Investigating Tarzan

Tarzan is one of the most powerful icons of western culture. Generations of readers and viewers have projected their fantasies onto the mythical hero who embodies a unique relationship between man and nature, and holds the promise of epic, romantic adventure. This humorous documentary explores the many facets of the myth and the wide-ranging industry it has produced. It seeks to combine in-depth research with all the visual and entertainment potential of the Tarzan character, and to assess what the King of the Jungle means to people today. The yell? A macho cliché? A symbol of white domination? An ideal? The producer brought on board five Canadians broadcasters to help finance the program. It was broadcast across the US by American Movie Classic (65 milion subscribers) to launch a special weekend of Tarzan movies last summer.