The mighty Lord of the Apes (Gordon Scott) is on a deadly trail. He’s determined to find the diamond hunters (including Anthony Quayle and Sean Connery) who brought terror and death to a peaceful village. But as much as Tarzan is a tracker and avenger, he’s also a protector. An irresponsible gadfly from the so-called civilized world intrudes on his quest, and Tarzan knows he cannot leave her to fend for herself.
Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure is widely applauded as one of the best and most grownup films in the entire film annals of the jungle lord’s exploits. It’s “a superior action yarn shot on location in Africa, more adult than most of its predecessors. Tarzan has a much expanded vocabulary” (Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide).
For thoughts on Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/iKQbOQ9vcfQ?si=C8gsCE_cinX5-8rV&t=2923]
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure with a terrific 1080p master transfer sourced from a new remaster when this disc was released in 2018. Warner Archive can always be counted on to work a bit of magic with their films, and this one is no exception. The transfer appears to be almost entirely free of dirt and damage, giving this a timeless appearance inviting to audiences new and old. The level of detail and clarity is astounding with a nice amount of natural film grain intact. The film features lovely colors within the environments that pop off the screen as a grand statement. Black levels are strong with firm stability throughout, and highlights are just as resolute with no signs of blooming. There do not appear to be any unwanted digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This one is bound to be appreciated by fans.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has provided an agreeable DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that has been restored with great care. Dialogue comes through clearly for the most part even during more raucous moments. The track balances vocals with the environmental sounds with admirable clarity. There are no moments where the track ever appears weak in its stability. The rousing Douglas Gamley score supports the film remarkably as it comes through with fine fidelity. Warner Archive has provided a welcome audio presentation that does not exhibit any overwhelming instances of age-related damage. The disc comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.
Final Thoughts
Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure is a truly fun action film that puts a new spin on the character without sacrificing its identity. While the film is not completely without character development for the titular character, the creative team leans more heavily on the ensemble and delivering breathtaking spectacle. Finding a young Sean Connery among the supporting players is just one of many delights to be found in this picture. For a character who has been seen on screen so many times, this one stands out as a particular bright spot. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation but nearly nothing in the way of special features. Recommended
Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
