Tarzan and the Valley of Gold * (1966, Mike Henry, David Opatoshu, Manuel Padilla Jr, Nancy Kovack) – Classic Movie Review 8075

Mike Henry takes over from Jock Mahoney as the 14th Tarzan, who returns to the jungle to fight with a gun instead of his fists, in Robert Day’s late entry in the series, the below-par adventure Tarzan and the Valley of Gold from 1966.

The juvenile plot is built around a ten-year-old small boy called Ramel (Manuel Padilla Jr), who is kidnapped by international criminal Augustus Vinero because he is the sole link to a lost city of gold. It is written by Clair Huffaker and shot by Irving Lippman in Panavision and Eastmancolor. As the posters suggest, Tarzan battles Vinero’s tanks and helicopters.

Tarzan and the Valley of Gold also stars the voluptuous Nancy Kovack as Sophia Renault, David Opatoshu as Augustus Vinero, Don Megowan as Mr Train, Enrique Lucero as Perez, Eduardo Noriega as Inspector Talmadge and a cantankerous chimp called Dinky.

The producer Sy Weintraub was looking for a young Burt Lancaster as his new Tarzan, and alighted on Los Angeles Rams star footballer Henry, made him lose 20 pounds and put him in a Swinging Sixties-style mini-loincloth in an effort to try to boost his sex appeal (‘The outfit is casual, but practical,’ says Tarzan, who is supposed to have made the loincloth).

Also in the cast are Don Megowan, Enrique Lucero, Eduardo Noriega, John Kelly, Francisco Riquerio, Frank Brandstetter and Carlos Rivas.

Nancy Kovack replaced Sharon Tate after her agent Martin Ransohoff reconsidered having this as her first film.

It follows Tarzan Goes to India (1962) and Tarzan’s Three Challenges (1963) with Jock Mahoney.

It is followed by Tarzan and the Great River (1967) and Tarzan’s Jungle Rebellion (1967).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8075

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