Simply Perfect

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

While Gordon Scott's incredible body is a sight to gawk at, Eve Brent makes a beautiful Jane, and the color photography is bright, "Tarzan's Fight For Life" is a snoozer, SEVERELY lacking in action (Scott gets involved in just one punch-up, for crying out loud), and loaded with walking scenes, stock footage, and clumsy stunt doubling. *1/2 out of 4.

I must admit to being a Tarzan junkie so keep that in mind while reading my comments. There's not a whole lot to the plots, in fact they tend to be fairly similar. Some injustice takes place, usually perpetrated by evil white men, and Tarzan sets things right. That's about it and if you expect complicated character interactions and plot twists you'll surely be disappointed. One of the best things about these movies is the physiques, happily and gloriously shown with as little clothing as possible. Jane is always an eyeful so I sat down to watch this one (the second color Tarzan) because I had never seen Eve Brent, the twelfth Jane. Although not the prettiest she was perhaps the sweetest and her scenes with Gordon Scott were rather passionate. Their kisses would make the heart of any romantic flutter. Still, as good as that was, my favorite part was James Edwards' characterization of Futa, the evil witch doctor. He made 'Fight for Life' an over the top camp fest. Yes, Gordon Scott was a hunk, Eve Brent was eye candy, there was Cheeta (although the chip can be irritating), there's lots of jungle and dangerous animal shots, but Edwards elevated this one above its routine plot and production values.

The cast assembled for the proposed "Tarzan" TV series is here, and in color - unlike "Tarzan's Fight for Life", which was apparently cobbled together from a few episodes. Both released in 1958, "Tarzan's Fight for Life" should be considered chronologically before "Tarzan's Fight for Life" as the cast from the feature film was considered attractive and capable enough for the television series. Benefiting from vibrant color photography are muscular jungle king Gordon Scott (as Tarzan), leggy mate Eve Brent (as Jane), and their "Boy" Rickie Sorenson (as Tartu). A hospital has opened in the area, but some African natives regard it with trepidation...**** Tarzan's Fight for Life (8/15/58) Bruce Humberstone ~ Gordon Scott, Eve Brent, Rickie Sorensen, James Edwards

Although this movie is paced like a Television Episode, there is actually some good Jungle footage used, and I don't know if they flew Gordon Scott all the way out to Africa, if not they found a body double that was fairly close. The only giveaway is in the Africa shots, Tarzan's hair is slightly longer.I understand these Scott Tarzan flicks were actually made for a Tarzan Television show that failed to sell. I agree with other reviewers, that Eve Brent was a great "Jane" - It took me about 10 minutes to recognise Eve Brent as "Elaine Connelly" from "The Green Mile", she still had an impish and infectious smile in that 1999 film, some 41 years later.I think what has been overlooked here, was Woody Strode's excellent role as "Ramo" - the Witch Doctor "Futa's" (James Edwards) "Secret Agent" - Woody's stature is always excellent, and a good antagonist for Gordon Scott. and his "death" scene - Well, that would be a spoiler.Scott himself, is the Tarzan of Tarzan's, I'm sure this guy would be used as a Terminator Body Double in today's age of movies. His Tarzan is a little more fluent in English than the grunts and single syllables of Johnny Weissmuller. Tarzan and Jane are, in this film, pure Beef and Cheesecake, but the fact that they gave Tarzan a sharper wit, more words, makes him a better Tarzan I think.Although the original Tarzan movies were classic, I think these Scott Tarzan films are important, they built on the character that already existed. The idea of a non-African guy swinging around in a loincloth through the Jungle with Jane, Boy and Cheetah in tow, is somehow silly, but also entertaining, it is of course Edgar Rice Burroughs who came up with the idea.I'll admit I was not too enthused about watching this as it came up on TCM just now, but that lack of enthusiasm faded, and although the action takes too long to build up and occur, it is simply 1950's Television Pacing, you just have to "wait for it", it does happen.