Greystoke: The Legend Of Tarzan, Lord Of The Apes is a 1983 film with a much too long title. It's directed by Hugh Hudson, the screenplay is by PH Vazak (Robert Towne) and Michael Austin. They've adapted the first Tarzan novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs but changed it a good bit. The basic core of Tarzan's father and mother going off to Africa, only to be shipwrecked and left stranded on a strange African shore. The Clayton's survive for a while, Tarzan is born, then their killed by the apes and Tarzan gets adopted by Kala, his ape mother. Tarzan lives his life with the apes before he meets the man who brings him to civilization.
Christopher Lambert plays Tarzan and Ian Holm plays Capitaine Philippe D'Arnot. D'Arnot brings Tarzan back to the Clayton family home in Scotland. Ralph Richardson plays Tarzan's grandfather in his last film appearance. Andie MacDowell plays Miss Jane Porter.
I remember liking the movie when I saw it in the theater. It's not exactly like the book but it manages to capture the jungle life that created the Ape Man better than most movies. I enjoyed seeing it again and will watch it again some day. I listened to the commentary by director Hugh Hudson and Associate Producer Gareth Thomas. It was OK and somewhat informative.
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