Ron Ely’s TARZAN-ep 5-THE PRISONER and ep 6-FACES OF DEATH

 

Ron Ely’s TARZAN-ep 5-THE PRISONER and ep 6-FACES OF DEATH

 

“After all, she’s only a girl.”

 

“Can’t Cheetah go to school with me?”

“What and tear up the school room?”

 

 

At first glance both episodes seem as if they are merely retreads of the films, THE PRISONER being something similar to the Gordon Scott’s TARZAN’S FIGHT FOR LIFE and FACES OF DEATH, similar to TARZAN’S THREE CHALLENGES, however, if truth be told, I prefer the TV show and its tone over the movies. On the other hand, the movies depict the savagery of TARZAN quite well, with no real redemption of evil doers, at least in the 1960s movies. Here, in FACES, the nasty war mongering Jamoya (played by the excellent Woody Strode who was actually in TARZAN’S FIGHT FOR LIFE) seems to change his ways, reflecting. Even though the girl chief Laneen offered him sanctuary back at their village, he chose, it would seem to leave and some day return in peace. It was that girl that he was going to kill, should he have beaten and killed Tarzan first at the conclusion of the three challenges, all of which are terribly contrived but equally attention drawing.

 

First, tied together, the two must face a crocodile or an alligator that was put in a nearby lake or river. The poor thing. It’s odd that when watching it these days, I feel more for the animal/creature than the humans. In days gone by, it wasn’t even really a thought but now, with all the care given to the world’s nature and fauna, and it’s a good thing, such scenes seem cruel and unnecessary, even ruining the show for me.

 

Second, Jamoya gets to give off a high cliff to retrieve something while Tarzan gets the short end of the feather he chose: to run a gauntlet of spears while passing a fire and a pit of spikes. Finally, he has to open a jar, capture a poisonous snake and put it back in the jar, all the while natives are poking spears through the cage at him…though none seem too forceful to be honest. At one point he almost drowns another pit that seems as if it is filled with quicksand of some sort.

 

Third, the two must race, with observers following to find a golden horn which is across a flimsy rope bridge which they hang. They may only kill the other with the horn. Of course, Tarzan gets it but doesn’t seem to want to kill. Laneen orders him to give her the horn to kill Jamoya but she can’t do it either. This changes the man. In the movies, he’d fall or be killed some other way.

 

One thing that struck me is that despite having a woman in a leadership role after her father dies, Tarzan pleads for her life and asks Jamoya not to kill her (Jamoya refuses, the creep that he was) but in so doing, Tarzan says, “She’s ONLY  a girl.”  Sigh. How the times have changed. This line would never be allowed today. Picture the Wakanda movies allowing this line!?

 

In any case, it’s a good episode and Jai and Tarzan’s relationship is sown deeper here as Jai wants Tarzan to give up the fight and go home, the boy eventually realizing that he was being selfish and that Tarzan would have to live with being a coward and having their friend, the girl, killed after he left her to Jamoya.

 

FACES OF DEATH seems aired out of order as it doesn’t look like the Brazil location, Jai is now wearing a lion cloth like Tarzan and sandals, Rao and Flood are NOT in it at all, nor is the outpost and the opening does not have the narration.

 

In the other episode, THE PRISONER, which aired fifth, Jai is unceremoniously dropped off to a man who will boat him to a school! He is fully clothed, too. And Tarzan and Cheetah bid him goodbye and I thought that was it. Frankly, that would have been a bad move. I always find the threat more exciting and involving if a kid is in danger and has to be saved. While this episode is interesting, it would have been better if Jai were involved but we’ll get plenty of that in future.

 

Tarzan's friend, policeman Khobi is close to death after being severely wounded by diamond smuggler Spooner. Tarzan intends to bring the criminal to justice as Spooner's gang tracks them through the jungle to free him. The chief of Khobi’s people wants to commit the law of the jungle on Spooner, who is responsible for Khobi’s injury and eventual death but in the end as Tarzan saves his life, he relents and lets Tarzan take Spooner to justice, though his men do kill two of Spooner’s men, which is shocking as a more predictable ending would have been to have Tarzan kill them. Another was killed by his own man’s firing a gun wild. The twist is that the diamond(s) Spooner and gang stole (and two others killed two men for) are in Spooner’s hat…which Cheetah threw into the rapids! A good use of Cheetah (he or she even jumps on Spooner’s back at a crucial moment) and much action help enliven this episode.

 

Both episodes, once again, have terrific locations, the sky filled with clouds, both white and gray. Lots of mountains in the background and green jungle. Also lots of stock footage of birds of all kinds and a lot of leopards and cheetahs. There are also hippos and rhinos.

 

Whatever’s going on, Ely gives it his all and a convincing performance as if he actually believes what’s going on around him, no matter how contrived or fantastic and it all really works. It’s never dull or boring.

 

One thing about the format: in these first six episodes, it seems to change back and forth. Usually we get the narration but not in FACES. Then we get the credits with the Tarzan March (again, not in FACES). Some action happens. Then a pause, then the title of the episode. Usually. In another episode we get the title right away and then the action. Not sure if syndication messed with these episodes and we are getting those copies or not. In FACES, what happens is we get a bunch of scenes from the episode itself and then the title of the episode. It jars but I think the show was competing with THE TIME TUNNEL, possibly and that always started right away with a fight or some other action so maybe it was trying to compete with that because TARZAN rarely starts right away with the action but it does build to it.

 

Despite being a selfish killer, the character of Spooner and the actor who plays him, made him amusing and almost likable. Almost. At one point he tells Cheetah, “When I get out of here, you’re the second on my list.”

 

In the other episode, a man carries poles to make Tarzan’s gauntlet and Cheetah jumps on the poles. It’s hilarious. Also, I noticed Jai reaching a hand back to hold Cheetah’s but the monkey would not cooperate.

 

 I have to also say that I love Manuel Padilla’s Jai. Of all the replacement boys for BOY in the old Johnny Weissmuller movies, he was the best and probably the most natural. Of Johnny Sheffield was amazing but Manuel does well in both these episodes. He really conveys a love for Tarzan here and their rapport is more father/son here or big brother/younger brother. It’s also touching and would continue to be throughout the series.

 

One thing I did notice is that the amazing stunts of hanging from the ropes while fighting and trying to reach the golden horn knife…I noticed it was NOT Ron for once. It was a stunt man from what I can tell. I wasn’t really looking at Woody’s character but I don’t think that was him either. Even so, it looks fantastic.

 

One more thing: even though there’s a lot to be said of having the girl take charge, even of the finale and the choices (good ones), she DOES slow Tarzan down…a lot. Not sure that would happen these days either!