Colorful and amusing Tarzan/Scott movie , though dubiously faithful to Edgar Rice Borroughs story . Concerning about Dr. Sturdy (Carl Benton Reid) who attempts to built a hospital at the jungle to heal villagers . His efforts are extremely opposed by Futa (James Edwards) , the sorcerer doctor , and his henchman Ramo (Woody Strode) , a native warrior , when they see their influence with the natives waning in favor of the local clinic run by Dr. Sturdy . There's problem brewing however when the tribal chief has died and when his child and heir falls sick , Futa decides he is the one who has to treat him . Futa's hoodlum , Ramo , robs what he thinks is medicine but is really a venomous vaccine . If given to the boy-chief, he will surely die . In the ending , Tarzan again to rescue the unfortunate doctors and his woman , the gorgeous Jane (Eva Brent) and Tartu, (Rickie Sorensen ) , Tarzan's Adopted Son . Along the way , Tarzan is captured , mistreated and tortured . Then , Tarzan escapes , fights against time for serum and to free Jane , Tartu, Tarzan's Adopted son , and the besieged doctors . "Tarzan fights for life " contains noisy action , sensational adventures , many angry natives , nasty sorcerers , hungry Crocs and wonderful outdoors , though mostly shot in Africa and Elstree studios . Well starred by Gordon Scott , here it's left to Tarzan to try and avert a tragedy when a poisonous serum is stolen and dealing with the struggle of modern medicine against the traditional magic . Gordon Scott brings wit , wrength and style to the classic character . Gordon starred 5 Tarzan movies : ¨Tarzan's fights for life¨ by H. Bruce Humberstone , ¨Tarzan and the trappers¨ by Sandy Howard and Charles Haas , ¨Tarzan's greatest adventure¨ produced by Sy Weintraub , directed by John Guillermin , ¨Tarzan the magnificent¨ by Robert Day and ¨Tarzan and the lost safari¨ . Although Gordon Scott also played all kinds of genres as Spaghetti : ¨Tramplers¨, Euro-spy : ¨Death ray¨ , Pirate movie : ¨Marauder¨ , and especially Peplum : ¨Hércules and the princess of Troy¨, ¨Coriolanus¨, ¨Conquest of Mycene¨, ¨Gladiator of Rome¨, ¨Hero of Rome¨, ¨Samson and the 7 miracles of the world¨. Support cast is acceptable , such as : Carl Benton Reid as a doctor who is attempting to establish a modern hospital in the jungle , Eva Brent as the beautiful Jane and her child , Rickie Sorensen , called Tartu, Tarzan's Adopted son . And the ordinary secondaries as Woody Strode , Paulene Myers and the nasty James Edwards as the local witch doctor , all of them give nice interpretations . And of course , special mention for the likable Chimpanzee Cheeta that steals the show , giving some humorous moments with his antics , frolics and mayhem . As usual , sets and production design are visually appealing , though there are the obvious uses of stock footage and shot on location in Democratic Republic Of Congo , Tanzania , Kilimanjaro , Kenia . Including a brilliant cinematography by William E Snyder , being well filmed in color . The motion picture was well produced by Sol Lesser and decently directed by H. Bruce HumberstoneFirst Tarzan/Johhny Weissmuller was ¨Tarzan , the ape man¨ (1932) by W.S. Van Dyke , this one being the definitive Tarzan movie , the original of the long series . Followed by ¨Tarzan and his mate¨ (1934) by Jack Conway . Richard Thorpe continued the following sequels : ¨Tarzan escapes¨(1936) , ¨Tarzan finds a son¨ (1939) with the addition of the five-year-old Johnny Sheffield as Boy , ¨Tarzan's secret Treasure¨ (1941) , and ¨Tarzan's New York adventure¨ (1942) where Boy is abducted by an evil circus owner , then Tarzan goes to rescue him and he meets N.Y. big city , being Maureen O'Sullivan's final appearance and in which Elmo Lincoln's , the screen's first Tarzan, had a cameo . These stories were lavishly produced by M.G.M. and R.K.O. Subsequently , to be appeared other Tarzans produced by independent producers as Sol Lesser ; the latter being replaced by Sy Weintraub , these movies were interpreted by Lex Barker and Gordon Scott : ¨Tarzan the Magnificent¨ and ¨The greatest adventure¨ directed by John Guillermin . Furthermore , Mike Henry starred as Tarzan in ¨Tarzan and the jungle boy ¨ , ¨ Tarzan and the great river¨ , and ¨Tarzan 66¨ directed by Robert Day . Besides , two performed by Jock Mahoney : ¨Three challenges¨ and ¨Tarzan goes to India¨ directed by John Guillermin , among others . Plus , other TV Tarzan as Ron Ely , Wolf Larsen , Joe Lara

This is the Tarzan Movie that Stopped a Decades Long Franchise and sent the Tarzan Films in a New Direction. It sure has its Detractors, and it is Mediocre, but not Without some Entertainment Value.It's Only the Second in Color and it is Colorful, check out the Native Attire. This Good Looking Tarzan also has the Very Good Looking Gordon Scott, and Jane (Eve Brent) is Stunning. For Tarzan Action, He Rides a Giraffe and Fights an 18 foot. Python. Both Scenes with Real Animals with the Snake Unwilling to Let Go causing some On Set Panic. Tarzan is Captured and Bound Spread Eagle with a Caged Lion, and there is some Witch Doctor Eeriness for Suspense. Jane is in Peril a Few Times and Tarzan must Fight for Her Life as well as Others.There are some Silly Things (Cheetah in loincloth) and some Bad Dialog. The other Female Character, Jill Jarmyn, Overacts Greatly and gets on the Nerves. But... There's just too much Fun Going On here for this Entry to be Dismissed as Worthless. It's Worth a Watch.

The cast assembled for the proposed "Tarzan" TV series is here, and in color - unlike "Tarzan's Fight for Life", which was apparently cobbled together from a few episodes. Both released in 1958, "Tarzan's Fight for Life" should be considered chronologically before "Tarzan's Fight for Life" as the cast from the feature film was considered attractive and capable enough for the television series. Benefiting from vibrant color photography are muscular jungle king Gordon Scott (as Tarzan), leggy mate Eve Brent (as Jane), and their "Boy" Rickie Sorenson (as Tartu). A hospital has opened in the area, but some African natives regard it with trepidation...**** Tarzan's Fight for Life (8/15/58) Bruce Humberstone ~ Gordon Scott, Eve Brent, Rickie Sorensen, James Edwards

If you grew up watching Johnny Weismuller in those action packed programmers, this is just painful to watch. There are a few scenes of waterfalls, etc. that are nice but in the older films they used stock footage of wilderness along with wild African animals stampeding and attacking which in itself evoked a sense of danger utterly missing here. The pacing in the earlier films was quick and exciting while here, everyone sleepwalks through the entire movie with wooden acting by all involved. Action scenes are bland and suspense is nil. Gordon Scott is great eye candy but stinks up every scene he is in. Granted, it is not as noticeable as it could have been since all the other actors are doing the same thing. I hated seeing a dynamic character actor like Woody Strode stuck in this awful flick. He looked like he hated it too. I guess we all have to make a living.