Tarzan's Fight for Life

1958
5.2| 1h26m| G| en| More Info
Released: 15 August 1958 Released
Producted By: Sol Lesser Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

Dr. Sturdy is trying to establish a modern hospital in the jungle. His efforts are strongly opposed by Futa, the witch doctor, and Ramo, a native warrior.

Genre

Adventure, Action

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Director

H. Bruce Humberstone

Production Companies

Sol Lesser Productions

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Tarzan's Fight for Life Audience Reviews

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!
Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.
Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.
ma-cortes Colorful and amusing Tarzan/Scott movie , though dubiously faithful to Edgar Rice Borroughs story . Concerning about Dr. Sturdy (Carl Benton Reid) who attempts to built a hospital at the jungle to heal villagers . His efforts are extremely opposed by Futa (James Edwards) , the sorcerer doctor , and his henchman Ramo (Woody Strode) , a native warrior , when they see their influence with the natives waning in favor of the local clinic run by Dr. Sturdy . There's problem brewing however when the tribal chief has died and when his child and heir falls sick , Futa decides he is the one who has to treat him . Futa's hoodlum , Ramo , robs what he thinks is medicine but is really a venomous vaccine . If given to the boy-chief, he will surely die . In the ending , Tarzan again to rescue the unfortunate doctors and his woman , the gorgeous Jane (Eva Brent) and Tartu, (Rickie Sorensen ) , Tarzan's Adopted Son . Along the way , Tarzan is captured , mistreated and tortured . Then , Tarzan escapes , fights against time for serum and to free Jane , Tartu, Tarzan's Adopted son , and the besieged doctors . "Tarzan fights for life " contains noisy action , sensational adventures , many angry natives , nasty sorcerers , hungry Crocs and wonderful outdoors , though mostly shot in Africa and Elstree studios . Well starred by Gordon Scott , here it's left to Tarzan to try and avert a tragedy when a poisonous serum is stolen and dealing with the struggle of modern medicine against the traditional magic . Gordon Scott brings wit , wrength and style to the classic character . Gordon starred 5 Tarzan movies : ¨Tarzan's fights for life¨ by H. Bruce Humberstone , ¨Tarzan and the trappers¨ by Sandy Howard and Charles Haas , ¨Tarzan's greatest adventure¨ produced by Sy Weintraub , directed by John Guillermin , ¨Tarzan the magnificent¨ by Robert Day and ¨Tarzan and the lost safari¨ . Although Gordon Scott also played all kinds of genres as Spaghetti : ¨Tramplers¨, Euro-spy : ¨Death ray¨ , Pirate movie : ¨Marauder¨ , and especially Peplum : ¨Hércules and the princess of Troy¨, ¨Coriolanus¨, ¨Conquest of Mycene¨, ¨Gladiator of Rome¨, ¨Hero of Rome¨, ¨Samson and the 7 miracles of the world¨. Support cast is acceptable , such as : Carl Benton Reid as a doctor who is attempting to establish a modern hospital in the jungle , Eva Brent as the beautiful Jane and her child , Rickie Sorensen , called Tartu, Tarzan's Adopted son . And the ordinary secondaries as Woody Strode , Paulene Myers and the nasty James Edwards as the local witch doctor , all of them give nice interpretations . And of course , special mention for the likable Chimpanzee Cheeta that steals the show , giving some humorous moments with his antics , frolics and mayhem . As usual , sets and production design are visually appealing , though there are the obvious uses of stock footage and shot on location in Democratic Republic Of Congo , Tanzania , Kilimanjaro , Kenia . Including a brilliant cinematography by William E Snyder , being well filmed in color . The motion picture was well produced by Sol Lesser and decently directed by H. Bruce HumberstoneFirst Tarzan/Johhny Weissmuller was ¨Tarzan , the ape man¨ (1932) by W.S. Van Dyke , this one being the definitive Tarzan movie , the original of the long series . Followed by ¨Tarzan and his mate¨ (1934) by Jack Conway . Richard Thorpe continued the following sequels : ¨Tarzan escapes¨(1936) , ¨Tarzan finds a son¨ (1939) with the addition of the five-year-old Johnny Sheffield as Boy , ¨Tarzan's secret Treasure¨ (1941) , and ¨Tarzan's New York adventure¨ (1942) where Boy is abducted by an evil circus owner , then Tarzan goes to rescue him and he meets N.Y. big city , being Maureen O'Sullivan's final appearance and in which Elmo Lincoln's , the screen's first Tarzan, had a cameo . These stories were lavishly produced by M.G.M. and R.K.O. Subsequently , to be appeared other Tarzans produced by independent producers as Sol Lesser ; the latter being replaced by Sy Weintraub , these movies were interpreted by Lex Barker and Gordon Scott : ¨Tarzan the Magnificent¨ and ¨The greatest adventure¨ directed by John Guillermin . Furthermore , Mike Henry starred as Tarzan in ¨Tarzan and the jungle boy ¨ , ¨ Tarzan and the great river¨ , and ¨Tarzan 66¨ directed by Robert Day . Besides , two performed by Jock Mahoney : ¨Three challenges¨ and ¨Tarzan goes to India¨ directed by John Guillermin , among others . Plus , other TV Tarzan as Ron Ely , Wolf Larsen , Joe Lara
