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Simply Perfect

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

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)

Mike Henry's last film outing as Tarzan is in this film Tarzan And The Jungle Boy. Although shot in Brazil, but with establishing shots of African wildlife to make sure that Tarzan after a few films away from Africa was back in his native habitat. Too bad that this warmed over remake of Tarzan Finds A Son was not better than what MGM did on its back lot jungle sets back in the days of Johnny Weissmuller.Tarzan takes on an assignment to find a lost kid in the jungle played by young Steve Bond. He hears about it from journalists Ron Gans and Alicia Gur who want to tag along, but Tarzan moves better on his own. For any number of reasons they should have stayed behind, but Gur especially wants the story. They kidnap a drunk Cheta and follow Tarzan into the jungle with Cheta on a leash.Tarzan And The Jungle Boy features 1960 Olympic Decathalon champion Rafer Johnson as the villain locked in a struggle with his real life brother Ed for the succession to be tribal chief. They have their own little Decathalon in the jungle which consists of versions of the Javelin, the pole vault, and the broad jump. That's easily the best part of the film.This one's a little too unbelievable for me to swallow, especially Tarzan telling some kid about the benefits of civilization.

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.

The jungle boy Eric gives this Tarzan movie a kid friendly appearance, but that's deceptive. Be forewarned, it is quite violent with natives being speared to death and tossed off cliffs. We also see villages burnt to the ground. True the film is rated G but that only means there is no sex of foul language. Their is, however some borderline nudity as the loincloths worn by Tarzan and his young male costar are prone to wardrobe malfunctions.I liked the interaction between Tarzan and Eric which seemed quite natural, but it also seemed incredibly rushed. We all expect that, given time, Eric is going to come to accept Tarzan as his surrogate father or big brother, but it all happens so fast. Here we have a kid who has been living alone in a savage environment for years. You'd think he would have a difficult time understanding affection. As a feral child you would think that Eric would not know how to give or accept love. You'd think that Tarzan would have to slowly win the boy's trust and perhaps even "tame" him and establish his position as the alpha male. But no. Within minutes of first meeting man and boy are happily laughing and playing together in a lake. It's as if they have known each other for years. Eric is completely comfortable being held in Tarzan mighty arms. Keep in mind both man and boy are practically naked. After climbing out of the lake Eric admits that he has been lonely and wishes he had someone to talk with at night. He asks Tarzan to stay with him and keep him company. Geez this kid is probably safer in the jungle then he would be in any big city. Someone seriously needs to sit this kid down and explain to him that he needs to be careful around strange men dressed in loincloths. So what did movie goers back in 1968 make of this as they munched on their fifteen cent hot dogs and ten cent soft drinks? I imagine to them intergenerational male bonding was all quite innocent. After all what kid wouldn't be drawn to Tarzan? We see things a bit differently today. If you love all things Tarzan then you'll enjoy this movie. If you are a Steve Bond fan (as an adult he modeled full frontal nude for Playgirl Magazine) then you'll enjoy seeing him in his first acting role as Eric. But if you don't fall into those two categories, well this is one movie you could probably skip.