Tarzan the ape man was not only a great tarzan film, but also an excellent early talkie. Tarzan of the apes rafbok edgar rice burroughs storytel. He was known for playing edgar rice burroughs ape man tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s and for having one of the best competitive swimming records of. Johnny first acted as tarzan in 1932 tarzan the ape man, and played the part in a dozen or so films. Biography the official licensing website of johnny weissmuller.
Hollywood wanted someone to play the storied role of tarzan. Weissmuller starred in 12 tarzan films between 1932 and 1948, beginning with tarzan the ape man 1932. Johnny weissmuller wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. There were tarzan movies around before johnny weissmuller put on the loincloth, but tarzan, the ape man is widely considered being the first true tarzan movie and the start of a series that would include an ensemble of 12 movies with weissmuller. Indeed, throughout the johnny weissmuller series and or any film that followed up until the 1980s, we never find how tarzan ended up living in the jungle.
While showing less skin, osullivan give the film its considerable sex appeal. Olympian johnny weissmuller was the perfect choice because he is tarzan. As the movie john carter arrives in theaters, here are 11 of the most wellknown adaptations of other edgar rice burroughs books. Tarzan kidnaps jane maureen osullivan, who later falls for him.
In fact, he was a superstar long before he became tarzan. Some of the footage in the first tarzan talkie is comically datedscenes of the british adventurers seem superimposed. From 19321948, weissmuller starred as tarzan in 12 films, beginning with tarzan the ape man and ending with tarzan and the mermaid. Tarzan, the ape man was not only mgms inaugural tarzan film, but also the first to star former olympic swimming champ johnny weissmuller as the lord of the jungle strange but true. He was known for playing edgar rice burroughs ape man tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s and for having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century. Tarzans cousin, william cecil clayton, unwitting usurper of the ape mans ancestral.
When mgm decided to make a talkie based on the first tarzan book, weissmuller was cast as the treedwelling hero. Tarzan big little books and better little books big little. This franchise will take you on a trip to the african jungle, where savage beasts of all shapes and sizes sneak, and tarzan is yodelling agheayeaaagheayeaaar. Cyril hume, working on the adaptation of tarzan the ape man 1932, noticed weissmuller swimming in the pool at his hotel and suggested him for the part of tarzan. The next and most famous adaptation was tarzan the ape man 1932, starring johnny weissmuller. For weissmuller, it was just the first of twelve tarzan films he starred in over the next decade and a half. Tarzan the ape man starring johnny weissmuller and maureen osullivan for excellent background information on the making of this classic mgm tarzan movie and the sequel tarzan and his mate, i recommend american cinematographer magazine issues dated january and february 1987 these issues are sold on ebay from time to time. Weissmuller won five gold medals as a swimmer at the 1924 and 1928 olympics, setting many freestyle records. He was the natural hero in an age of heroes with supernatural or extrahuman powers. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 14 days to finish once started.
May 18, 2018 indeed, throughout the johnny weissmuller series and or any film that followed up until the 1980s, we never find how tarzan ended up living in the jungle. That day, mgm screenwriter cyril hume was working out at the club and saw the man in the pool. Comic book characters, comic books, fictional characters, tarzan movie. The six tarzan and jane movies starring johnny weissmuller and maureen. Van dyke, who directed that picture and he does an admirable job here.
Weissmuller would later claim to have been born in windber, pennsylvania, probably to ensure his eligibility to compete as part of the us olympic team. Incredibly, the producer who offered weissmuller his contract had no idea that his leading man was also an olympic hero. Tarzan, the ape man 1959 tarzan the ape man was remade in 1959 starring denny miller and joanna barnes. Tarzan, the ape man 1932, made with the blessings of tarzan creator edgar rice burroughs, establishes the basics of the series and uses extra africa footage mgm had compiled for trader horn. June 2, 1904 january 20, 1984 was an american competition swimmer and actor best known for playing tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s and for having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century.
A trader and his daughter set off in search of the fabled graveyard of the elephants in. This came from an estate that i purchased some contents from last week seems to be a pretty rare item it is in used condition please look at pictures and decide if this is for you this is dated 1932 please take time and check my other. This movie has little connection with the 1932 original. Johnny weissmuller american athlete and actor britannica.
