"Tarzan" Movies Page at Spirit of America Bookstore

           The basic story or 'origin myth' was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in the original "Tarzan of The Apes" novel of 1912. Lord Greystoke of England and his wife (John and Alice Clayton) are marooned in Africa by pirates and give birth to a son. He survives but they do not. The boy is raised by a great ape, and discovers his real parents' cabin, where he teaches himself to read. Attacked by a rogue gorilla, Tarzan survives because he has his father's knife. Tarzan's innate superior intelligence and learned jungle skills naturally lead to him becoming King of the Apes. He leads them in forays against the mostly-nasty nearby black African tribes.
           Another party of whites is marooned nearby on the African coast; among the party are the beautiful American Jane Porter and Tarzan's cousin William Cecil Clayton, unwitting usurper of the Greystoke title and estate. Tarzan watches over them, aiding them in secret, and saving Jane from peril several times; the party is rescued while Tarzan is absent. Tarzan rescues Belgian trader Paul D'Arnot, who teaches Tarzan French and also how to behave among 'civilized' people, while Tarzan protects and guides D'Arnot on his travels.
           Tarzan folows after Jane to America, to Baltimore and then to Wisconsin, where he learns that she is now engaged to marry William Clayton. D'Arnot makes use of evidence from the jungle cabin to prove that Tarzan is the heir to the Greystoke title and fortune, but Tarzan renounces his inheritance (and European civilization) for the sake of Jane's happiness, then returns to 'uncivilized' Africa.
           The first Tarzan book was a bestseller; Burroughs wrote another thirty Tarzan novels (plus three published posthumously), while also writing the Mars-Barsoom, Venus, and Pellucidar books series, and other fiction. The Tarzan comic strip (Sundays in color) ran for 70 years and continues today in reprints.

History of The Films Days after

The "Tarzan" Movies
from the Silent Era to the Talkies, to Television, and to later live and animated feature films

"Tarzan of The Apes" silent feature
[N.F.C.A./First National Jan 1918]

Tarzan of The Apes [1918] silent movie poster

Originally three hours long, only 73 minutes now exist; mostly filmed around Morgan City, Louisiana. Marooned in Africa, parents dead, a young white boy is raised by an ape. Using his father's knife, the grown Tarzan becomes King of The Apes. A sailor escapes from many years of slavery and reports of Tarzan's existence in England. A scientist arrives to investigate the white jungle lord; his daughter Jane is carried off, and Tarzan rescues her. Directed by Scott Sidney; starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, True Boardman, Kathleen Kirkham, George B. French, Gordon Griffith (as young Tarzan), Colin Kenny & Thomas Jefferson
DVD not available; Madacy b&w VHS [9/97] out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb

"The Romance of Tarzan" silent feature
[N.F.C.A./First National Oct 1918]

tinted glass slide for "The Romance of Tarzan" [1918] silent movie

Ready to set sail for England, the Greystokes & Jane are attacked by natives, and Tarzan is believed killed. Jane returns to her ranch in America; Tarzan appears wearing a tuxedo and rescues her from outlaws. Jane is jealous of another woman; Tarzan becomes disgusted with civilization and returns to Africa; Jane realizes her error and follows after him. Co-written & directed by Wilfred Lucas; starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, True Boardman, Kathleen Kirkham, Cleo Madison, George B. French, Gordon Griffith (as young Tarzan), Colin Kenny & Thomas Jefferson
video/DVD not available {this film is considered lost}; full credits from IMDb

"The Son of Tarzan" 15-chapter silent serial
[N.F.C.A. May 1920]

