Warners Archive Collection
After the Magnificent TARZAN THE MAGNIFICANT Tarzan was recast and sent to India. Released in 1962, Jock Mahoney, the villain in TARZAN THE MAGNIFICANT become the new slimmer version of Tarzan. Directed by John Gillermin, who had done such a great job on TARZANS' GREATEST ADVENTURE. He does a good job here but the story is really bad. Tarzan is up against some slimy guys trying to build a dam and drown a heard of rogue elephants. All the in India elements are there (Tarzan faces a Cobra, which is killed by a mongoose ect) but the story never really takes off. The inclusion of Gajendra as "the elephant boy" is really annoying and rather disturbing (Micheal Jackson territory here). The villains are a rather weak lot and the must save elephants before the dam guys block off the only exit for them is really tiring.
Mahoney is OK as Tarzan, rather skinny, and a little too old. All in all one of the poorer Tarzans (the movie not Mahoney).
TARZAN'S THREE CHALLENGES (1963)
Warner's Archive
After India, Tarzan traveled to Bangkok ( I guess they were tired of Africa). Directed by Robert Day who had Magnifiantly directed TARAN THE MAGNIFICANT, this is miles ahead of TARZAN GOES TO INDIA. Jock Mahoney in his second and last Tarzan film really grows into the part here. Woody Strode is great as the villain and the end of them fighting in a net over bolling (oil?) is one of the best. This was the first Tarzan movie I saw and while I prefer the Gordon Scott films I have always had a fondness for this. Nice to know it lived up to my memories of it and finally nice to have it on video letter-boxed.
Next up from the Warner Archive TARZAN IN THE VALLEY OF GOLD (1965). Yes, Tarzan really kills someone with a giant coke bottle! Still not in Africa but Mexico. Tarzan with a annoying boy( Manuel Padilla Jr, for some reason a fixture in the remaining Tarzan films and the TV show) Travels with a Leopard, a lion, and Dinky(not Cheetah) rescue the kid and stop the villains from looting a lost Inca village of its' gold. Mike Henry steps into the loin cloth and does a good job. He probably looks more like Tarzan than all of the Previous Tarzan's. It is rather unnerving seeing Henry put his face so close to Dinkys' mouth, the chip seems rather nervous here (he would sink his teeth into Henry's' jaw two weeks into the next Tarzan film). Tarzan is really into James Bond territory here.It is also a bit of a shock to see Tarzan with a Machine gun! He doesn't even strap on the loin cloth until half way into the film. Former Frankenstein Don Megowan is the villains henchman and Nancy Kovack is the bit of stuff. Good, but not great. It is nice that the AIP title card is still on this.
The picture on all is fine( looked good on my projector). All properly letter-boxed and enhanced. Trailers (Yea!!)for TARZANS THREE CHALLENGES and VALLEY OF GOLD are included , but not enhanced.
I also have the last two, but I am rather Tarzaned out.
CLAMBAKE!! to you all!
