MovieChat Forums > Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) Discussion > Now THAT is a Tarzan movie!

Now THAT is a Tarzan movie!

posted 18 years ago by tootcb
16 replies | jump to latest

I admit, I am not a fan of the other Tarzan films. I believe I read the book one time, but it was so long ago that my memory has left on the details. The reason I saw this film was because I was a Highlander fan and wanted to see another Christophe Lambert film.

I was blown away.

Sorry, Johnny, but this is the definitive Tarzan film for me! It was close to my fleeting memories of the novel, and more importantly, it played off realistic. Seeing the Greystoke part of the story back in helped as well. I was immersed in the story.

My own quabble is the shameful dubbing of Andie MacDowell. They were willing to explain Lambert's accent, but they could not say that Jane had been staying in America for a while or something?

Most people let their full measure of life drip away. Like me.

[–] cannescrwrtr 18 years ago

Hey, I agree Stu. This is the best Tarzan movie ever filmed.... simply because it is the most faithful adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel. I credit director Hugh Hudson for this realistic portrayel.... from the young boy who plays with his ape family... to the muscle-laden adult creature who is indeed King of the Jungle.... this film has a sense of beauty and realism that is difficult to create on screen.

A gem and masterpiece... to say the least.

< It's never too late to do the right thing. >

[–] peteflynn 18 years ago

Ditto. I can't believe this film has scored an average of 6. Must be a backlash from Weismuller fans. It is mesmerising and the apes are wonderful. Beautiful adaptation of the novel.

[–] cannescrwrtr 18 years ago

I confess to having purchased the Tarzan Collection of dvds with Weismuller.... because hey, Maureen O'Sullivan was a great Jane! And the whole family thing was great in its time.... with Tarzan, Jane, Boy, (and Cheeta!)

Yet these were a bit hokey, with obvious hokey comedy.... and they were meant to be that way.

Anyone who criticizes a masterpiece such as "Greystoke" because it isn't filmed in the same manner as Weismuller.... that person should probably have their head examined.

(Incidentally, I also have the 1918 version on dvd, of this exact same story.... "Tarzan of the Apes". Although Elmo Lincoln is oft' criticized for his stomach in portraying the role of Tarzan, the film is actually quite good.... being that America was still in the early stages of feature-length films).

["It’s never too late to do the right thing."]

[–] mikainen 18 years ago

I saw this some 20 years ago. Pretty good. I was fanatic Tarzan-book reader when I was a kid and this felt much more authentic than the Weismullers.
Andie McDowell may not be the most talented actor but boy was my teenagers mind blown off by her beauty in this. Should see it again and see is there any magic left.

[–] threadbare52 18 years ago

i have never read a tarzan book i'm not even sure if there is one or many books. i have seen many tarzan movies and i must say that if you consider the ridiculous idea that tarzan is... well this movie presents it best.

this movie is well done i have seen it many times and always enjoy it.

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sorry no cool signature

[–] ninji19 18 years ago

I've only been watching bits and pieces of it on AMC while it's been on, as I'm sorta doing other things. But of what I've seen of it it's fantasic! Now I see where the 1994 real-life Jungle Book story got it's ideas from, cuz it's just like this! Sometime I need to see the whole thing.

[–] jg67 18 years ago

"Jane had been staying in America for a while or something?"

I believe the grandfather introduces Jane as "the american".

It's a dirty job,but I pay clean money for it.

[–] Laygz 18 years ago

The thing is they actually did go out of their way to set Jane's American ascent up. At the very beginning of the film the child actor playing young Jane has an American accent, and latter on in the film they mention something about her living or staying in America. Don't forget, they didn't decide to dub until the last minute. I don't even think McDowell knew until after shooting. The real reason for the dubbing wasn't her American accent, it was her awful southern drawl that the producers couldn't stomach

"Charlie don't surf!"

[–] jg67 18 years ago

"The real reason for the dubbing wasn't her American accent, it was her awful southern drawl that the producers couldn't stomach"

Which doesn't make sense to me. It's not like they didn't hear it when they tested then hired her.

"Girl,you betta bash Mister upside the head and think about heaven later!" - Sophia

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 11 years ago

Besides which, in the novels, Jane is from Baltimore, and likely had a Southern accent, anyway.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

[–] [email protected] (1640) 3 years ago

This film is great for me not because it's closest to the book, I've never read it. I don't really care if it is or not close to it. It's great because of how well it was made, the realism, the grandeur, the acting and charisma of Lambert, the sets and the apes themselves, and the heart. I watch this all the time and I've seen all the other previous Tarzan incarnations but none can hold a candle to this.

[–] jekporkins (1925) 3 years ago

I just watched this last night and feel the same way. I kept thinking the apes would look fake but dang if it wasn't pretty convincing. Well directed, a solid script, fantastic sets (they really filmed in Africa), and a wonderful cast.

I feel this movie got lost over time but it's really a remarkable achievement.

[–] [email protected] (1640) 3 years ago

I just rewatched the 2016 version yesterday and it really doesn't compare to this. The apes in the 1984 version look so realistic while the 2016 looks so fake

[–] db20db (16228) 2 years ago

One of my favorite scenes is where D'Arnot is leaving the Greystoke estate and gives Tarzan a parting gift and simply and meaningfully says, "Razor, mirror." The profundity of that exchange is obviously not lost on Tarzan, so much so that he chases down D'Arnot in his carriage, manages to grab him and snatch a ring off his finger. It marks a pinnacle of bonding between the two where Tarzan discovered the power of human speech, words. Great movie, more accurately depicting how he would have evolved because of, "the accident of his childhood."

[–] R_Kane (15828) 3 years ago

Eclipsed by The Legend of Tarzan (2016). Much better cast.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Side effect of COVID-19?