Tarzan and the Jungle Boy (1968)

Tarzan and the Jungle Boy (1968) ** (out of 4) A geologist and his newborn son go into the jungle and come up missing. Years later evidence turns up that the boy, now age 6, survived and is living in a dangerous territory so Tarzan (Mike Henry) is asked to go in and get him. While this is going on a couple brothers (Rafer and Edward Johnson) are battling to take over their tribe but one of them has a crooked heart. Many people consider this film to be the final entry in the long-running series that started back at MGM with TARZAN, THE APE MAN. This final entry certainly isn't very memorable but there are a couple interesting aspects that will make fans of the series wan to check out. What we've basically got is a remake of TARZAN FINDS A SON, which was one of the better MGM entries. This version here has Tarzan and the boy becoming friends while a wide range of events are going on around them. I can't say I bought into their relationship as it was pretty hard to care about either of them. Tarzan, as in the previous two entries, isn't all that entertaining and the boy himself is someone we never really get to know. It also doesn't help that Henry and the boy (Steve Bond) have zero chemistry together. Of course, Henry was so bland in the part of Tarzan perhaps they did have something going but it just didn't come across on the screen. Once again Henry just doesn't work as Tarzan as he doesn't bring any life, passion or energy to the role. Apparently he was somewhat sick at the time this film shot so perhaps this has something to do with it. His three stints as Tarzan were all filmed together so he might have just really given up before anything started. Bond doesn't get too much to do as the boy either. The Johnson clan are the most interesting aspects in the film as Rafer was a Decathalon champion and it should come as no shock that the producers tried to exploit this by throwing in a rather long sequence where the two brothers do battle to see which one is the strongest and will get to lead their clan. The Brazil footage (filling in for Africa) looks very good and the cinematography is another major plus. Overall this is a decent entry in the series but there's still not enough here to make it worth viewing unless, like me, you want to see all of the original movies.

In his third and final outing as the jungle hero, muscular Mike Henry (as Tarzan) sheds the trendy "James Bond" pseudo-spy opening for his regular game. After this film, interest was mainly on TV's "Tarzan" (Ron Ely). Clinging to more traditional vines, Mr. Henry finds the boy who went missing after the mishap in the opening sequence. He is little brown-haired Steve Bond (as Erik) - not the blond-haired boy lost, but you get the idea. Young "Jungle Boy" Bond grew up to become a muscular "General Hospital" TV soap opera hunk. Bond gets the job done, in his first feature appearance. Rafer Johnson does well, too. Beautifully proportioned Aliza Gur (as Myrna) is the feminine presence - watch for her Bond-age scene.**** Tarzan and the Jungle Boy (5/68) Robert Gordon ~ Mike Henry, Steve Bond, Rafer Johnson, Aliza Gur

This is a formulaic Tarzan movie. You have your girl, natives, and even a jungle boy. You would think that it would be pretty lame, but it's not. If I had to guess, I would say that the people making this movie knew how formulaic it was and so they pulled no punches. It's a simple Tarzan story and that's the way it's presented.First, the movie takes place in Africa. It doesn't try taking Tarzan to far off places. It's stays right in Tarzan's backyard.Second, Mike Henry does a much better job in this one than any other one. It was like he finally figured out how he should play Tarzan.Third, the boy, played by Steve Bond, does a really good job. He doesn't over act and is believable.Fourth, the evil and good natives, who are brothers in real life and in the movie do a great job. They are fit and much like everyone else, they don't over do it.Fifth, the girl, Aliza Gur, is very pretty and has your classic 60's look. Wearing the riding pants, boots, low cut top, long hair with the wide head band. She looks like she stepped off the set of the Beverly Hillbillies.So if you want a simple Tarzan movie that you can get into, this one will definitely work.

The jungle boy Eric gives this Tarzan movie a kid friendly appearance, but that's deceptive. Be forewarned, it is quite violent with natives being speared to death and tossed off cliffs. We also see villages burnt to the ground. True the film is rated G but that only means there is no sex of foul language. Their is, however some borderline nudity as the loincloths worn by Tarzan and his young male costar are prone to wardrobe malfunctions.I liked the interaction between Tarzan and Eric which seemed quite natural, but it also seemed incredibly rushed. We all expect that, given time, Eric is going to come to accept Tarzan as his surrogate father or big brother, but it all happens so fast. Here we have a kid who has been living alone in a savage environment for years. You'd think he would have a difficult time understanding affection. As a feral child you would think that Eric would not know how to give or accept love. You'd think that Tarzan would have to slowly win the boy's trust and perhaps even "tame" him and establish his position as the alpha male. But no. Within minutes of first meeting man and boy are happily laughing and playing together in a lake. It's as if they have known each other for years. Eric is completely comfortable being held in Tarzan mighty arms. Keep in mind both man and boy are practically naked. After climbing out of the lake Eric admits that he has been lonely and wishes he had someone to talk with at night. He asks Tarzan to stay with him and keep him company. Geez this kid is probably safer in the jungle then he would be in any big city. Someone seriously needs to sit this kid down and explain to him that he needs to be careful around strange men dressed in loincloths. So what did movie goers back in 1968 make of this as they munched on their fifteen cent hot dogs and ten cent soft drinks? I imagine to them intergenerational male bonding was all quite innocent. After all what kid wouldn't be drawn to Tarzan? We see things a bit differently today. If you love all things Tarzan then you'll enjoy this movie. If you are a Steve Bond fan (as an adult he modeled full frontal nude for Playgirl Magazine) then you'll enjoy seeing him in his first acting role as Eric. But if you don't fall into those two categories, well this is one movie you could probably skip.