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Tarzan the Ape Man
1981 115 min United States of America R 16+
★4.1
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Director: John Derek
🎭 Based on
«Tarzan of the Apes»
byEdgar Rice Burroughs
Trailers
Description
The Tarzan story from Jane's point of view. Jane Parker visits her father in Africa where she joins him on an expedition. A couple of brief encounters with Tarzan establish a (sexual) bond between her and Tarzan. When the expedition is captured by savages, Tarzan comes to the rescue.
US Gross:
$36.57M
Worldwide:
$36.57M
Starring
Bo Derek
Actor
Richard Harris
Actor
Miles O'Keeffe
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 1982
— Worst Actress
Razzie Awards 1982
— Worst Screenplay
Razzie Awards 1982
— Worst Director
Razzie Awards 1982
— Worst New Star
Razzie Awards 1982
— Worst Picture
Razzie Awards 1982
— Worst Actor
Key opinion
This 1981 adaptation of Tarzan is widely panned for its lack of narrative substance and focus on aesthetic over performance. While some find merit in its exotic, comic-book-inspired visual spectacle, most critics view the film as a hollow production that prioritizes physical presence at the expense of coherent storytelling.
| Acting | The casting prioritizes physical physique over professional acting ability, resulting in a shallow portrayal of the lead character. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative logic is undermined by significant inconsistencies, such as the use of Asian elephants in an African setting. | |
| Production | The production relies heavily on its lush international locations in Sri Lanka and the Seychelles to create a sense of exotic spectacle. | |
| Pacing | The film's tempo is divisive; some appreciate the slow-burn, eroticized atmosphere of the central romance, while others find the mid-film lulls exhausting and wasted time. |