Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) | John Derek – Around the World in 80s Movies Podcast

Set in 1910, virginal Jane Parker (Bo Derek), a feminist who thinks women should be able to explore the world the same as men. She travels to Africa to find the father she never knew, renowned explorer James Parker (Richard Harris). James, who abandoned her when she was an infant, thinks Jane is the spitting image of his late wife, which brings up all manner of incestuous feelings. James continues his safari to find the fabled elephant graveyard where precious ivory exists. Jane insists on coming along despite her father’s protests. Tarzan’s primal yelling makes their native entourage nervous, forbidden to travel into the land occupied by the famous “white ape-man” who stands, according to myth, ten feet tall.

Proceeding cautiously, Jane bathes in the ocean, attracting a ferocious lion, saved by the mysterious ape-man of myth. James determines Tarzan (Miles O’Keeffe) will be their next kill, especially after he kidnaps Jane, though she seems more than willing to get caught.

John Derek directs.