MovieChat Forums > Tarzan the Ape Man (1981) Discussion > Am I imagening that this happened during...

Am I imagening that this happened during the filming...

posted 17 years ago by davidkemail-cnn
9 replies | jump to latest

When TtAM was in production I heard (on the Merv Griffin show?) there was an incident on the beach filming the scene where Jane first meets Tarzan. Supposedly the lion got all excited with the action between Tarzan and Jane wherein the lion rushed in and bit Bo on her tush. Instantly Miles slugged the lion in the nose with such force that someone said 'you could see the shock wave traveling down the lion's body'. Then supposedly Miles put his face in front of the rather shocked lion, glared at it, and held his fists ready in a pose that implied 'do you want some more of that?'.

I've not been able to find any references to such an incident on the Internet. Did it really happen?

If it did I think Miles should go down in history as the most true-to-life Tarzan ever.

[–] haxan-1 17 years ago

I don't know if that's Bo in the long shot on the beach where O'Keeffe is handling her and the lion suddenly rushes in and takes a swat at her (it could be stunt woman), but the effect is pretty unexpected-looking.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] imdb-7676 17 years ago

I'd rather assume that only a handler can pull such a stunt with a fully grown lion and realistically hope to succeed.

[–] Wuchakk 14 years ago

I don't know but that scene haxan-1 points out is pretty impressive, even if it was a stunt woman filling in for Bo.

[–] Smug_Grinch 14 years ago

I know Johnny Weissmuller was nearly attacked by the original Cheetah. Johnny used the butt of his knife handle to club Cheetah in the head and stood in a daring pose and made him stand down. They said Cheetah followed him around like a puppy dog after that.

---
House: What ginormous crack-pipe have you people been sucking on?!

[–] PaladinNJ (20307) 6 years ago

I would say Urban Legend or maybe a corruption of the Johnny Weissmuller story from below. If he punched a 600 pound lion with that much force he'd have broken his hand.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

I would say "publicity stunt", myself.

That story doesn't sound even slightly believable.

[–] Moonglum9 (10695) 6 years ago

Instantly Miles slugged the lion in the nose with such force that someone said 'you could see the shock wave traveling down the lion's body'

I remember this. Then the lion jumped back, started crying and said "HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! Whadja hafta go and punch me in the nose for? Is my nose bleeding?"

[–] PaladinNJ (20307) 6 years ago

LOL