Watch Tarzan, the Ape Man

Tarzan, the Ape Man is a 1981 adventure film directed by John Derek and starring Bo Derek, Richard Harris, and Miles O'Keeffe. The movie follows Jane Parker, an adventurous young woman who travels to Africa with her father, James Parker, a famous adventurer, to find a legendary elephant graveyard. Upon arrival, Jane meets Tarzan, a feral man who has lived in the jungle with apes for most of his life. James urges Tarzan to guide them to the elephant graveyard, unaware that Tarzan and his tribe of apes have a strong connection to the land and are fiercely protective of it. As Jane and her father continue their journey, they discover the harsh realities of jungle life and encounter dangerous wild animals, precarious terrain, and even hostile natives.

Despite the obstacles they face, Jane and Tarzan develop a strong attraction to each other, complicating matters as they try to navigate their differences in culture and society. As they continue their journey, Tarzan's suspicion of Jane's intentions grows, and he begins to question her motives for coming to the jungle. Meanwhile, James's obsession with finding the elephant graveyard threatens to put his own life and the lives of his companions in danger.

The film features stunning cinematography of the African landscape, with sweeping shots of vast savannahs and lush jungle canopies. Bo Derek brings a sense of beauty and strength to her role as Jane, while Miles O'Keeffe delivers a gruff and powerful performance as Tarzan. Richard Harris, in one of his last film roles, brings depth and nuance to James's character, portraying a man driven by his thirst for adventure and desire to achieve greatness.

One of the most notable aspects of Tarzan, the Ape Man is its controversial approach to race and cultural representation. The film has been criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Africans and depicting them as savage and violent. Additionally, Tarzan's relationship with Jane has been questioned for its problematic portrayal of a white woman being wooed and rescued by a white man who is depicted as superior to the black natives.

Despite these criticisms, Tarzan, the Ape Man remains a beloved classic of the adventure genre, with its lush visuals, exciting set pieces, and timeless tale of love in the midst of danger. Its legacy has been further cemented by its iconic soundtrack, which features the hit song "You Made Me Love You," performed by Bo Derek herself.

Overall, Tarzan, the Ape Man is a thrilling and visually stunning adventure film that transports viewers to the heart of the African jungle. While its portrayal of race and gender may be problematic by modern standards, the film remains a fascinating relic of a time when Hollywood's approach to representation was vastly different.

Tarzan, the Ape Man is a 1981 adventure movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.4 and a MetaScore of 24.