Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- earnest
- romantic
- melancholic
- classic adventure night
- literary adaptation viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film's ambitious seriousness, cast, production design, and faithfulness to its literary source, though overall reception was mixed to positive.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
John Clayton is raised by apes before being identified as an English aristocratic heir and returned to society.
The African jungle, tree-house upbringing, animal life, and aristocratic estates receive prominent production-design and cinematographic treatment.
The film presents Tarzan as a conflicted human subject in a more faithful and dramatic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs's character.
John's identity is formed by his ape mother and troop while his English lineage later claims him as its descendant.
Films like Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, and why
The Jungle Book
shared literary adventure structure, colonial-era setting, and human civilization versus wilderness themes
The Man Who Would Be King
shared Victorian adventure atmosphere, African wilderness, and culture-clash drama
King Solomon's Mines
shared mythic adventure tone, period setting, and outsider identity conflict
The Black Stallion
shared coming-of-age-through-wilderness themes, animal relationships, and emotionally serious adventure storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Hugh Hudson
- Release Date
- 1984-03-30
- Runtime
- 143 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (514)
Cast
- Christopher Lambert
- Andie MacDowell
- Ralph Richardson
- Ian Holm
- James Fox
- Cheryl Campbell
- Ian Charleson
- Nigel Davenport
- Nicholas Farrell
- Richard Griffiths
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes about?
- A shipwrecked aristocrat’s son becomes an ape-raised man whose return to England exposes the emotional cost of choosing between two worlds.
- What is Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes as moderate.
- What did critics think of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes?
- Critics broadly admired the film's ambitious seriousness, cast, production design, and faithfulness to its literary source, though overall reception was mixed to positive.
- Which films are like Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes?
- Films with a similar feel include The Jungle Book, The Man Who Would Be King, King Solomon's Mines, and The Black Stallion.
- How long is Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes?
- Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes runs 143 minutes.
- Where can I watch Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes?
- In United States, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
