Tarzan and the Jungle Boy (1968)

Such a frustrating disappointment

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

The final entry in the "Tarzan" series "Tarzan and the Jungle Boy",not only marked actor Mike Henry's final appearance as "Tarzan",but also this was the last theatrical "Tarzan" movie as well,a franchise that has spanned more than four decades,going back to the first "Tarzan" talkie starring Johnny Weissmuller in 1932,and from there the series became an American icon not to mention a box office success,spanning more than 36 years with five different actors playing the role from Lex Barker,to Gordon Scott,to Jock Mahoney,and from there the last actor to play him in the theatres,Mike Henry. At the time this final "Tarzan" movie came out in 1968,not only was the franchise was coming to an end,but it was in fact the end of an era that has lasted more than four decades. Also at the same time,the "Tarzan" television series starring Ron Ely was also ending its run after more than 57 episodes. "Tarzan" by the late-1960's was basically the age of the dinosaur. This was also Producer Sy Weintraub's last association with the series. In "Tarzan and the Jungle Boy",Weintraub serves as Executive Producer,while Robert Day(who directed the previous "Tarzan" films starring Mike Henry,"Tarzan and the Valley of Gold",and "Tarzan and the Great River")served as producer while the directorial duties went to Robert Gordon.In this final "Tarzan" installment,the lord of the jungle(Mike Henry) assists a pair of journalists(Ron Gans and Aliza Gur)in attempting to locate a missing boy(Steve Bond),lost in the jungle. Complicating matters is the volatility of a local tribe after its chief dies,leaving the sons(played by Olympic gold-medalist turned actor Rafer Johnson,who also starred opposite Mike Henry in "Tarzan and the Great River",the year before....and other was played by Rafer Johnson's brother Ed Johnson)to compete each other for the title of tribal chief. Along the way,Tarzan saves the other brother's life from a deadly fate during a tribal contest,not to mention tangles with one of Rafer's henceman faces a battle with a hungry lion,tosses two men over a cliff and gets trapped at the bottom of a underwater lagoon by a giant clam! All within it's running time of 99 minutes. This movie upon its release,was very kid friendly,but be forewarned here. This was a movie that was explicitly violent not to mention scenes of native being speared to death,and the infamous borderline nudity scene between Tarzan and his young male co-star(including the scene where they're playing together half-naked in a lake)that made this film upon its theatrical release was giving a "G" rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. It should have been rated "PG" or "M" for that matter due to the MPAA's rating system that came out in 1968. As for actress Aliza Gur(whom in fact was Sy Weintraub's answer to Raquel Welch)she wasn't given all that to do is to just play with her camera and look pretty throughout the film. This was the final Tarzan theatrical feature,and it wouldn't be until 13 years later when Miles O'Keefe took over the role in the remake of "Tarzan,The Ape Man" in 1981,and in 1984 when Christopher Lambert play "Tarzan" in "Greystroke",that was produced by Hugh Hudson(of Chariots of Fire fame). The last actor to played "Tarzan" in the theatres was Casper Van Diem in "Tarzan and the Lost City" that came out in 1998. And there hasn't been a theatrical "Tarzan" movie since.

