Tarzan's Deadly Silence

Tarzan's Deadly Silence is a 1970 adventure film composed of an edited two-part television episode of Tarzan released as a feature. It stars Ron Ely as Tarzan. Former Tarzan actor Jock Mahoney and Woody Strode co-star. The film was produced by Sy Weintraub and Leon Benson, written by Lee Erwin, Jack H. Robinson, John Considine, and Tim Considine and directed by Robert L. Friend.

Premise

Tarzan loses his hearing after a bomb blast, and is hunted through the jungle by the ruthless Colonel.

Cast

Ron Ely as Tarzan
Jock Mahoney as The Colonel, a villain
Woody Strode as Marshak
Manuel Padilla, Jr. as Jai, Tarzan's youthful ward
Nichelle Nichols as Ruana

Production notes

The film consists of The Deadly Silence, a two-part episode of Ely's NBC Television Tarzan series.

The Deadly Silence, Part I, aired on October 28, 1966. It was written by Lee Erwin and Jack H. Robinson, and directed by Robert L. Friend.
The Deadly Silence, Part II, aired on November 4, 1966. It was written by John Considine and Tim Considine, and directed by Lawrence Dobkin, who was not credited in the theatrical release of the film.

Jock Mahoney's first appearance in Tarzan films was as Coy Banton, a villain opposite Gordon Scott's Tarzan in the 1960 film Tarzan the Magnificent. He took over the role of the Ape Man in 1962's Tarzan Goes to India. This was followed by his final turn as Tarzan in Tarzan's Three Challenges.
Woody Strode portrayed Ramo in Tarzan's Fight for Life, and Khan in Tarzan's Three Challenges.

Release

The film opened April 22, 1970 at Loew's Mid-City Theatre in St. Louis and grossed $4,500 in its week there in a double bill with Day of Anger.