IMDb > Tarzan of the Apes (1918)

Tarzan of the Apes (1918) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
6.0/10   181 votes
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Director:
Scott Sidney
Writers:
Edgar Rice Burroughs (novel)
Fred Miller (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Tarzan of the Apes on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 January 1918 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Adventure more
Tagline:
With an unusually brilliant cast including...[list of cast members]...and 500 others more
Plot:
The plot follows the novel more closely than does any other Tarzan movie. John and Alice Clayton take ship for Africa... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
For 1918, this is cool stuff.... more (9 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Elmo Lincoln ... Tarzan
Enid Markey ... Jane Porter
True Boardman ... John Clayton, Lord Greystoke
Kathleen Kirkham ... Alice Clayton, Lady Greystoke
George B. French ... Binns, a sailor
Gordon Griffith ... Tarzan, younger
Colin Kenny ... Greystoke's nephew
Thomas Jefferson ... Professor Porter
Bessie Toner ... Bar Maid
Jack Wilson ... Captain of the Fuwalda
Louis Morrison ... Innkeeper
Eugene Pallette
Fred L. Wilson
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
73 min
Country:
USA
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Silent
Filming Locations:
Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA more
Company:
National Film Corporation of America more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Over 300 locals in Morgan City, LA, were hired as cannibal extras for $1.75 a day. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Pineapple Express (2008) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
For 1918, this is cool stuff...., 20 August 2009
9/10
Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

If someone watches this film and starts looking for shortcomings, they'll probably find a reasonable amount. However, considering the film was made in 1918, it's an amazingly good film--even with its few mistakes and cheesy touches--which, relative to other films of the day, were few.

This original Tarzan film was made in Louisiana. I live in Florida and I could tell by looking at the plants that it was filmed in this part of the USA, but considering that many later Tarzan films were filmed with houseplants all over the set, the backwoods of Louisiana (with all its Spanish moss) was a good choice for a domestic production. As far as the wild animals go, it was a mixed bag. Unfortunately, the elephant was an Asian elephant but I can't blame the film makers too much--the African variety are a lot nastier and dangerous. What I can blame them for, a bit, are the apes that adopt Tarzan. They are clearly people in cheap ape costumes--that look neither like gorillas or chimps--just people in ape costumes! But once again, given the technology of the era, it isn't that bad--plus, Stanley Kubrick did the same thing in 2001 and it's considered a masterpiece!! As for the plot, aside from the addition of a character and a few other small changes, it is essentially Edgar Rice Burroughs' book come to life. It's actually much more accurate than many of the later versions and because it stays closer to the book, it is more interesting and watchable...and less silly. In fact, as far as the writing, direction and acting go, it was all very, very good for such an early full-length film--and a lot better than the gobs of Tarzan films from the 1950s and 60s.

Overall, very good and very interesting.

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