poster for Chapter 6 of "The Son of Tarzan" 1920 silent movie serial

Arch-enemy Paulovitch kidnaps Tarzan's son Jack, who escapes with the help of a trained ape into the African jungle. Jack meets Meriem, a white girl held by Arabs; he frees her and falls in love; Paulovitz wants the girl (really an heiress) too; Tarzan arrives with Jane and intervenes. Chapter Titles: 1. The Call of The Jungle; 2. Out of The Lion's Jaws; 3. Girl of The Jungle; 4. The Sheik's Revenge; 5. The Pirate's Prey; 6. The Killer's Mate; 7. The Quest of The Killer; 8. The Coming of Tarzan; 9. The Kiss of The Beast; 10. Tarzan Takes The Trail; 11. Ashes of Love; 12. Meriem's Ride In The Night; 13. Double Crossed; 14. Blazing Hearts; and 15. An Amazing Denouement Co-directed by Arthur J. Flaven & Harry Revier; starring Kamuela C. Searle (as Jack), Manilla Martan, Eugene Burr, P. Dempsey Tabler (as Tarzan ), Karla Schramm, Gordon Griffith (as young Jack), Mae Giraci, Frank Morrell & Ray Thompson
Alpha Video b&w DVD [1/2009] 4 hours for $6.98
full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"The Adventures of Tarzan" silent serial
[Numa/Great Western Dec 1921]

Adventures of Tarzan 1921 silent serial starring Elmo Lincoln

Originally 15 chapters; recent restoration is 10 chapters. Chapter Titles: 1. Jungle Romance; 2. City of Gold; 3. Sun Death; 4. The Stalking Death; 5. Flames of Hate; 6. The Ivory Tomb; 7. The Jungle Trap; 8. The Tornado; 9. Fangs of the Lion; 10. The Simoon; 11. The Hidden Arrows; 12. The Dynamite Trail; 13. The Jungle's Prey; 14. Flaming Arrows; and 15. The Last Adventure Directed by Robert F. Hill & Scott Sidney; based on the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs; starring Elmo Lincoln, Louise Lorraine, Scott Pembroke, Frank Whitson, George Monberg & Lillian Worth
Hermitage Hill Media b&w DVD [9/2008] 2 disks for $17.99
full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Tarzan and The Golden Lion" silent feature
[F.B.O./Robertson-Cole March 1927]

The only known print is French. A prisoner of white diamond miners escapes and tells Tarzan of the diamond mine beneath a secret temple of sun-worshippers. Other thieves overhear the tale and capture Jane & two visitors and demand that they lead the gang to the temple. Tarzan and his pet lion rescue them just before the girl is to be sacrificed to the lion-god. Directed by J.P. McGowan; script by William E. Wing, loosely based on the 1923 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs; starring James Pierce, Frederick Peters, Edna Murphy, Harold Goodwin, Dorothy Dunbar, D'Arcy Corrigan, Boris Karloff & Robert Bolder
Alpha Video b&w DVD [7/2006] for $7.98
full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Tarzan The Tiger" 15-chapter silent serial
[Universal Oct 1929]

Released as a silent film as well as a 'sound' version (a rough musical score, sound effects cues, and a few lines of dialogue on a phonograph record); once-lost film, now in the public domain. Arabs destroy Tarzan's home and sell Jane into slavery. Tarzan is hit on the head and suffers amnesia for a while, then recovers from another blow to the head. He then defeats the villain, recovers the fabulous jewels of Opar, and rescues Jane. Chapter Titles: 1. Call of The Jungle; 2. The Road To Opar; 3. The Altar of The Flaming God; 4. The Vengeance of La; 5. Condemned To Death; 6. Tantor The Terror; 7. The Deadly Peril; 8. Loop of Death; 9. Flight of Werper; 10. Prisoner of The Apes; 11. The Jaws of Death; 12. The Jewels of Opar; 13. A Human Sacrifice; 14. Tarzan's Rage; and 15. Tarzan's Triumph
Co-produced & directed by Henry MacRae; based on the 1916 novel "Tarzan and The Jewels of Opar" by Edgar Rice Burroughs; starring Frank Merrill, Natalie Kingston, Al Ferguson, Mademoiselle Kithnou, Sheldon Lewis, Paul Panzer & Clive Morgan
Alpha Home Ent. b&w DVD [10/2006] for $7.98
United Home Video b&w VHS [7/97] 2 tapes - out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia

"Tarzan The Ape Man" [M.G.M. 1932] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Ape-Man-Johnny-Weissmuller/dp/B00004RP6R/ VHS

"Tarzan The Fearless" [1933 public domain film] starring Buster Crabbe
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Fearless-Crabbe/dp/6301395077/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Fearless-Buster-Crabbe-Jacqueline/dp/B00001U0G9/ new VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Fearless-B-Buster-Crabbe/dp/6304819617/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Fearless-Buster-Crabbe-Bishop/dp/B001JP645U/ DVD

