Load of rubbish!!

As Good As It Gets

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

RELEASED IN 1960 and directed by Robert Day, "Tarzan the Magnificent" covers events in Africa when Tarzan has no recourse but to escort a formidable prisoner, Coy Banton (Jock Mahoney), through the jungle to the authorities in Kairobi. Along for the trek are five passengers of a river boat destroyed by Coy's ruthless father (John Carradine) & cutthroat brothers. The latter pursue Tarzan & the group to save Coy.Despite his short hair, Gordon Scott was one of the better Tarzans; and this was his last of six Tarzan flicks in six years. Most critics cite Scott's previous movie "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" (1959) as one of the best Tarzan movies (which I've never seen) with this one running not far behind. The tone is believable, akin to "Sands of the Kalahari" (1965), with Tarzan's exploits thankfully being kept within the realm of realism. Speaking of his feats, there's a lot of jungle action, including a knockdown-drag-out fight at the climax. The way Coy uses psychology to disrupt the group and gain the allegiance of one of them is reminiscent of "The Naked Spur" (1953).Unfortunately, I found the members of the group and their interactions rather dull, including Tarzan. The script needed another rewrite to flush out the human interest. Moreover, the two women, Betta St. John & Alexandra Stewart, are serviceable, but the movie called for at least one woman of the caliber of Julie Adams, which can be observed in "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954), if you need to get my drift. For these two reasons "Tarzan the Magnificent" doesn't arise to the greatness of "Sands of the Kalahari." Yet it's not bad and is certainly a worthwhile austere jungle thriller. You can't beat the authentic African locations in living color (each of which 1934's heralded "Tarzan and His Mate" lacked).Interestingly, the main villain here, Jock Mahoney, went on to play the next Tarzan in two movies.THE FILM RUNS 82 minutes and was shot in Kenya with interiors done at Shepperton Studios, England. WRITERS: Berne Giler & Robert Day.GRADE: B-

Gordon Scott's last film as the Edgar Rice Burroughs legendary jungle hero is Tarzan The Magnificent. Scott was my favorite Tarzan and I really wish he had continued in the part for a few more years.This film finds Tarzan escorting a prisoner Jock Mahoney to the civil authorities to stand trial for crimes innumerable to mention. But Mahoney is the oldest of a group of family outlaws and patriarch John Carradine wants his pride and joy back at all costs.When Carradine and the boys blow up the boat that Tarzan was taking Mahoney back on, Tarzan finds he has to escort all the passengers and crew through the jungle where Carradine and the clan are almost as at home as he is. The boat captain is Earl Cameron and the passengers are Charles Tingwell, Alexandra Stewart, Betta St. John, and Lionel Jeffries.St. John and Jeffries are married and she's got a roving eye which Mahoney takes full advantage of to cause trouble. As if Tarzan hasn't enough to deal with.The influence of John Ford is plain in this Tarzan film. It plays a whole lot like a western and the outlaw Banton family could be country cousins to either the Cleggs from Wagonmaster or the Clantons from My Darling Clementine. Tarzan The Magnificent is one of the most adult themed of the Tarzan movies and being shot in East Africa it also does not contain all the jungle clichés from Hollywood films of the Thirties, Forties, and early Fifties. Although Tarzan's Greatest Adventure is my favorite Tarzan film this one comes close.And who would be the next Tarzan, but Jock Mahoney playing the villain here. Scott and Mahoney have a protracted fight at the climax which rivals The Spoilers. Although Mahoney did the role credit, Scott should have done more Tarzan films.

I'm writing this a few days after Gordon Scott's life has come to an end, so this review is a tribute to his life and career , especially his characterization as Tarzan, which many consider the best ever brought to the screen. Gordon Scott had a great screen presence as well as underrated acting abilities, and we really need more of his films released on DVD."Tarzan the Magnificent" is his last Tarzan film, I think, and it was released in 1960, right after "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" which I consider the best Tarzan film ever made. This film is not as good as that one, though it comes close, therefore coming in as the second best Tarzan film ever made. In any case, Gordon Scott again does a fantastic job portraying the ape man. I think he was the only one who convinced me that physically he could take on lions and crocodiles as well as Sean Connery.The plot of this movie is basically the same as "Greatest Adventure." Tarzan pursues and battles a gang of jungle crooks. (What the hell are backwoods moonshiners doing in Africa anyway?) Here there is a psychological angle as well as slam bang action. The location photography is great too. The ending is a little too similar to the last outing, but hard hitting just the same.Gordon, wherever you are, thanks for the great entertainment!

Along with 'Tarzan's Greatest Adventure', I rate this one as the best Tarzan movie of all times. Both of them are quite an improvement over the black&whites from the 30's and 40's (yes, Johnny Weissmuller was a hell of a Tarzan himself, no doubt, and did great movies, but times have changed quite a bit). Tarzan is an adult character now, aiming adult audiences, in these last two Gordon Scott's appearances. He is articulate, and as straight as he can be. No Janes, no Boys, no funny chimps around. This is a bloody, violent, dark, adult movie. This is a violent, dark new Tarzan. I only regret this wonderful new bias - and the mighty, definitive, impressive Tarzan Gordon Scott was - had no continuity. Later on, we were back to the tired lightweight Tarzans, oh-hum adventures, and here are our good friends, the chimps, goofing around again. Pity.