Tarzan: The Epic Adventures
| Tarzan: The Epic Adventures | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Edgar Rice Burroughs (characters) |
| Starring |
Joe Lara Aaron Seville Don McLeod Nkhensani Manganyi |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Paul Siegel Henry Siegel Joe Lara |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Keller Siegel Entertainment (series) Keller Entertainment Group (pilot) |
| Distributor | Seagull Entertainment |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | first-run-syndication |
| Original run | August 28, 1996 – May 25, 1997 |
Tarzan: The Epic Adventures is a syndicated series that aired for one season (1996–1997). It focuses on the character of Tarzan in his early years, after his first exposure to civilization, but before his marriage to Jane. The series uses much of the mythology of Edgar Rice Burroughs' books as background material.
This version of Tarzan was filmed in the Sun City resort in South Africa, making it one of the few Tarzan productions to actually film on that continent.[1]
The character of Nicholas Rokoff, and the fact that Tarzan is not yet married, set this series in-between the two halves of The Return of Tarzan.
R. A. Salvatore wrote an authorized Tarzan novel based on pilot script which was published as a trade-paperback in 1996, and a mass-market paperback in 1997.
Plot
The series begins with Tarzan, still living in Europe, returning home to Africa to foil the plans of the evil Count Rokoff. After defeating both Rokoff and his accomplice, Mora, queen of the flesh eating monsters known as Mahars, Tarzan decides to stay in Africa, and is reunited with his old friend Timba, who joins him in his adventures.
Similar to shows like Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, The Adventures of Sinbad, and The New Adventures of Robin Hood, the series places a heavy emphasis on fantasy. Among the common elements present were evil sorcerers, magical beings, journeys to other realms, and hidden civilizations. The show also had the recurring theme of who Tarzan really was, and the mystery of where Timba's tribe had vanished to.
Cast
- Joe Lara as Tarzan/John Clayton
- Aaron Seville as Timba
- Lydie Denier as Olga de Coude
- Andrew Divoff as Nicholas Rokoff
- Dennis Christopher as Paul D’Arnot
- Ralph Wilcox as Mugambi
- Angela Harry as La
Episode list (Season 1, 1996-1997)
1. "Tarzan's Return" (Pilot, Part 1) (8/28/1996)
2. "Tarzan's Return" (Pilot, Part 2): Series pilot. Tarzan must stop the plans of the evil Count Nicholas Rokoff.
3. "Tarzan and the Leopard Woman / the Leopard Queen" (9/23/1996): Tarzan is reunited with his old friend Themba, but their reunion is put on hold when Wazi people are bring kidnapped by the Leopard Men.
4. "Tarzan and the Lost Legion" (9/30/1996): When Themba is kidnapped by Roman centurions, Tarzan finds himself working with a young woman to overthrow her evil uncle.
5. "Tarzan and the Scarlet Diamond" (10/7/1996): An evil explorer pits two tribes, the other being lizard men, against each other for his own plans.
6. "Tarzan and the Black Orchid" (10/14/1996): Tarzan must find a legendary plant to save Themba when he's infected with a strange disease.
7. "Tarzan and the Reflections in an Evil Eye" (10/21/1996): An evil medicine man hits Tarzan with a spell that divides the two halves of him: the human he is, and the ape he was raised as.
8. "Tarzan and the Priestess of Opar" (10/28/1996): The Lord of the Jungle becomes the object of affection for the priestess, La.
9. "Tarzan and the Fury of the Zadu" (11/4/1996): A sudden eclipse turns tribes into savages, and Tarzan reluctantly asks for La's help to stop them.
10. "Tarzan and the Revenge of Zimpala" (11/11/1996): The brother of the hunter who killed Kala seeks revenge on Tarzan.
11. "Tarzan and the Return of KuKulcan" (11/18/1996): When Tashi is bitten by a snake, Tarzan and Themba take her to see a Mayan healer for help, but are soon caught up in the plans of the evil Snake People.
12. "Tarzan and the White Pebble" (1/20/1997): An oracle challenges Tarzan with a series of tests.
13. "Tarzan and the Moon God" (1/27/1997): A trio of pirates steal a statue from a tribe which holds a greater meaning than previously believed.
14. "Tarzan and the Forbidden City" (2/3/1997): When an old friend goes missing, Tarzan must work with the man's sister to rescue him, unaware of her true motives.
15. "Tarzan and the Leopard Demon" (2/10/1997): Tarzan must rescue an old friend from the Leopard Demon.
16. "Tarzan and the Demon Within" (2/17/1997): In a clipshow episode, Tarzan must overcome his claustrophobia to save Timba.
17. "Tarzan and the Mahars" (2/24/1997): In a sequel to the pilot, the Mahars return, and Tarzan must reluctantly work with Rokoff to stop them.
18. "Tarzan and the Amtorans" (4/21/1997): Tarzan finds himself transported to an alien world after he's accused of murder. Crossover with another Edgar Rice Burroughs creation, Carson Napier of Venus.
19. "Tarzan and the Beast of Dunali" (4/28/1997): Tarzan investigates a series of murders supposedly committed by apes. But the truth is far more disturbing....
20. "Tarzan and the Shadow of Anger" (5/5/1997): Tarzan must overcome mind control to stop a creature.
21. "Tarzan and the Mystery of the Lake" (5/12/1997): A group of explorers find two discoveries: a creature that may be the missing link...and a prehistoric monster living in a lake.
22. "Tarzan and the Circus Hunter" (5/19/1997): A trip turns deadly when Tarzan is caught up in a murder.
Other Tarzans
- Joe Lara also played Tarzan in the—otherwise unrelated—CBS television movie Tarzan in Manhattan.
- Lydie Denier played Jane Porter in the earlier series, Tarzán.
Novel
 | |
| Author | R. A. Salvatore |
|---|---|
| Series | Tarzan (book series) |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
Publication date | October 1996 |
| Media type | trade-paperback |
| Pages | 279 |
| ISBN | 0-345-40810-1 |
| Preceded by | Tarzan: the Lost Adventure (1995) |
| Followed by | the Dark Heart of Time (1999) |
R. A. Salvatore wrote an authorized Tarzan novel based on pilot script which was published as a trade-paperback in 1996, and a mass-market paperback in 1997.
As of 2010, it is one of only three such authorized Tarzan novels, being preceded by Fritz Leiber's Tarzan and the Valley of Gold novelization, and followed by Philip Jose Farmer's 1999 the Dark Heart of Time.
Nikolas Rokoff—Tarzan's nemesis from the first half of The Return of Tarzan—has a stolen crystal amulet with mystical power. The crystal can open gateways to the savage land of Pellucidar, and in so doing allows reptilian humanoids known as Mahars to attack the surface world. Tarzan therefore has to stop not only Rokoff; but Mora, the Queen of the Mahars as well.
References
- ↑ Hillman, Bill. “Tarzan: The Epic Adventures” ERBzine (Volume 0014a, ©1996–2006)
External links
- Tarzan: The Epic Adventures at the Internet Movie Database — pilot
- Tarzan: The Epic Adventures at TV.com
- Tarzan: The Epic Adventures at the Internet Movie Database — series
- Tarzan on Television
| Preceded by Tarzan: the Lost Adventure |
Tarzan series Tarzan: the Epic Adventures |
Succeeded by The Dark Heart of Time |
| Preceded by Tarzán 1991–1994 |
Tarzan (TV series) Tarzan: The Epic Adventures 1996–1997 |
Succeeded by The Legend of Tarzan 2001–2002 |