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Me, Cheeta: My Life in Hollywood

John Malkovich stars as Cheeta the Chimp, recalling his years as Johnny Weissmuller’s co-star in the Tarzan movies.

John Malkovich stars as Cheeta the chimpanzee.

The one-time co-star in the Tarzan films now lives in a sanctuary for retired animal actors in Palm Springs where he paints and writes his memoirs.

He recalls how he was captured from the jungle in the 1930s, trained as a performer, and taken to Hollywood to play alongside Olympic swimming champion, Johnny Weissmuller.

As well as a chimp's eye view of Hollywood's Golden Age, this is a moving portrayal of an enduring friendship between man and beast, and tribute to the innocent boyish beauty of the man who will always be remembered as Tarzan.

Julian Sands stars as Tarzan.

James Lever’s Me Cheeta: The Autobiography is adapted by Stef Penney.

Cheeta …… John Malkovich
Johnny Weissmuller/Tarzan …… Julian Sands
'Jane', Phyllis, Beryl Scott, Marlene Dietrich …… Edita Brychta
Cedric Gibbons, Chico Marx, George Sanders, John Farrow, Humphrey Bogart …… Enn Reitel
Tony Gentry, 'Vic', Errol Flynn, Parrot …… Darren Richardson
Dolores del Rio, Lupe Velez, Katrina …… Elisa Bocanegra

Other parts played by the cast.

Sound by Mark Holden and David Thomas.

Director: Kate McAll

A Pier production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2018.

57 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 Sep 2023 00:00

Broadcasts

  • Sat 3 Nov 2018 14:30
  • Sun 13 Dec 2020 15:00
  • Wed 2 Feb 2022 10:00
  • Wed 2 Feb 2022 15:00
  • Thu 3 Feb 2022 03:00
  • Thu 7 Sep 2023 05:00
  • Thu 7 Sep 2023 10:00
  • Thu 7 Sep 2023 15:00
  • Fri 8 Sep 2023 00:00