Main Cast: Mike Henry, Jan Murray, Manuel Padilla, Diana Millay, Rafer Johnson
Release Year: 1967
Country: CH/US
Run Time: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
A joint U.S.-Swiss production in the waning days of the 35-year-old Tarzan series, this film stars Mike Henry in the second of his three film appearances as the jungle king. The film is set in South America, where one of Tarzan's friends is murdered at Tarzan's favorite zoo. The culprits are the Leopard Men, a group of tribal humans dressed and behaving like jungle animals. They are headed by Chief Barcuna (Rafer Johnson). Tarzan recruits Captain Sam Bishop (Jan Murray) and some animal friends to help defeat Barcuna, who is planning on leading a revolt of his Leopard Men against peaceful tribal leaders. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Herbert Smith - Art Director, Robert Day - Director, Anthony Carras - Editor, Edward Mann - Editor, James Nelson - Editor, Bill Loose - Composer (Music Score), Bill Loose - Musical Direction/Supervision, Irving Lippman - Cinematographer, Sy Weintraub - Producer, Ira Anderson, Jr. - Special Effects, Lewis Reed - Screen Story, Bob Barbash - Screenwriter
Tarzan and the Great River (1967) is an adventure film starring Mike Henry in his second outing as a James Bond-like globetrotting Tarzan. The movie was produced by Sy Weintraub and Steve Shagan, written by Bob Barbash (from a story by Barbash and Lewis Reed), and directed by Robert Day. It was released in September 1967. [1]
Tarzan is called to Brazil by an old friend (The Professor) to help stop the Jaguar Cult, led by Barcuma, from running off Dr. Ann Philips who is there to give much-needed inoculations to native villagers along the Amazon River.
Tarzan is assisted by Baron (a lion) and Cheeta (a chimpanzee), both of whom he brought from Africa, as well as Captain Sam Bishop, a riverboat pilot, and Bishop's young ward, Pepe.
Manuel Padilla, Jr. as Pepe, Sam Bishop's youthful ward
Paulo Gracindo as The Professor, Tarzan's old friend
Production notes
The movie was filmed entirely on location in Brazil ,Rio de Janeiro city ( zoo , Parque lage, Floresta da tijuca). Actor Paulo Gracindo ( see wikipedia portuguese )
Dinky, the chimp portraying Cheeta, bit Mike Henry on the jaw during filming, requiring twenty stitches. The chimpanzee was destroyed, and Henry later sued the producers for this accident and other unsafe working conditions on all three of his Tarzan films. The parties settled out of court.
References
Essoe, Gabe. Tarzan of The Movies, 1968, published by The Citadel Press.