Superstar swimmer johnny tarzan weissmuller the hindu. The next and most famous adaptation was tarzan the ape man 1932, starring johnny weissmuller, who went on to star in 11 other tarzan films. Tarzan johnny weissmuller collection the movie database. The reason for this is possibly demonstrated by the 1918 version, which follows the novel closely but showed it was difficult to convincingly portray apes as characters while relying only. Edgar rice burroughs story of survival is downplayed in favor of the novels sexual fantasy. Tarzan the ape man 1932 tarzan returns jane youtube.
The next and most famous adaptation was tarzan the ape man 1932, starring johnny weissmuller, who went on to. Tarzan big little books and better little books tarzan, a fictional character created by edgar rice burroughs erb, first appeared in the novel tarzan of the apes magazine publication 1912 see above for the allstory cover and the first tarzan book was published in 1914, and then in. Johnny weissmuller as tarzan, volume 1 4fe tarzan the ape man 1932 the first teaming of johnny weissmuller as edgar rice burroughs jungle lord and maureen osullivan as jane sets a high adventure standard and includes an exciting sequence of elephants rescuing tarzan and jane from pygmy captors. Johnny weissmuller, the olympic swimming champion who went on to fame as tarzan of the jungle in the movies, died at his home here friday night, according to a funeral home. Sir edgar rice burroughs created tarzan lord of the jungle.
Of course theres a world of difference between the books and this tarzan, but so. Over the years johnny weissmuller frequently uttered the term as a signoff following interviews. See more ideas about tarzan, tarzan of the apes and tarzan movie. Rumors that weissmuller was not born in american were in the air as he prepared for the 1924 olympics, so much so that olympic officials requested legal proof of weissmullers citizenship, according to the book, tarzan, my father, written by weissmullers son, johnny jr. Tarzan the ape man is a 1932 precode american action adventure film released by metrogoldwynmayer featuring edgar rice burroughs famous jungle hero tarzan and starring johnny weissmuller, neil hamilton. Aug 03, 2012 when mgm decided to make a talkie based on the first tarzan book, weissmuller was cast as the treedwelling hero. Tarzan the ape man and especially tarzan and his mate make space for. Tarzan collection starring johnny weissmuller tarzan the ape man escapes and his mate finds a son secret treasure new warner bros. Tarzan the ape man 1932 was made before the rest of the johnny weissmuller films turned the tarzan and jane relationship into a cosy jungle parody of middleclass life, before the addition of youthful sidekicks and scenestealing comicrelief animals and an endless series of big game hunterevil villagers plots dragged the series down into the. Johnny weissmuller june 2, 1904 january 20, 1984 was an austrohungarianborn american competition swimmer and actor. In reality, the first johnny weissmuller tarzan film is really about jane parker. Released in 1932, tarzan the ape man was a hitweissmullers laconic brawn thrilled audiences. Thered been many tarzans before, but weissmullers buff bod and innocent charm won over audiences. He was known for playing edgar rice burroughs ape man tarzan in films of the 1930s and 1940s and for having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century weissmuller was one of the worlds fastest swimmers in the 1920s, winning five olympic gold.
The film is loosely based on burroughs novel tarzan of the apes from approximately two decades. Tarzan the ape man was followed up with a sequel, tarzan and his mate 1934. The last of the trio is the erotic tarzan the 1981 remake of tarzan the ape man, featuring bo derek and miles okeeffe. Silver screen king of the jungle 2004 documentary 8. Johnny weissmuller after the olympics and before tarzan. Tarzan the ape man 1932 caught between two worlds, a man who was orphaned in the african jungle as a baby and raised by apes has grown to rule and to protect the wild beasts, a hero known only as tarzan. Johnny weissmuller 19041984 johnny weissmuller was born as peter johann wei. Weissmullers wife, maria, had not completed funeral arrangements but that burial would probably be.
Tarzan the ape man is a 1932 precode american action adventure film released by metrogoldwynmayer featuring edgar rice burroughs famous jungle hero tarzan and starring johnny weissmuller, neil hamilton, c. George feltenstein, whvs vp classic catalog, notes, olympic gold medallist johnny weissmuller and the incredibly beautiful and talented maureen osullivan are certainly the definitive tarzan and jane. He appeared in several sports shorts, then was hired by mgm to play tarzan onscreen. Hume was at that time working on a new project, tarzan the ape man. Johnny weissmuller johnny weissmuller tarzan and jungle jim sign album leaf signature. The tarzan collection starring johnny weissmuller tarzan the ape. Tarzans amazing secret real life the real tarzan wacky. Later that summer, johnny was diving and swimming his daily laps at the hollywood athletic club, where a bevy of onlookers always gathered to admire him. The action and plotting is well done, and the cast as a whole does excellent work here, but the stand out performer here is maureen osullivan as jane. Apr 10, 2011 after tarzan johnny weissmuller kidnaps jane maureen osullivan, she gradually warms to him, and when he sympathizes and returns her to her father, they do not want to part. The tarzan of that era was johnny weissmuller, a swimmer, who won 5 olympic gold medals and in 1922 broke the 100 metre freestyle record, swimming it in 58. Johnny weissmuller 19041984 had won five olympic gold medals as a freestyle swimmer 1924, 1928, setting several freestyle records, before appearing in sports shorts and then being hired by mgm to play. And surprisingly, the sequel included an underwater nude scene with tarzan in a loincloth and jane completely nude.
