Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

RELEASED IN 1960 and directed by Robert Day, "Tarzan the Magnificent" covers events in Africa when Tarzan has no recourse but to escort a formidable prisoner, Coy Banton (Jock Mahoney), through the jungle to the authorities in Kairobi. Along for the trek are five passengers of a river boat destroyed by Coy's ruthless father (John Carradine) & cutthroat brothers. The latter pursue Tarzan & the group to save Coy.Despite his short hair, Gordon Scott was one of the better Tarzans; and this was his last of six Tarzan flicks in six years. Most critics cite Scott's previous movie "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" (1959) as one of the best Tarzan movies (which I've never seen) with this one running not far behind. The tone is believable, akin to "Sands of the Kalahari" (1965), with Tarzan's exploits thankfully being kept within the realm of realism. Speaking of his feats, there's a lot of jungle action, including a knockdown-drag-out fight at the climax. The way Coy uses psychology to disrupt the group and gain the allegiance of one of them is reminiscent of "The Naked Spur" (1953).Unfortunately, I found the members of the group and their interactions rather dull, including Tarzan. The script needed another rewrite to flush out the human interest. Moreover, the two women, Betta St. John & Alexandra Stewart, are serviceable, but the movie called for at least one woman of the caliber of Julie Adams, which can be observed in "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954), if you need to get my drift. For these two reasons "Tarzan the Magnificent" doesn't arise to the greatness of "Sands of the Kalahari." Yet it's not bad and is certainly a worthwhile austere jungle thriller. You can't beat the authentic African locations in living color (each of which 1934's heralded "Tarzan and His Mate" lacked).Interestingly, the main villain here, Jock Mahoney, went on to play the next Tarzan in two movies.THE FILM RUNS 82 minutes and was shot in Kenya with interiors done at Shepperton Studios, England. WRITERS: Berne Giler & Robert Day.GRADE: B-

Gordon Scott's last film as the Edgar Rice Burroughs legendary jungle hero is Tarzan The Magnificent. Scott was my favorite Tarzan and I really wish he had continued in the part for a few more years.This film finds Tarzan escorting a prisoner Jock Mahoney to the civil authorities to stand trial for crimes innumerable to mention. But Mahoney is the oldest of a group of family outlaws and patriarch John Carradine wants his pride and joy back at all costs.When Carradine and the boys blow up the boat that Tarzan was taking Mahoney back on, Tarzan finds he has to escort all the passengers and crew through the jungle where Carradine and the clan are almost as at home as he is. The boat captain is Earl Cameron and the passengers are Charles Tingwell, Alexandra Stewart, Betta St. John, and Lionel Jeffries.St. John and Jeffries are married and she's got a roving eye which Mahoney takes full advantage of to cause trouble. As if Tarzan hasn't enough to deal with.The influence of John Ford is plain in this Tarzan film. It plays a whole lot like a western and the outlaw Banton family could be country cousins to either the Cleggs from Wagonmaster or the Clantons from My Darling Clementine. Tarzan The Magnificent is one of the most adult themed of the Tarzan movies and being shot in East Africa it also does not contain all the jungle clichés from Hollywood films of the Thirties, Forties, and early Fifties. Although Tarzan's Greatest Adventure is my favorite Tarzan film this one comes close.And who would be the next Tarzan, but Jock Mahoney playing the villain here. Scott and Mahoney have a protracted fight at the climax which rivals The Spoilers. Although Mahoney did the role credit, Scott should have done more Tarzan films.

As the last "Tarzan" movie starring Gordon Scott for producer Sy Weintraub, British director Robert Day's "Tarzan the Magnificent" with Jock Mahoney and John Carradine qualifies as one of the better series entries. Day helmed it after John Guillerman had made what is generally regarded as the best Tarzan outing, "Tarzan's Great Adventure," which co-starred a pre-James Bond Sean Connery. Later, Day called the shots on "Tarzan's Three Challenges" (1963) with Jock Mahoney, and "Tarzan and the Valley of Gold" (1966) as well as "Tarzan and the Great River" (1967) both with former football player Mike Henry. In this off-beat, unusual adventure, Tarzan tangles with bloodthirsty bank robbers who display few qualms about cold-blooded homicide. You know that you're watching a different kind of Tarzan tale when the action opens with a bank robbery and one of the hoods wields a submachine gun. This "Tarzan" explores dark themes and thrusts the characters into gritty predicaments. Moreover, Day and co-scenarist Berne Giler eschew the typical comic relief that earlier "Tarzan" films had featured. Tarzan entrusts Cheetah in the custody of a friend while he undertakes a dangerous mission. Not only have those amusing primate antics of Cheetah been eliminated, but also Tarzan doesn't cut loose with his distinctive yell. One source contends that Weintraub felt the trademark holler had been lampooned too often to have any atmospheric value. Nevertheless, juveniles will enjoy this out-of-doors escapade, but "Tarzan the Magnificent" is geared more to grown-ups with its psychological tensions and hardships. Tarzan captures a notorious felon who has murdered one of his friends. The authorities had posted a $5000 reward on the villain's head when a British policeman named Wyntors invaded the criminals' campsite and took the treacherous Coy Banton (Jock Mahoney) at knife point as a hostage. Unfortunately, Coy kills Wyntors before the policeman can get him out of the jungle. A resourceful Tarzan intervenes with his bow and arrows, kills one of Coy's brothers Ethan (Ron MacDonnell), and then decides to escort a handcuffed Banton through miles of jungle to Kairobi. You see, Tarzan knew Wyntors and plans to hand over the bounty money to Wyntors' widow. Meanwhile, Abel Banton (legendary horror icon John Carradine) and his two remaining sons, Johnny (Gary Cockrell of "Lolita") and Martin (Al Mulock of "Tarzan's Great Adventure"), threaten to kill anybody who helps Tarzan. These threats scare everybody off and it puts Tarzan in a kind of "High Noon" situation. The Bantons make intimidating foes. Indeed, Johnny shoots a doctor for not furnishing them with information about Tarzan's plans for Coy. Furthermore, Abel shoots the captain of a riverboat, force the passengers off and burn the boat. The passengers walk into town along the river. When they learn that Tarzan is escorting the villainous Coy, they decide to string along with him despite the natural hardship that traveling through the jungle means. This is a good, no-nonsense survival of the fittest epic lensed on location in Africa. There is far more psychological depth in this "Tarzan" than you typically see.

I'm writing this a few days after Gordon Scott's life has come to an end, so this review is a tribute to his life and career , especially his characterization as Tarzan, which many consider the best ever brought to the screen. Gordon Scott had a great screen presence as well as underrated acting abilities, and we really need more of his films released on DVD."Tarzan the Magnificent" is his last Tarzan film, I think, and it was released in 1960, right after "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" which I consider the best Tarzan film ever made. This film is not as good as that one, though it comes close, therefore coming in as the second best Tarzan film ever made. In any case, Gordon Scott again does a fantastic job portraying the ape man. I think he was the only one who convinced me that physically he could take on lions and crocodiles as well as Sean Connery.The plot of this movie is basically the same as "Greatest Adventure." Tarzan pursues and battles a gang of jungle crooks. (What the hell are backwoods moonshiners doing in Africa anyway?) Here there is a psychological angle as well as slam bang action. The location photography is great too. The ending is a little too similar to the last outing, but hard hitting just the same.Gordon, wherever you are, thanks for the great entertainment!