Tarzan (1966)

Tarzan is a series that aired on NBC from 1966 - 1968. The series portrays Tarzan (played by Ron Ely) as a well-mannered character, who, tired of civilization, had returned to the jungle, where he had grown up. The show retains many of the characteristics of the classic film series, including Cheeta, excluding other elements, such as Jane, as part of the "new look" for the legendary ape man that producer Sy Weintraub had introduced into previous films starring Gordon Scott. , Jock Mahoney, and Mike Henry. CBS aired repeat episodes of the show during the summer of 1969.

Mike Henry had only filmed several big screen adventures as Tarzan in Brazil and was slated to play the title role in the television series, but withdrew due to disagreements with producer Sy Weintraub over the use of wild animals and lack of protocols. of security. Ron Ely was originally to have played a Tarzan impostor in a proposed episode of the television series, but took over the lead role.

Like Jock Mahoney, Ely performed her own stunts while playing Tarzan. Unlike Mahoney, Ely was not a professional stuntman and sustained seventeen different injuries during the first season. These included scorched his arms and legs running through a fiery town (village of fire); being bitten on the forehead by a lion "tame" (in a later fight with the same lion, Ely was bitten on the lower left thigh); falling down a hill and ripping the skin on the tops of his feet; dropping twenty-five feet from a vine and spreading your shoulder; and falling from another vine and breaking his other shoulder, fractured three ribs and sprained both wrists.

Producer Sy Weintraub switched filming from Brazil to the Churubusco studio in Mexico due to production delays.

In September 1966, former screen Tarzan James Pierce (1927), Johnny Weissmuller (1932-1948), and Jock Mahoney (1962-1963) appeared with Ron Ely as part of the publicity for the upcoming television series premiere. Weissmuller approached the guest star as Tarzan's father, but nothing happened. Joseph C. Poller, who like Gene Pollar had portrayed Tarzan in a 1920 film and was in 1966 the "oldest living Tarzan", complained in tongue-in-cheek fashion that he had not been invited to the publicity event. since the producers had assumed that he was dead.

Ely made his directorial debut with the second season episode Hotel Hurricane, which was a reworking of the 1948 classic film noir Key Largo, with the action transplanted from the Florida Keys to the African jungle.

Both actor Ron Ely and online producer Steve Shagan became successful novelists.

Theatrical Versiones Motion Picture

Several two-part episodes were later re-edited into motion pictures:

"The Blue Stone of Heaven" was released as Tarzan in the Jungle Rebellion in 1967; "The Blue Stone of Heaven" also served as the pilot for the series and was later broadcast as a 2-piece story in the second season.

"The Four O'clock Army" was released as Tarzan and the March 4 War 1968

"Deadly Silence" was released as Tarzan's Deadly Silence in July 1970.

"The Dangers of Charity Jones" was released as Tarzan and the Dangers of Charity Jones in October 1971.

Distribution 

Tarzan ... Ron Ely

Jai .... Manuel Padilla Jr.

Jason Flood .... Alan Caillou

Rao .... Rockne Tarkington

Recurring appearances

Renowned Shakespearean actor Maurice Evans would have a recurring guest star role as Brigadier Basil Sir Bertram, hero of the Battle of the Bulge. American stage actress Julie Harris had a recurring guest star role as Missionary Caridad Jones. Veteran Australian actor Chips Rafferty had a recurring guest-starring role as Dutchman Jensen.

The following actors make several appearances in different roles: Jock Mahoney, Woody Strode, Rockne Tarkington, William Marshall, George Murdock, Robert J. Wilke, Gene Evans, Michael Whitney, Jill Donohue, Strother Martin, Bernie Hamilton, Michael Pate, Lloyd Haynes, Barbara Bouchet, Harry Lauter, Simon Oakland, John Anderson, James Earl Jones, Robert DoQui, Geoffrey Holder, Gregg Palmer, Jacques Aubuchon