Surprisingly incoherent and boring

One of my all time favorites.

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

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Tarzan and the Great River (1967) ** 1/2 (out of 4) After the horrendous TARZAN AND THE VALLEY OF GOLD, I really wasn't expecting too much out of Mike Henry's second Tarzan film. This time out he heads to Rio de Janeiro where his friend is murdered by an evil jaguar cult lead by a native known as Barcuma. Tarzan jumps aboard a small cargo lead by the captain (Jan Murray) and his orphan mate (Manuel Padilla, Jr.) to try and warn other native tribes while also trying to reach a doctor trying to spread medicine to them. Again, going into this film I really wasn't expecting too much after the previous film that tried to make Tarzan and James Bond like agent. I got worried early on as we got the silly opening credits sequence and once again the first time we see the ape man he is in a tuxedo that he apparently got in New York City. However, once the action starts the film turned out to be a worthy entry in the series. It's certainly not going to make people forget Johnny Weissmuller or Gordon Scott but it's worth watching for the action. Another major benefit here is that there's some terrific wildlife footage including a rather stellar fight between a couple large lions. I know some might be worried about watching two animals fight but it did look like the real thing and not something just staged for the camera. Another intense sequence has Tarzan tipping over a couple of the enemies boats so that they are in a river trying to get away from some crocodiles. The underwater footage is really terrific and includes some beautiful moments of the crocs just swimming around. It's clear that this was filmed separate from the "action" going on but it still looks great. Another major plus is that the cult members look quite effective in their uniforms and the jacked up violence also puts you on edge. Murray actually delivers a pretty fun performance as the captain who never wants to get further into trouble but constantly finds himself going along for the ride. I was also impressed with Padilla who was fun in his part. However, Henry just isn't working for me as Tarzan. While he's certainly better here than he was in the first film, there's still no question that his personality just isn't right for the ape man.

Mike Henry is Tarzan in Tarzan And The Great River, the great river of course being the Amazon. Tarzan is on a mission in the Amazon head waters country taking on a Jaguar jungle cult that is headed by Olympic athlete Rafer Johnson. Henry is in Brazil at the behest of an old friend Paulo Gracindo. When Gracindo is killed Henry doubles in his resolve to put an end to Johnson who is enslaving whole villages in the area.Tarzan's traveling companions are Jan Murray who has an African Queen boat delivering medical supplies to Dr. Diana Millay. Murray does some of his borscht belt shtick in the role of the captain and he has a young kid Manuel Padilla who travels with him.Henry and Johnson have a dandy climatic fight scene when Tarzan overcomes the many obstacles put in his path. I do so love when Tarzan provides those South American crocodiles called kamen some lunch with some of Rafer Johnson's warriors.This is an amusing entrée in the Tarzan series, but one better suited for the juvenile trade.

What's with Jan Murray as a faux-Bogart from The African Queen? I can't even begin to describe how insane this movie is.And what about Olympic decathelete Rafer Johnson as the evil Barcuna? -- Incidentally, how did all of these folks end up in Brazil? Jan Murray's interplay with little Pepe is like nothing I've ever seen.

It is some years since I saw this film but I still remember it vividly.I rate it much higher than all the other Tarzan films from the late forties to the present day.Mike Henry is adequate as Tarzan and Manuel Padilla Jr. is very natural in his role(he was later to play a similar role as Jai in the "Tarzan" television series of the sixties.)The supporting cast are fine too and the scenery is magnificent.Best of all however is the casting of Diana Millay as Ann.Combining beauty and brains this talented actress makes the lovely doctor she plays one of the most memorable heroines in any "Tarzan" film.