Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959 film)

Tarzan, the Ape Man

Theatrical poster.
Directed by Joseph M. Newman
Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Written by Edgar Rice Burroughs (character)
Robert Hill (screenplay)
Starring Denny Miller
Cesare Danova
Joanna Barnes
Robert Douglas
Music by Shorty Rogers
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
 1959 (1959)
Running time
 82 minutes
Language English
Budget $689,000[1]
Box office $1,710,000[1]

Tarzan, the Ape Man is a 1959 action adventure film starring Denny Miller as Tarzan, Joanna Barnes as Jane, Cesare Danova, and Robert Douglas. The movie is loosely based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel Tarzan of the Apes, and is a remake of the classic 1932 film of the same name. The movie was directed by Joseph M. Newman, and the score was composed by jazz musician Shorty Rogers.

A fair amount of footage was taken directly from the 1932 version rather than being reshot, including scenes of Tarzan swinging on vines and the elephants' destruction of a pygmy village. A scene of Tarzan fighting a crocodile was reused from Tarzan and His Mate, the sequel to the 1932 film. Other footage was reused from King Solomon's Mines. Tarzan's distinctive call was also taken from the original version. The "African"" elephants in some scenes are clearly Indian ones with some sort of canvas "ears" added, and with the characteristic double humps on the forehead all too obvious. The "jungle" vegetation, from three different continents, and the clumsy back-projection in the "underwater" scenes make it a treat for lovers of the ludicrous.

Plot

The plot of the film reprises that of the 1932 version, with James Parker (Douglas) Harry Holt (Danova) and Parker's daughter Jane (Barnes) on an expedition in Africa in which they encounter Tarzan, a wild man raised by apes. Various adventures ensue.

Cast

Box Office

According to MGM records the film earned $660,000 in the US and Canada and $1,050,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $92,000.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.

External links

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