TV Ape

 

 (imdb)

THE IVORY APE-1980-Range (Derek Partridge), a murderous English poacher captures the super rare albino ape and plans to sell it in Cuba. In Bermuda, the dopey Bax (Steven Keats) and the frigid Lil (Cindy Pickett) try to stop the ship carrying the ape which escapes and kills a ship mate that taunted it. Later the ape terrorizes the island but really doesn't kill anyone else directly (a cop falls off a cliff running away, a woman crashes her car when the ape is in the middle of the road). The police constable (Earle Hyman) hires Marc Kazarian (Jack Palance), an ex-hunter haunted by the death of his son, to get the ape after the vigilante mob fails. The ape is eventually trapped in a church where something unexpected happens. 

Cheesy made for TV ABC movie of the week, one of 3 US-Japan made co-production between Rankin/Bass and Tsuburaya Studios. It was shown in theaters in Japan to unsuspecting patrons. Directed by Tsugunobu “Tom” Kotani also made THE LAST DINOSAUR and THE BUSHIDO BLADE. Only recommended if you're a Jack Palance fan and want to see everything he's done.

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