Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959 film)

Tarzan, the Ape Man
Theatrical poster
Directed by Joseph M. Newman
Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Written by Edgar Rice Burroughs (character)
Screenplay by Robert Hill
Starring Denny Miller
Cesare Danova
Joanna Barnes
Robert Douglas
Narrated by Robert Douglas
Music by Shorty Rogers
Cinematography Paul C. Vogel
Edited by Gene Ruggiero
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • 1959 (1959)
Running time
 82 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $689,000[1]
Box office $1,710,000[1]

Tarzan, the Ape Man is a 1959 Technicolor action adventure film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Denny Miller as Tarzan, Joanna Barnes as Jane, Cesare Danova, and Robert Douglas. The film is loosely based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel Tarzan of the Apes, and is a remake of the classic 1932 film of the same name. The film was directed by Joseph M. Newman, and the score was composed by jazz musician Shorty Rogers. MGM would release another remake of the film in 1981.

A fair amount of footage was taken directly from the 1932 version rather than being reshot, including scenes of Tarzan swinging on vines and the elephants' destruction of a pygmy village. A scene of Tarzan fighting a crocodile was reused from Tarzan and His Mate, the sequel to the 1932 film. Other footage was reused from King Solomon's Mines. Tarzan's distinctive call was also taken from the original version. The "African" elephants in some scenes are clearly Indian ones with some sort of canvas "ears" added, and with the characteristic double humps on the forehead all too obvious.

The "jungle" vegetation, from three different continents, an extremely phoney looking rubber mask used for close ups of a roaring leopard and the clumsy back-projection in the "underwater" scenes make it a treat for lovers of the ludicrous.

Plot

The plot of the film reprises that of the 1932 version, with James Parker (Douglas) Harry Holt (Danova) and Parker's daughter Jane (Barnes) on an expedition in Africa in which they encounter Tarzan, a wild man raised by apes. Various adventures ensue.

Cast

Production

The film was made at the same time as another Tarzan film, Tarzan's Greatest Adventure produced by Sy Weintraub. MGM had kept the remake rights to the 1932 Tarzan the Ape Man, enabling them to make this film. The rights to the bulk of the Tarzan stories were owned by Weintraub.[2]

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $660,000 in the US and Canada and $1,050,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $92,000.[1]

Musical score and soundtrack

Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan
Soundtrack album by Shorty Rogers
Released 1960
Recorded November 1959
Hollywood, California
Genre Film score
Label MGM
E/SE 3798
Producer Jesse Kaye
Shorty Rogers chronology
The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs
(1959)The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs1959		 Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan
(1959)		 The Swingin' Nutcracker
(1960)The Swingin' Nutcracker1960

The film score was composed, arranged and conducted by Shorty Rogers and the soundtrack album was released on the MGM label in 1960 as Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan.[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow says "Although there are many short solos, the emphasis is on the dense and frequently exciting ensembles. The music, which is heard here in full-length form (unlike in the movie, where it is often buried behind the action), sounds quite self-sufficient apart from the action".[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Shorty Rogers

  1. "The Elephant Walk" - 3:25
  2. "Les Barbaros" - 1:40
  3. "Paradise Found" - 3:05
  4. "Trapped" - 1:55
  5. "Los Pronitivos" - 2:14
  6. "Oomgawa" - 3:15
  7. "Tarzanic Suite" - 17:34

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study .
  2. ↑ By, T. M. (1959, Mar 29). HOLLYWOOD DOSSIER. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/114910251?accountid=13902
  3. ↑ MGM Album Discography Part 5: E-3601 to E-3800 (1957-1960) accessed October 3, 2016
  4. 1 2 Yanow, Scott. Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
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