samhill5215 I must admit to being a Tarzan junkie so keep that in mind while reading my comments. There's not a whole lot to the plots, in fact they tend to be fairly similar. Some injustice takes place, usually perpetrated by evil white men, and Tarzan sets things right. That's about it and if you expect complicated character interactions and plot twists you'll surely be disappointed. One of the best things about these movies is the physiques, happily and gloriously shown with as little clothing as possible. Jane is always an eyeful so I sat down to watch this one (the second color Tarzan) because I had never seen Eve Brent, the twelfth Jane. Although not the prettiest she was perhaps the sweetest and her scenes with Gordon Scott were rather passionate. Their kisses would make the heart of any romantic flutter. Still, as good as that was, my favorite part was James Edwards' characterization of Futa, the evil witch doctor. He made 'Fight for Life' an over the top camp fest. Yes, Gordon Scott was a hunk, Eve Brent was eye candy, there was Cheeta (although the chip can be irritating), there's lots of jungle and dangerous animal shots, but Edwards elevated this one above its routine plot and production values.
XweAponX Although this movie is paced like a Television Episode, there is actually some good Jungle footage used, and I don't know if they flew Gordon Scott all the way out to Africa, if not they found a body double that was fairly close. The only giveaway is in the Africa shots, Tarzan's hair is slightly longer.I understand these Scott Tarzan flicks were actually made for a Tarzan Television show that failed to sell. I agree with other reviewers, that Eve Brent was a great "Jane" - It took me about 10 minutes to recognise Eve Brent as "Elaine Connelly" from "The Green Mile", she still had an impish and infectious smile in that 1999 film, some 41 years later.I think what has been overlooked here, was Woody Strode's excellent role as "Ramo" - the Witch Doctor "Futa's" (James Edwards) "Secret Agent" - Woody's stature is always excellent, and a good antagonist for Gordon Scott. and his "death" scene - Well, that would be a spoiler.Scott himself, is the Tarzan of Tarzan's, I'm sure this guy would be used as a Terminator Body Double in today's age of movies. His Tarzan is a little more fluent in English than the grunts and single syllables of Johnny Weissmuller. Tarzan and Jane are, in this film, pure Beef and Cheesecake, but the fact that they gave Tarzan a sharper wit, more words, makes him a better Tarzan I think.Although the original Tarzan movies were classic, I think these Scott Tarzan films are important, they built on the character that already existed. The idea of a non-African guy swinging around in a loincloth through the Jungle with Jane, Boy and Cheetah in tow, is somehow silly, but also entertaining, it is of course Edgar Rice Burroughs who came up with the idea.I'll admit I was not too enthused about watching this as it came up on TCM just now, but that lack of enthusiasm faded, and although the action takes too long to build up and occur, it is simply 1950's Television Pacing, you just have to "wait for it", it does happen.
dinky-4 True, the use of studio sets rather than on-location filming is pretty obvious, but what handsome sets, and how brightly photographed! That 1950s color seems stronger and more vivid than most of the color work seen today. Gordon Scott, one of the better Tarzans, is in fine form here and his physical power is shown off in an arresting way. Rather than simply showing him performing feats of strength, this movie's last reel has him captured and in bondage. First he's hauled up river to a jungle village while spreadeagled face-down between two canoes. (Face-up would have been even better.) Then he's hauled through the village with his arms outstretched and tied to a wooden pole. Finally, still bound to that pole, he's tied between two posts inside a cave-like chamber where he's due to have his heart cut out. Contrasting his physical strength with the trappings of bondage somehow emphasizes rather than diminishes his aura of power.(MGM apparently thought along similar lines. Virtually all the ads for this movie showed Gordon Scott with outstretched arms tied to a pole.)Of course, it must be pointed out that the plot here is "Rama of the Jungle" stuff and all the scenes with Jane and Boy are pretty laughable. The fact that Cheetah wears a loincloth is beyond camp. And seeing a fine actor such as Roy Glenn wasted in a bit part is sad, sad, sad.