Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes

Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)

Timing: 2:23 (143 min)

6.3/10
443

6.692/10
1143

6.4/10
22000

All about film

Video 2

Photo 17

Actors and characters

Release date

1984-03-30

Country

United Kingdom, United States

Production

Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., Warner Bros. Pictures, WEA Records

Genre

Adventure, Drama, Action, Romance

Budget

$30 000 000

Revenue

$45 858 563

Website

Director

Hugh Hudson

Actors

Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm, James Fox, Christophe Lambert, Andie MacDowell, Cheryl Campbell, Ian Charleson, Nigel Davenport, Nicholas Farrell, Paul Geoffrey
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Robert Towne, Michael Austin

Producer

Hugh Hudson, Stanley S. Canter

Operator

John Alcott

Composer

John Scott

Artist

Audition

Patsy Pollock

Editing

Anne V. Coates
All team (23)

• Screenwriter Robert Towne was initially supposed to direct the film as well, but was removed from the project after the complete failure of his directorial debut, the sports drama 'Personal Best' (1982). Incensed by this and also disappointed with the finished film, Robert Towne demanded that his dog, P.H. Vazak, be credited as the screenwriter. Ironically, P.H. Vazak received an American Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay of the year.
• Christopher Lambert's first English-language role, having grown up in Switzerland and France in the family of an American diplomat.
• British actor Ralph Richardson, who played the role of the old Lord Greystoke, died shortly after filming ended on October 10, 1983. He was subsequently nominated posthumously for the American Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, and the film was dedicated to his memory.
• The first film shot in Super 35 format.
• The acting debut of American actress Andie MacDowell.
• Brigitte Nielsen was at one point considered for the role of Jane Porter.
• David Puttnam was supposed to be one of the producers of the film, but he withdrew from the project due to serious creative differences with Hugh Hudson.
• Although the name 'Tarzan' appears in the title ('Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes'), it is never mentioned in the film itself. The main character is addressed as either John or Lord Greystoke in all instances.
• Filming took place in Korut National Park in Cameroon, England (counties of Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire), and Floors Castle in Scotland.
• Danny Potts (Tarzan at age 5) and Eric Langlois (Tarzan at age 12) filmed all of their scenes completely nude.
• All of Andy McDowell's (Jane) dialogue was redubbed by Glenn Close during post-production due to the actress’s strong Southern accent, which was deemed unsuitable for her character.
• 400 applicants auditioned for the role of Tarzan. The director chose young, unknown French actor Christophe Lambert, whose appearance combined the features of a free-spirited savage Tarzan and the innate aristocracy of Lord Greystoke. Hudson set strict conditions for the actor – to build muscle in six months, learn to climb vines, and lose his French accent.
• As this was Christophe Lambert’s first English-language role, he adopted the pseudonym Christopher Lambert for English-speaking countries.
• Some of the African scenes were filmed in Korup National Park in southwestern Cameroon, amidst lush tropical forests. The graceful two-tiered Ekom waterfall, with a height difference of 100 meters, appears in many shots of the film, including the finale.
• The following English landmarks were used to depict the luxurious interiors of the Greystoke family estate. The exterior of the mansion is Floors Castle in Kelso, Scotland. The interior scenes were filmed at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire.
• John Clayton (Tarzan's name is never mentioned in the film) opens the 'Greystoke Exhibition' at the Natural History Museum in London, in the main dinosaur hall.