"Tarzan & His Mate" [M.G.M. 1934] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-His-Mate-Johnny-Weissmuller/dp/6302120438/ VHS

"The New Adventures of Tarzan" [1935 public domain film]
70-minute feature edited down from the 12-chapter serial, starring Bruce Bennett
http://www.amazon.com/New-Adventures-Tarzan-Bruce-Bennett/dp/6302458846/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Adventure-Bennett-Herman-Castello/dp/B00001U0OU/ new VHS
http://www.amazon.com/New-Adventures-Tarzan/dp/B0002T7YY4/ DVD

"Tarzan Escapes" [M.G.M. 1936] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Escapes-Johnny-Weissmuller/dp/6302120462/ new VHS

"Tarzan and The Green Goddess" [1938 public domain film] starring Bruce Bennett
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Green-Goddess-Bruce-Bennett/dp/B00005LKKY/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Green-Goddess-Herman-Bennett/dp/B00001U0H8/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Green-Goddess-B-W/dp/B000065NBH/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Green-Goddess-Herman-Brix/dp/B000MV9OEU/ DVD
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Green-Goddess-Herman-Brix/dp/B000QRIK8Q/ DVD

"Tarzan's Revenge" [1938 public domain film] starring Glenn Morris
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Revenge-Morris-Eleanor-Barbier/dp/B00001U0G8/ new VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Revenge-Glenn-Morris/dp/6304558708/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Revenge-Glenn-Morris/dp/B000QRIKRC/ DVD
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Revenge-DVD-Remastered-A2ZCDS-com/dp/B00083B94U/ remastered DVD
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Revenge-Glenn-Morris/dp/B0006SST4K/ DVD
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Revenge-Glenn-Morris/dp/B000X7SBYC/ DVD

"Tarzan Finds A Son!" [M.G.M. 1939] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Finds-Son-Johnny-Weissmuller/dp/6302605164/ VHS

"Tarzan's Secret Treasure" [M.G.M. 1941] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-Secret-Treasure-Johnny-Weissmuller/dp/6302605172/ VHS

"Tarzan's New York Adventure" [M.G.M. 1942] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzans-York-Adventure-Johnny-Weissmuller/dp/6302605180/ VHS

"Tarzan" [1943]
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Johnny-Weissmuller/dp/6301976398/ VHS

"Tarzan Triumphs" [R.K.O. 1943] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above

"Tarzan's Desert Mystery" [R.K.O. 1943] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above

"Tarzan and The Amazons" [R.K.O. 1945] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above

"Tarzan and The Leopard Woman" [R.K.O. 1946] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above

"Tarzan and The Huntress" [R.K.O. 1947] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above

"Tarzan and The Mermaids" [R.K.O. 1948] starring Johnny Weissmuller
available on Weissmuller/Tarzan DVD box set above

"Tarzan and The Trappers" [1958 public domain film] starring Gordon Scott
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Trappers-Gordon-Scott-Brent/dp/B00001U0H7/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Trappers-Gordon-Scott/dp/B00000FE08/ VHS
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Trappers-Gordon-Scott/dp/B000QJMDBY/ DVD
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Trappers-Gordon-Scott/dp/B000X9PRGA/ DVD

"Tarzan, The Ape Man" [M.G.M. Aug 1981]
Directed by John Derek; starring Bo Derek, Richard Harris, John Phillip Law & Miles O'Keeffe {as Tarzan};
nominated for 6 Razzie Awards; full credits from IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Ape-Man-Bo-Derek/dp/B0001NBLZ4/ DVD
http://www.amazon.com/Tarzan-Ape-Man-Bo-Derek/dp/6301977483/ VHS

"Tarzan In Manhattan"
[CBS-TV broadcast April 1989]

A light-weight comedy; hunky Tarzan travels to America to rescue Cheetah and meets feminist Jane, who drives a New York City cab. Directed by Michael Schultz; starring Joe Lara, Kim Crosby, James Medina, Jan-Michael Vincent, Joe Seneca & Tony Curtis
Simitar Ent. color DVD [2/98] out of prodn/used
full credits from IMDb

