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IMDbPro

Tarzan the Ape Man

  • 19321932
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
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.
Play trailer2:44
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Romance
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • W.S. Van Dyke
  • Writers
    • Edgar Rice Burroughs(based upon the characters created by)
    • Cyril Hume(adaptation)
    • Ivor Novello(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Johnny Weissmuller
    • Neil Hamilton
    • C. Aubrey Smith
Top credits
  • Director
    • W.S. Van Dyke
  • Writers
    • Edgar Rice Burroughs(based upon the characters created by)
    • Cyril Hume(adaptation)
    • Ivor Novello(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Johnny Weissmuller
    • Neil Hamilton
    • C. Aubrey Smith
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 57User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:44
    Official Trailer

    Photos100

    Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
    "Tarzan the Ape Man" 1932 Lobby Card
    "Tarzan the Ape Man" Maureen O'Sullivan, Cheetah 1932 MGM
    "Tarzan the Ape Man" Maureen O'Sullivan, Cheetah, Johnny Weissmuller 1932 MGM
    "Tarzan" Maureen O'Sullivan, Cheetah, Johnny Weissmuller circa 1930s
    Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
    Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
    Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
    Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
    Maureen O'Sullivan, Neil Hamilton, and C. Aubrey Smith in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
    Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
    Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Johnny Weissmuller
    Johnny Weissmuller
    • Tarzanas Tarzan
    Neil Hamilton
    Neil Hamilton
    • Harry Holtas Harry Holt
    C. Aubrey Smith
    C. Aubrey Smith
    • James Parkeras James Parker
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Jane Parkeras Jane Parker
    Doris Lloyd
    Doris Lloyd
    • Mrs. Cuttenas Mrs. Cutten
    Forrester Harvey
    Forrester Harvey
    • Beamishas Beamish
    Ivory Williams
    • Rianoas Riano
    Franz Balluck
    • Evil Dwarfas Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Becker
    • Evil Dwarfas Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Buresh
    • Evil Dwarfas Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Corrigan
    Ray Corrigan
    • Apeas Ape
    • (uncredited)
    Billy Curtis
    Billy Curtis
    • Evil Dwarfas Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Eck
    Johnny Eck
    • Bird Creatureas Bird Creature
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph Herbst
    • Evil Dwarfas Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Jiggs
    Jiggs
    • Cheetaas Cheeta
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Leal
    • Evil Dwarfas Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Leonard
    • Apeas Ape
    • (uncredited)
    Angelo Rossitto
    Angelo Rossitto
    • Evil Dwarfas Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • W.S. Van Dyke
    • Writers
      • Edgar Rice Burroughs(based upon the characters created by)
      • Cyril Hume(adaptation)
      • Ivor Novello(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tarzan's distinctive call was either created by sound recordist Douglas Shearer from various sounds, or it was indeed Johnny Weissmuller doing the yell himself. Co-star Maureen O'Sullivan insisted throughout her life that it was Weissmuller doing the yell without any technical assistance. Johnny Weissmuller explained on the Mike Douglas show that he was the one that did the yell, which he did on the show.
    • Goofs
      While swimming across a river, Tarzan gives off his full Tarzan yell while his head is completely submerged under water.
    • Quotes

      Jane Parker: Thank you for protecting me.

      Tarzan: Me?

      Jane Parker: I said, thank you for protecting me.

      Tarzan: [points at Jane] Me?

      Jane Parker: No. I'm only "Me" for me.

      Tarzan: [points at Jane] Me.

      Jane Parker: No. To you, I'm "You."

      Tarzan: [points at himself] You.

      Jane Parker: No...

      [Thinks for a second]

      Jane Parker: I'm Jane Parker. Understand? Jane, Jane.

      Tarzan: [points at Jane] Jane, Jane.

      Jane Parker: Yes, Jane. And you?

      [Tarzan stares]

      Jane Parker: [points at herself] Jane.

      Tarzan: Jane.

      Jane Parker: [points at Tarzan] And you?

      Tarzan: Tarzan. Tarzan.

      Jane Parker: Tarzan...

    • Alternate versions
      Colorized version was available... and shown on TNT
    • Connections
      Edited into Tarzan Escapes (1936)
    • Soundtracks
      Voo-Doo Dance
      (uncredited)

      Music by George Richelavie

      Arranged by Paul Marquardt & Fritz Stahlberg

      Played during main title

    User reviews57

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "Me Tarzan, You Jane" Make Big Box Office
    I hadn't seen Johnny Weissmuller's debut film Tarzan The Ape Man for many years so I was struck by the fact that Neil Hamilton and Maureen O'Sullivan got first billing with Weissmuller down the opening credits in an 'introducing' category. As if no one in America, let alone the movie going public didn't know who Johnny Weissmuller was.

    The fuss over swimming champion Michael Phelps is nothing compared to what Johnny Weissmuller's celebrity was like. In the Roaring Twenties when each sport seemed to have an icon that became a legend, Weissmuller was that for swimming. The records he set in the Olympics stood for many years, with today's athlete conditioning methods I can only speculate what he could do today if he were alive and in his prime.

    Still Louis B. Mayer was nothing if not cautious in protecting an investment in a non-actor to be a lead in a major film. He kept Weissmuller's dialog to grunts, guttural jungle utterings, and a few choice words that Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane teaches her new jungle man toy.

    With tons of footage left over from MGM's African location film of Trader Horn, Tarzan The Ape Man had all the background needed to make the film look good. It's fairly obvious that when you see shots of Neil Hamilton and Maureen O'Sullivan they're shot against a background of real natives. They never got further to Africa than Toluca Lake in the shooting.

    It's also obvious that Weissmuller couldn't act at all which was why he was only given grunts and dialog of one and two words. Later on he did become a competent enough actor. But quite frankly who cared when they saw him in a loin cloth.

    Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane Parker comes to Africa to visit her father C. Aubrey Smith and she finds that Smith and his partner Neil Hamilton are planning an expedition into some unexplored territory in search of the fabled elephant's graveyard. A lot of loose ivory to be picked up there without the danger of actually trying to kill the beasts. Hamilton's interested in her, but when white jungle man Tarzan rescues O'Sullivan, Hamilton doesn't have a prayer.

    Tarzan The Ape Man is still an exciting adventure film even to today's more sophisticated eyes. And Weissmuller and O'Sullivan's appeal as a romantic couple is timeless.

    All right so they haven't got the dialog from Romeo and Juliet, who cares?
    helpful•11
    5
    • bkoganbing
    • Jun 24, 2009

    FAQ10

    • Is "Tarzan" based on a book?
    • Is this the first Tarzan movie?
    • Why is Jane in Africa?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 2, 1932 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tarzan, the Ape Man
    • Filming locations
      • Silver Springs, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $652,675 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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