Tarzan: The Epic Adventures - Tarzan's Return

TARZAN: THE EPIC ADVENTURES
TARZAN'S RETURN - 1996


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Director

Brian Yuzna

Producer

Burton Armus

Executive Producers

Max Keller & Micheline Keller

Story

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Adaptation

Burton Armus

MAIN CAST

Tarzan

Joe Lara

Collette de Coude

Lydie Denier

Nicholai Rokoff

Andrew Divoff

Mugambi

Ralph Wilcox

Phillip D'Arnot

Dennis Christopher

Mora, Queen of the Mahars

Corey Everson

Jana

Linda Hoffman

Alexis

Nicholas Worth

Micah

Lloyd C Corricelli

BACKGROUND

• During the time that Max and Micheline Keller controlled the TV rights for Tarzan they produced a fairly impressive body of work, at least in volume - the Tarzan in Manhattan telemovie with Joe Lara (1989), the Wolf Larson Tarzan TV series (1991-1994), this telemovie pilot (1996), and 20 episodes of the Tarzan: The Epic Adventures TV series also with Joe Lara (1996-1997). The concept, an admirable one, was to try to faithfully translate the works of ERB to the small screen, which had never been done before. The pilot, which was filmed in Florida, gave us such well-loved Burroughs creations as Paul D'Arnot, the Countess de Coude (played by the lovely Lydie Denier who played a modern Jane in the Wolf Larson series), the villains Rokoff and Paulvitch, and a trip to Pellucidar to take on the Mahars. The series derived from this pilot was filmed on location in South Africa and maintained the tone set by the pilot. A lot of the special effects are a bit hokey, the exotic women are a little too stylish, and the dialogue is very hip and modern, despite being set at the turn of the century. Despite these concerns, the series was a colourful attempt at a TV Tarzan with many interesting moments.

APE CRY

• To hear the ape cry used in this film click on the image at right

PLOT - Note: Spoiler warning

• Tarzan and his friend, Mugambi, pursue two evil Russians who have stolen a crystal amulet, said to be a key of terrifying power, from Tarzan's friend, Collette de Coude. When the Russians, Rokoff and his henchman,

Paulvich, use it to gain access to the mysterious world of Pellucidar at the centre of the earth, Tarzan and Mugambi follow through the portal that the amulet has opened. Rokoff and Paulvitch are captured by the Mahars, reptilian woman who transform into hideous flying beasts and Rokoff tempts their queen, Mora, with promises of power over the creatures of the outer world. Tarzan and Mugambi team up with Jana, an attractive blonde cavewoman, who leads them to the Mahar stronghold via a volcanic chamber. Tarzan battles the transformed Mahars with his arrows and brute strength but Mora escapes through the portal to the outer world with Rokoff. Tarzan and Mugambi pursue them, do battle, and succeed in casting both Mora and Rokoff back through the portal to Pellucidar. Tarzan seals the portal with the crystals and departs to embark on further adventures.

MOVING PICTURES

Click on the image below to see a montage of scenes from this film:

SOURCES
• The World of John Carl Buechler site and personal correspondence with John Buechler
IMAGES
• The photo of Joe Lara and Linda Hoffman is a screenshot from my DVD-R of this film
• Both photos featuring Corey Everson were pilfered from eBay auction items
• The video clip of the montage of scenes from this film was uploaded to Youtube by me specifically to embed in this web page
LYNX
• John Buechler's Tarzan: The Epic Adventures page
CAPTURE
• This film is sometimes available on DVD from eBay

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