Part 2: Enjoyable DVD: Mike Henry in "Tarzan and the Great River"

In yesterday's blog, I highlighted a super-handsome actor named Mike Henry who in my opinion made the Perfect Tarzan. I speak as a fan of Tarzan in comic books and Edgar Rice-Burroughs novels. In the 1960s, Mike made three Tarzan movies that were shown in theaters and are all on DVD now. So, in today's blog,  you'll read about one of the films we just enjoyed called "Tarzan and the Great River." You'll also learn how the filmmakers used footage of African animals to make the jungle scenes more interesting. 

ABOUT THE FILM: "Tarzan and the Great River":  In Brazil, Dr. Ann Philips tries to inoculate the superstitious natives against an epidemic. The murderous Jaguar Men oppose the intrusion. The natives take heart when the riverboat captain's helper Pepe volunteers for the first shot.

INTERESTING TAKE-  This series of Tarzan films reimagines the character and gives him an interesting side. He's come out of the African jungles and become somewhat of a globe-trotting superspy,- who is equally at ease in a suit or a loincloth. In this film, he goes to the Amazon jungles to deal with a superstitious and murderous cult-like tribe. 

FILMMAKER TOOK LIBERTIES DEPICTING WILD ANIMALS  

 Side note- - As we were watching the movie, set in the Amazon, we noticed Lions and Hippos. Those animals are native to Africa.  In the Amazon, there are no lions, only Jaguars, Puma and a few other types of wild cats.  I did, however,  learn that hippos were "imported" to the Amazon years after the film was made and today there is a single colony of hippos in the Amazon rainforest.

BOTTOM LINE:     The story was good, but Mike Henry's performance (and the actor himself, who is super-hot) made it worth watching. It's a shame that he turned down the role of the television series Tarzan, which was later taken by Ron Ely. I liked Mike Henry's characterization of Tarzan in this film. 

(Photo: Actor Mike Henry (left) as Tarzan in 1967. Credit: Paramount Pictures)

DETAILS - The movie was 88 minutes, and it was just enough (Movies today would do better if they were as short).