It does, however, have lifted footage tinted to moreorless match the color, including obvious footage of weissmullers vineswinging. Tarzan the ape man movies photo 28 x 36 cm cheetah the chimpanzee, who acted in tarzan films in the has died aged 80 in florida, his primate sanctuary says. Weissmuller embodied the man whose entirely human powers allowed him to exist in the jungle with dignity and prestige. There were other tarzans before, but johnny weissmullers portrayal of the ape man is the first major onscreen version of the famous jungle hero. Despite his athletic records, weissmuller is best known for his motionpicture role as tarzan of the apes, a character created by edgar rice burroughs. The first two were the silent films tarzan of the apes 1918 and the romance of tarzan 1918, both starring elmo lincoln as tarzan, based on the first and second parts of the novel, respectively. Tarzan of the apes is a 1914 novel by american writer edgar rice burroughs, the first in a. The original tarzan movies with johnny weissmuller, olympic swimmer and overall. Apr 25, 2016 cyril hume, working on the adaptation of tarzan the ape man 1932, noticed weissmuller swimming in the pool at his hotel and suggested him for the part of tarzan. The first weissmuller tarzan movie also features maureen osullivan as a sexy, intelligent jane.
It was the roaring 1920s and the man who would become tarzan was a swimming phenom winning 5 gold medals, 3 in 1924 at the paris olympics and. Someone who was the very embodiment of the ape man. Jun 22, 2019 his acting career took wing when he signed a sevenyear contract with metrogoldwynmayer and played the role of tarzan in tarzan the ape man 1932. The secret nude tarzan scene you never knew about wacky. Weissmuller s wife, maria, had not completed funeral arrangements but that burial would probably be. Hume, who adapted tarzan, the ape man 1932 for the screen, reduced tarzans language abilities considerably by inventing the allpurpose command ungawa, which could mean up, down, halt or go. He later created the role of jungle jim, a guide, for both television and motion pictures. For a little over two and half minutes, the two stars swim a very artistic choreographed routine underwater. Tarzan collection starring johnny weissmuller tarzan the ape. The original and definitive tarzan sound movie following several silent films on the same subject stuck fairly closely to the novel by edgar rice burroughs.
Tarzan and the ape man was mgm trying to capitalize on the success of the film trader horn director w. Sep, 2015 tarzan and the ape man was mgm trying to capitalize on the success of the film trader horn director w. A handsome and muscular swimming star, weissmuller makes a perfect tarzan. That kind of sums up the dynamics of 1932s tarzan, the ape man, which stars an incredibly hulking johnny weissmuller as tarzan and maureen osullivan as the gorgeous accidental feminist who finds true love with youknowwho in the jungle. For weissmuller, it was just the first of twelve tarzan films he. His acting career took wing when he signed a sevenyear contract with metrogoldwynmayer and played the role of tarzan in tarzan the ape man 1932. The man many of us knew as tarzan, the man who fought lions and crocodiles, and flew through the trees on vines, was just as extraordinary in real life as the character he played in the movies. A trader and his daughter set off in search of the fabled graveyard of the elephants in deepest africa, only to encounter a wild man raised by apes. The early 1930s brought a second career for weissmuller, who in 1932 made his debut as edgar rice burroughs tarzan in the film version of tarzan the ape man, opposite maureen osullivan, who played jane. After tarzan johnny weissmuller kidnaps jane maureen osullivan, she gradually warms to him, and when he sympathizes and returns her to her father, they do not want to part. The johnny weissmuller tarzan movies are probably the most famous of all the different versions that have been made of the famous jungle dweller. Weissmullers tarzan was pure existence, a sort of degree zero transmuted onto the figure and motions of an adonislike man.
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