TARZAN AND THE JUNGLE BOY (Paramount, 1968), directed by Robert Gordon, may not be the best nor the worst in this long running series based on the Edgar Rice Burrough's created character, but no doubt one of the weakest. Though the premise is basically a good one, using two subplots for the price of one, this Tarzan adventure stands apart for having more plot elements than unrelated segments leading to high adventure.Starting off traditionally in 1960s style where prologue precedes opening credits, the initial three minutes sets upon a famed geologist named Carl Brunik, who, after stumbling upon mineral deposits, packs up his supplies into his canoe where his seven-year-old son, Erik, and pet baby leopard are seen sleeping under a blanket. While heading down the rapids, Brunik loses control of the canoe that flips over. Father drowns while boy and leopard mysteriously disappear from view. After the slow motion title credits superimposing over the image of Tarzan running about or swinging on the vine and other scenes to take place for the upcoming 99 minutes, the plot resumes, moving forward six years. Myrna Claudel (Aliza Gur), a photographic journalist, and Ken Matson (Ron Gans), her associate, parachute from a private airplane through the trees of the African jungle. They are soon met by Tarzan (Mike Henry), and his pet chimpanzee, Cheta. Myrna asks for the Lord of the Jungle to guide them through Zanuga territory in hope of finding a missing boy. Based on a photo they've acquired taken by a oil company stationed there, they've come to the conclusion the son of the late geologist is very much alive, having miraculously survived the jungle with a leopard as his only companion. Naturally, Tarzan takes to the assignment. Second portion of the story involves brother against brother competing for leadership of the Zagunda tribe. Buhara (Edward Johnson), friend of Tarzan, is kept from tribal leadership by being abducted, left to die by his evil brother Nagambi (Rafer Johnson), while tied to the ground onto four extended pillars in the view of hungry lions at a distance. After Tarzan finds jungle boy (Steven Bond), known to many as Jukaro, "boy of the trees," Myrna and Ken are captured and become hostages to be sacrificed under Nagambi's rule.While the basic element is on the search of a missing boy, the second premise lifted from the Bible's "Cain and Abel" is actually better. Steve Bond, makes an agreeable jungle boy. Appearing 27 minutes from the start of the movie, he has limited scenes to himself, one worthy of mention is his method of hunting and survival. Boy doesn't meet Tarzan until the film is nearly over. Almost instantly, Tarzan and Erik form a certain bonding in the father and son mode, even taking time out for fun and games by having boy dive into the river from Tarzan's shoulders. Leisurely paced to a degree, TARZAN AND THE JUNGLE BOY greatly benefits from rich color photography from Panavision, as well as fine scenery and authentic jungle locales of Brazil in place rather than its true setting of Africa.While previous Tarzan actors were far from great actors, Henry, the latest and most muscular ape man since Gordon Scott a decade earlier, enacts his role in calm, low-key style, often speaking with little expression. Categorized as bad acting, Henry, in his third and final attempt in the role for which he is most identified, gives some impression of being bored in some spots. With the writers bringing Tarzan more down to earth and being more relevant towards the sixties, this latest Tarzan is definitely not the same character as presented in decades past. Tarzan's background very much parallels that to the jungle boy. A prime example of this is found during one of their one-on-one talks. Tarzan briefly mentions as being an orphan of the jungle himself, taken to civilization, and making his decision of returning to the Africa after reaching manhood. Though there's not a mention of he being Lord Greystoke as depicted in the Tarzan stories, there's a clue of he being educated in city schools before resuming his lifestyle of a jungle man.Having come a long way since the titled character's introduction in TARZAN OF THE APES (1918) featuring Elmo Lincoln, and dozens more Tarzan's since then, TARZAN AND THE JUNGLE BOY marks the end of the trail. Frequently shown in many commercial TV stations on "Tarzan Theater" since the 1970s, TARZAN AND THE JUNGLE BOY did play part of the cable TV generation on American Movie Classics (1997-2000) and Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: November 12, 2011). Though this closed the annual or biannual theatrical release of Tarzan adventures since the 1940s, Tarzan was then on call for a TV series (1966-1969) starring Ron Ely for NBC that certainly kept the legend alive regardless of which actor plays him. (** loin-cloths)

This is a formulaic Tarzan movie. You have your girl, natives, and even a jungle boy. You would think that it would be pretty lame, but it's not. If I had to guess, I would say that the people making this movie knew how formulaic it was and so they pulled no punches. It's a simple Tarzan story and that's the way it's presented.First, the movie takes place in Africa. It doesn't try taking Tarzan to far off places. It's stays right in Tarzan's backyard.Second, Mike Henry does a much better job in this one than any other one. It was like he finally figured out how he should play Tarzan.Third, the boy, played by Steve Bond, does a really good job. He doesn't over act and is believable.Fourth, the evil and good natives, who are brothers in real life and in the movie do a great job. They are fit and much like everyone else, they don't over do it.Fifth, the girl, Aliza Gur, is very pretty and has your classic 60's look. Wearing the riding pants, boots, low cut top, long hair with the wide head band. She looks like she stepped off the set of the Beverly Hillbillies.So if you want a simple Tarzan movie that you can get into, this one will definitely work.

Mike Henry in his last appearance as Tarzan assists a pair of journalists (Gur and Gans) in attempting to locate a boy (Bond), missing in the jungles for several years. Complicating matters is the volatility of a local tribe after its chief dies, leaving the sons (Ed and Rafer Johnson) to battle for succession.Strictly formula Tarzan fare with all the usual motifs (pet leopard, a pair of chimps et al) blends some nice scenery with watchable action scenes. Henry is not as relaxed in his role as Ron Ely (the TV Tarzan), but does the business well enough to be convincing. Lacks intensity (the scene where Gur & Gans are attacked by the megalomaniacal brother Ngambi ends rather abruptly), although enough of the cast end up skewered on spears that it's perhaps too violent for the pre-adolescents.If you're into Tarzan, and especially if you grew up on Ely's TV rendition, then this instalment should satisfy a Sunday afternoon.