For many children and adults of the 1950s, Tarzan of the Apes was represented by one actor, Gordon Scott. In truth, he was among an estimated 21 American actors who played the jungle hero through the 1980s, beginning with the first film in 1918. Movie makers are naturally attracted to a sequel and, if things go really well, a series. There have been many high performing movie series since film began, but of all the character-driven series, none comes close to Tarzan.

In 1959, Scott and director John Guillermin collaborated on Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure. At  the time, the movie was praised for a new depiction of the famous character, moving it away from the more primitive interpretations of the 1920’s, 30’s, and 40’s. 

The film’s cast included Sean Connery in one of his first movie roles. He plays a third-billed criminal whose gang is led by noted British actor Anthony Quayle. Connery was so good in the smaller villain part that he was considered as the next Tarzan by the film producers. Another movie, Dr. No, introduced him as James Bond in 1962, and thoughts of Tarzan evaporated.

The movie is a Tarzan film for adults. Minus a Jane, Scott’s Tarzan is sexually attracted to the only female of note in the cast, Sara Shane. He also has a harrowing one-on-one fight with Hopkins’ character, who wields a long pole with a wire noose mounted on its tip. The fight takes place atop large boulders on a mountain bluff, and the pair are as equally threatened with a deadly fall as they are each other.