In Central America, a little native boy, Ramel, is abducted by Vinaro, a madman who believes the child to be the sole link to a lost Aztec city of gold. Vinaro uses one of his diabolical explosive mechanisms to eliminate police and army officials; and the legendary Tarzan is flown in to help locate the jungle city, rescue the boy, and bring Vinaro to justice.
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I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Awesome Movie
A different way of telling a story
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
Screenwriter Clair Huffaker brings Edgar Rice Burroughs' Ape Man creation into the 1960s, with mediocre returns. Tarzan has been transformed into a jungle super-spy--which is rather like having 007 in a loin-cloth! Worse ideas have surely been filmed, and ex-football player Mike Henry does quite well in his "Tarzan" debut, but the nondescript plot, cardboard villains, and weak supporting players are enough to do this entry in. Huffaker pairs Tarzan up with a chimp, a squinting kid, a pretty lady, and a very sleepy lion, none of whom are able to energize this story involving international crime, exploding wristwatches, and a mythical lost city. Lethargic and weary; long-time "Tarzan" aficionados were not enthused, yet the new formula was kept (as was Henry) for two more pictures. *1/2 from ****
The picture concerns a tidy Tarzan (a bouncing Mike Henry) well suited with necktie and elegant and carrying a briefcase . But a nasty assassin named Vinaro (the distinguished secondary David Opatoshu) schemes heinous plans . He abducts a little boy (Manuel Padilla) . Thus Tarzan , now in his loincloth , heads to jungle in order to save the spunky ten-years-old-boy and gets into trouble with bad guy , an evil with six feet high named Mr Train (the habitual villain Don Megowan) . Meanwhile , avaricious mercenaries with tanks , a little army and helicopters are going to the lost city of gold . The criminal Vinaro is accompanied by a beautiful girl named Sophia (attractive Nancy Kovack , nowadays married to Zubin Metha) who is leaved with an explosive necklace . The treasure seekers wish they hadn't messed with the ape-man .The movie is dubiously faithful to Edgar Rice Borroughs story . However , it contains noisy action , sensational adventures , wonderful outdoors and with some elements from James Bond films . The sets and production design are visually appealing . Film was shot in city of Mexico with background of the famous Aztecas pyramids and temples . As usual , there are the obvious uses of stock footage in many of the wild animal sequences though with the intervention of a well trained lion and a chimpanzee ex-professed for the film . The film was produced by Sy Weintraub (substituting former producer Sol Lesser) , he produced three for Mike Henry directed by Robert Day : ¨Tarzan and the jungle boy ¨ and ¨The great river¨ and this one. Besides , he produced two for Jock Mahoney : ¨Three challenges¨ and ¨Tarzan goes to India (directed by John Guillermin)¨ and two for Gordon Scott (recently deceased) :¨Tarzan the Magnificent¨ and ¨The greatest adventure (by John Guillermin)¨. Also he produced the classic TV series with Ron Ely and the little boy , Manuel Padilla Jr ,in this one as co-starring.
The movie is enjoyable in a Saturday-matinee sort of way. What makes it notable, however, is the appearance of Mike Henry in his first Tarzan role. Henry's personality is hardly charismatic and his acting ability is, at best, limited, but in terms of sheer physicality, he's probably the best Tarzan the movies have ever seen. (And what "Jane" wouldn't love to run barefoot over those pecs!).
Ex-L.A. Rams linebacker Mike Henry makes his debut as Tarzan in this 1960s adventure. His arrival in Mexico wearing a suit and tie and carrying a briefcase is quite jarring, as is his subsequent "James Bond style" gunfight. But, not to fear, this is just to show us that this Tarzan is handy with modern weapons and is at ease in any environment. He does go into the jungle(in his loincloth)accompanied by a couple of wild animals and this is where the film gets interesting. He has to find the legendary Valley of Gold and protect its citizens from greedy villain Vinaro(David Opatashu) and his well organized(not to mention armed-to-the-teeth) army. The story is a little hokey at times, and seeing Tarzan use guns, grenades and a tank is a little hard to take, but overall the characterizations are good and the Mexican scenery is nothing short of spectacular(especially the Aztec pyramid city).Opetashu is perfect as the smooth, slick villain who sends his enemies exploding wristwatches. Henry is a little serious as Tarzan but he does excel in the action sequences. On the whole a groovy movie experience( jazzy musical score and all).