Tarzan the Magnificent *** (1960, Gordon Scott, Jock Mahoney, Betta St John) – Classic Movie Review 8051

Gordon Scott (born Gordon Werschkul in Portland, Oregon) made three Tarzan movies for producer Sol Lesser, which are viewed as run-of-the mill: Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle, Tarzan and the Lost Safari and Tarzan’s Fight for Life. But his two for producer Sy Weintraub, released by Paramount, mark a happy rebirth of the Tarzan character.

Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure (1959) and Tarzan the Magnificent (1960) are considered to be among the best Tarzan films. Scott is the eleventh Ape Man and is remembered as among the best of the movies’ Tarzans. 

Director Robert Day’s 1960 British Eastmancolor jungle adventure Tarzan the Magnificent stars Gordon Scott as a magnificent Tarzan, who brings a thief called Coy Banton out of the jungle to justice with the authorities despite his murderous family, who blow up their boat. This above-average Tarzan feature is the last to star Scott, who then headed for Italy.

Tarzan the Magnificent is made in Britain with a good cast and directed at a fast lick, while writers Berne Giler and Robert Day return Tarzan to his former status as a literate, well-spoken character. Jock Mahoney, who plays the film’s bad guy Coy Banton, was promoted to hero Tarzan in the next series entry Tarzan Goes to India. It was shot at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England, with location filming in Kenya.

Also in the cast are Betta St John (as Fay Ames), John Carradine, Alexandra Stewart, Lionel Jeffries, Earl Cameron, Charles Tingwell, Al Mulock (as Martin Banton) and Ewen Solon.

They decided not to oversell it: ‘Stupendous New Excitement! Sensation Upon Sensation! Thrill After Thrill!’

Betta St John was also in Tarzan and the Lost Safari (1957) and Al Mulock was also in Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure (1959).

Tarzan the Magnificent is directed by Robert Day, runs 88 minutes, is made by Solar Film Productions, is released by Paramount, is written by Berne Giler and Robert Day, is shot in Eastmancolor by Edward [Ted] Scaife, is produced by Sy Weintraub, and is scored by Ken Jones.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8051

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