"Tarzan At The Movies"
[Passport Intl. Ent. June 1996 video release]
Written, directed & edited by Phillip Dye; with archival footage of Lex Barker, Bruce Bennett, Buster Crabbe, Ron Ely, Mike Henry,
Elmo Lincoln, Jock Mahoney, Frank Merrill, Denny Miller, Glenn Morris, Gordon Scott & Johnny Weissmuller; video/DVD not available
"Part 1: Johnny Weissmuller" full credits from IMDb
"Part 2: The Many Faces of Tarzan" full credits from IMDb

"Tarzan: The Legacy of Edgar Rice Burroughs"
[A&E tv movie Nov 1996]
Hosted by Peter Graves; interviewees include Ron Ely, Miles O'Keeffe, Maureen O'Sullivan & Bo Derek
video/DVD not available; full credits from IMDb

"Tarzan The Series" [Warner Bros. TV launched Oct 2003]
Eight episodes starring Travis Fimmel, Sarah Wayne Callies, Mitch Pileggi, Miguel A. Nuńez Jr
& Lucy Lawless; video/DVD not available; series credits from IMDb

"Tarzan: Silver Screen King of The Jungle"
[indep documentary June 2004]
Written & directed by John Rust; available as part of Tarzan/Weissmuller Collection DVD set {above}
full credits from IMDb

new Tarzan animated film in 3-D [Germany 2012?]
Announced August 2010: Constantin Films of Germany has acquired from the estate of author Edgar Rice Burroughs
the animation rights to the popular 'Tarzan' novels; a new feature film will be released in 2012 (to capitalize on
Tarzan’s 100th anniversary) and will be in English and in 3-D

	"Edgar Rice Burroughs and Tarzan: A Biography of The Author and His Creation" [2003] by Robert W. Fenton McFarland & Co. 7x10 hardcover [2/2003] for $35.00
	"Edgar Rice Burroughs and The Silent Screen, 1917-1929" [2002] by Jerry L. Schneider Imprintbooks 10x7 pb [6/2003] for $25.99 author's website

	"Tarzan of The Movies: A Pictorial History of More Than Fifty Years of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Legendary Hero" [1968] by Gabe Essoe Citadel/Lyle Stuart hardcover [6/68] out of print/used
	"Kings of The Jungle: An Illustrated Reference To Tarzan On Screen & Television" [1994] by David Fury McFarland & Co. 10x7 pb [4/2001] for $25.00 McFarland & Co. hardcover [1/94] out of print/used
	"Tarzan, My Father" [2002] by Johnny Weissmuller Jr., with William & W. Craig Reed E.C.W. Press 9x6 pb [2/2008] for $18.21 E.C.W. Press 8¾x6 hardcover [10/2002] for $18.96

	"The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller" box set [2004] Volume 1 includes "Tarzan The Ape Man" [1932]; "Tarzan & His Mate" [1934]; "Tarzan Escapes" [1936]; "Tarzan Finds A Son!" [1939]; "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" [1941]; "Tarzan's New York Adventure" [1942]; plus many extras, including the new documentary "Tarzan: Silver Screen King of The Jungle" Warner Home Video b&w DVD [6/2004] 4 disks for $28.99
	"The Tarzan Collection Starring Johnny Weissmuller" box set [2006] Volume 2 includes "Tarzan Triumphs" [1943]; "Tarzan's Desert Mystery" [1943]; "Tarzan and The Amazons" [1945]; "Tarzan and The Leopard Woman" [1946]; "Tarzan and The Huntress" [1947]; and "Tarzan and The Mermaids" [1948] Warner Home Video color DVD [10/2006] 3 disks for $21.49
	"A.M.C. Tarzan of the Apes Collection" DVD box set [2006] Arts Alliance DVD [10/2006] 2 disks for $9.96 includes five public domain films: "Tarzan The Fearless" [1933] starring Buster Crabbe; "New Adventures of Tarzan" [1935] 70-minute feature edited down from the 12-chapter serial, starring Bruce Bennett; "Tarzan and The Green Goddess" [1938] starring Bruce Bennett; "Tarzan's Revenge" [1938] starring Glenn Morris; and "Tarzan and The Trappers" [1958] starring Gordon Scott "Tarzan: King of The Jungle" DVD set [2006]: same five public domain films Passport Video DVD set [12/2007] 5 disks for $17.99 PopFlix DVD set [10/2006] 2 disks for $9.98

Spirit of America Bookstore"Tarzan" Movies

Spirit of America Bookstore
"Tarzan" Movies