Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)

Director:

Hugh Hudson

Writers:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (novel)
Robert Towne (writer) ...

Release Date:

30 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Romance

Plot:

A shipping disaster in the 19th Century has stranded a man and woman in the wilds of Africa. The lady is pregnant...

Plot Keywords:

Boy Nudity | Shaving | Christmas Tree | Shipwreck | Christmas

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Ralph Richardson	...	The Sixth Earl of Greystoke
Ian Holm	...	Capitaine Phillippe D'Arnot
James Fox	...	Lord Charles Esker
Christopher Lambert	...	John Clayton / Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
Andie MacDowell	...	Miss Jane Porter
Cheryl Campbell	...	Lady Alice Clayton
Ian Charleson	...	Jeffson Brown
Nigel Davenport	...	Major Jack Downing
Nicholas Farrell	...	Sir Hugh Belcher
Paul Geoffrey	...	Lord John 'Jack' Clayton
Richard Griffiths	...	Captain Billings
Hilton McRae	...	Willy
David Suchet	...	Buller
John Wells	...	Sir Evelyn Blount
Ravinder	...	Dean

Runtime:

143 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:A (Ontario) | Iceland:10 | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bimbia, Southwest Province, Cameroon

Company:

Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc.

Trivia:

Average Shot Length (ASL) = 6 seconds.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Ape in the tree is shot in the chest, the bullet wound is almost touching its left nipple, and sprays blood across a largish area of the chest. The ape then falls, lands face down and is turned over, Tarzan picks the dead animal up and carries it. The wound on the ape has moved several inches lower and at an angle to where it was last. All the blood spray has vanished as well.

Quotes:

Capitaine Phillippe D'Arnot: [Narrating] I sensed we had a long and difficult journey ahead of us. Perhaps weeks of waiting for a ship that will give us passage to England. I will try to teach John some rudimentary manners and a greater understanding of the language. Like a father, I am resolved to empower to him all that I can. But never, not even for a moment, do I doubt that to take him back, is a perilous undertaking.
[pause]
Capitaine Phillippe D'Arnot: For John but also for his family.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Gorio en Tekla (1989)

Soundtrack:

Symphony no. 1 in Ab major, op. 55

Finally, a believable Tarzan movie.

Greystoke is without doubt the best tarzan movie I have ever seen. Christopher Lambert portrays a very believable man trying to return to the world of mankind alongside the fantastic Ian Holm. The struggle of John to leave the jungle and the apes who raised him is quite stirring. Some very memorable scenes including where Lambert makes the jungle noises to the romantic interest, and the scene where he witnesses his ape father's death. Tarzans feelings for both worlds is well developed and really makes you feel for him.

An excellent and underrated movie.