly filmed story with gorgeous visuals and impeccably played, the movie's main plus is that it sticks closer to the original Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel than all the previous chest-thumping, vine-swinging Hollywood versions usually performed by Johnny Weissmuller, Lex Barker or Gordon Scott. The seventh Earl of Greystoke becomes a shipwrecked orphan and is raised by apes. In 1886, following a shipwreck off the west coast of Africa, an infant child became part of a family of apes who raised and protected him. He was a boy alone in the jungle, innocent of its dangers and awed by its beauty. He became part of a family of apes who raised and protected him. It was the start of a bond that was never broken and it is the beginning of a timeless and classic adventure. As he grew, he (Christopher Lambert) learned the laws of the Jungle and eventually claimed the title, Lord of the Apes. Ruling the ape-clan in the vine-swinging persona of Tarzan. Yet, years later, he is discovered by an anthropologist (Ian Holm) and returned to his ancestral home in Scotland, when he's immediately recognized by his grandfather (Ralph Richardson) . When he was returned to civilization, he would remain uncertain as to which laws he should obey . . . Those of man . . . Or those of the jungle. A legendary hero - and the tale that's never been told!
In 'Greystoke' the director of 'Chariots of Fire', captures this epic adventure of a man caught between two different worlds. Based on the story 'Tarzan of the Apes' by Edgar Rice Burroughs about the seventh Earl of Greystoke, an orphan raised by apes. The contrast between the behavior of man and ape is interesting, and Tarzan's introduction to society is enjoyable, but there's no melodrama or cliff-hanging action, as we've come to expect of the Tarzan genre. The first half works best with the boy Tarzan being raised by a family of cute simians and is on less sure ground when adult Tarzan is brought back to Edwardian England. Casting fashion model Andie McDowell as Jane, but due to her heavy southern accent, had her voice dubbed by Glenn Close. To her undying credit, MacDowell bounced back a couple years later to become one of Hollywood's brightest young stars. Along with the two main stars : Christopher Lambert and Andie MacDowell in ¨Greystoke¨stands out a great plethora of prestigious Brit actors, such as : the Oscar nominated Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm and James Fox, Cheryl Campbell, Ian Charleson, Nigel Davenport, Nicholas Farrell, Paul Geoffrey, Richard Griffiths, David Suchet, among others.
It displays a colorful and evocative ciinematography by John Alcott. As well a thrilling and emotive musical score by composer John Scott. The motion picture was professionaly directed by Hugh Hudson, but it resulted to be a dramatically uneven flick . Hudson met his second wife actress Maryam d'Abo (who was Bond girl in The Living Daylights, 1987) when she came to see him about wanting to play the leading role of Jane in this film 'Greystoke' (1984), she felt that he already had someone else in mind for the role, since Andie MacDowell played Jane in the finished film, Maryam didn't connect with him until 15 years later, they became involved and married four years later in 2003. Hudson was a notorious producer and director, specially known for Chariots of Fire (1981) and Greystoke (1984). Other films Hudson directed with uneven success is as follows: The Tortoise and the Hare (1966), Revolution, Lost Angels , Altamira, Lumière et compagnie, I dreamed of Africa , My Life So Far. Rating: 6.5/10. Well worth watching. The movie will appeal to Christopher Lambert and Andie MacDowell fans.
In 'Greystoke' the director of 'Chariots of Fire', captures this epic adventure of a man caught between two different worlds. Based on the story 'Tarzan of the Apes' by Edgar Rice Burroughs about the seventh Earl of Greystoke, an orphan raised by apes. The contrast between the behavior of man and ape is interesting, and Tarzan's introduction to society is enjoyable, but there's no melodrama or cliff-hanging action, as we've come to expect of the Tarzan genre. The first half works best with the boy Tarzan being raised by a family of cute simians and is on less sure ground when adult Tarzan is brought back to Edwardian England. Casting fashion model Andie McDowell as Jane, but due to her heavy southern accent, had her voice dubbed by Glenn Close. To her undying credit, MacDowell bounced back a couple years later to become one of Hollywood's brightest young stars. Along with the two main stars : Christopher Lambert and Andie MacDowell in ¨Greystoke¨stands out a great plethora of prestigious Brit actors, such as : the Oscar nominated Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm and James Fox, Cheryl Campbell, Ian Charleson, Nigel Davenport, Nicholas Farrell, Paul Geoffrey, Richard Griffiths, David Suchet, among others.
It displays a colorful and evocative ciinematography by John Alcott. As well a thrilling and emotive musical score by composer John Scott. The motion picture was professionaly directed by Hugh Hudson, but it resulted to be a dramatically uneven flick . Hudson met his second wife actress Maryam d'Abo (who was Bond girl in The Living Daylights, 1987) when she came to see him about wanting to play the leading role of Jane in this film 'Greystoke' (1984), she felt that he already had someone else in mind for the role, since Andie MacDowell played Jane in the finished film, Maryam didn't connect with him until 15 years later, they became involved and married four years later in 2003. Hudson was a notorious producer and director, specially known for Chariots of Fire (1981) and Greystoke (1984). Other films Hudson directed with uneven success is as follows: The Tortoise and the Hare (1966), Revolution, Lost Angels , Altamira, Lumière et compagnie, I dreamed of Africa , My Life So Far. Rating: 6.5/10. Well worth watching. The movie will appeal to Christopher Lambert and Andie MacDowell fans.