Review of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) by Chris D — 11 Apr 2008

Please watch this movie if only to get a glimpse of the beautiful rainforest in Cameroon. Between my sister and myself, we've probably watched this movie a billion times. We can quote lines from the manuscript standing on our heads.

Tarzan fascinates me as he actually thinks his father is an ape. When Capitaine Phillippe D'Arnot shows up in the djungel, instead of pointing out the finer aspects of human biology to Tarzan-The Earl of Greystoke, he askes him, "...how many white apes have you seen?" This is his attempt to prove to Tarzan that he couldn't possibly be anything other than a humanbeing. As Tarzan is a mute, he answers Capitaine Phillippe D'Arnot with his silence or a grunt. This is when the confusion starts for me. I usually interprete silence to mean I disgaree. This scenario has since 1986 left me perplexed. Does Tarzan silence mean, "I haven't seen any white apes therefore one cannot be my father?" OR does his silence mean,"my silence is what you get for being dumb enough to ask a mute a question?".