Third Tarzan film with American football star Mike Henry
In terms of his impressive physique, Mike Henry (1936-2021), the former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams, was the perfect Tarzan. With his broad shoulders, extremely well-developed muscles and lush chest hair, he embodied a male-animal wildness that was tailor-made for the portrayal of the jungle hero. In real life, Mike Henry probably wasn't particularly happy filming his three Tarzan films. He was bitten by the participating chimpanzee, suffered serious infections and bitterly reproached Tarzan producer Sy Weintraub (1923-2000) for endangering his health. After this film, which - although filmed in Brazil in autumn 1965 - was only released in May 1968, Mike Henry gave up the role of Tarzan.
Under the direction of Robert Gordon, Mike Henry flexes his huge muscles once again as a modernized (with clear borrowings from James Bond and Co.) Tarzan. In his search for a boy (Steve Bond) who grew up alone in the jungle after the death of his parents, Tarzan also has to deal with the fratricidal battle of a native tribe. The powerful Nagambi (Rafer Johnson, decathlon Olympic champion in Rome 1960) cannot get over the fact that his brother Buhara (Edward Johnson, also a brother of Rafer Johnson in real life) has been appointed chief of the tribe. Adding to the confusion is NationalGeographic reporter Myrna, played by Israeli actress Aliza Gur. Aliza Gur, born in 1944, is also known for her appearance in the second James Bond adventure "From With Love", in which she has an impressive fight with her rival, played by Martine Beswick, in a Sinti and Roma camp. This scene was very daring for the time and probably caused quite a bit of horror among the audience.
All in all, a solid Tarzan film with lots of fight scenes and impressive animal shots, which lives above all from its admirable leading actor. After his departure, no more Tarzan films were made until the 1980s.
Rafer Johnson (1934-2020) died on December 2, 2020 in Los Angeles.
RIP
Mike Henry (1936-2021) died on January 8, 2021 in Burbank, California.
RIP.
In terms of his impressive physique, Mike Henry (1936-2021), the former linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams, was the perfect Tarzan. With his broad shoulders, extremely well-developed muscles and lush chest hair, he embodied a male-animal wildness that was tailor-made for the portrayal of the jungle hero. In real life, Mike Henry probably wasn't particularly happy filming his three Tarzan films. He was bitten by the participating chimpanzee, suffered serious infections and bitterly reproached Tarzan producer Sy Weintraub (1923-2000) for endangering his health. After this film, which - although filmed in Brazil in autumn 1965 - was only released in May 1968, Mike Henry gave up the role of Tarzan.
Under the direction of Robert Gordon, Mike Henry flexes his huge muscles once again as a modernized (with clear borrowings from James Bond and Co.) Tarzan. In his search for a boy (Steve Bond) who grew up alone in the jungle after the death of his parents, Tarzan also has to deal with the fratricidal battle of a native tribe. The powerful Nagambi (Rafer Johnson, decathlon Olympic champion in Rome 1960) cannot get over the fact that his brother Buhara (Edward Johnson, also a brother of Rafer Johnson in real life) has been appointed chief of the tribe. Adding to the confusion is NationalGeographic reporter Myrna, played by Israeli actress Aliza Gur. Aliza Gur, born in 1944, is also known for her appearance in the second James Bond adventure "From With Love", in which she has an impressive fight with her rival, played by Martine Beswick, in a Sinti and Roma camp. This scene was very daring for the time and probably caused quite a bit of horror among the audience.
All in all, a solid Tarzan film with lots of fight scenes and impressive animal shots, which lives above all from its admirable leading actor. After his departure, no more Tarzan films were made until the 1980s.
Rafer Johnson (1934-2020) died on December 2, 2020 in Los Angeles.
RIP
Mike Henry (1936-2021) died on January 8, 2021 in Burbank, California.
RIP.