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IMDbPro

Tarzan the Ape Man

  • 19321932
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
7.7K
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
ActionAdventureRomance
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
7.7K
YOUR RATING
    • W.S. Van Dyke
    • Edgar Rice Burroughs(based upon the characters created by)
    • Cyril Hume(adaptation)
    • Ivor Novello(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Johnny Weissmuller
    • Neil Hamilton
    • C. Aubrey Smith
    • W.S. Van Dyke
    • 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
    • 62User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:44
    Watch 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
    • Tarzan
    Neil Hamilton
    Neil Hamilton
    • Harry Holt
    C. Aubrey Smith
    C. Aubrey Smith
    • James Parker
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Jane Parker
    Doris Lloyd
    Doris Lloyd
    • Mrs. Cutten
    Forrester Harvey
    Forrester Harvey
    • Beamish
    Ivory Williams
    • Riano
    Franz Balluck
    • Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Charles Becker
    • Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Buresh
    • Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Corrigan
    Ray Corrigan
    • Ape
    • (uncredited)
    Billy Curtis
    Billy Curtis
    • Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Eck
    Johnny Eck
    • Bird Creature
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph Herbst
    • Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Jiggs
    Jiggs
    • Cheeta
    • (uncredited)
    Johnny Leal
    • Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Leonard
    • Ape
    • (uncredited)
    Angelo Rossitto
    Angelo Rossitto
    • Evil Dwarf
    • (uncredited)
      • W.S. Van Dyke
      • Edgar Rice Burroughs(based upon the characters created by)
      • Cyril Hume(adaptation)
      • Ivor Novello(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more 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 reviews62

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Grand daddy of all ape man movies is a rousing adventure and worth a viewing (especially if you want to see where all the jokes came from)
    Jane Parker goes into the jungle and meets the man of her dreams. A long running movie series is born.

    All kidding aside this is a really good adventure film of the sort that they don't make any more. The first of the MGM series, though not the first Tarzan movie, nor the only Tarzan film made during the same period (Edgar Rice Burroughs had deals with several producers) this is the film that broke box office records and spawned ten million "Me Tarzan, you Jane" jokes.

    The film was made to cash in the previous years Trader Horn, a jungle picture that MGM had produced. Wanting to feed a public that wanted more as well as to make use of the hours of location footage shot for that film. The ape man was the perfect choice.

    The plot has to do with Jane arriving in the jungle to see her father and then going of to find the elephant grave yard. Along the way is carried off by Tarzan and the rest is the movie. Its an exciting ride (especially if you forgive the creaky special effects and ape suits).

    A perfect film for a rainy afternoon
    helpful•24
    4
    • dbborroughs
    • Sep 23, 2006

    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)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Silver Springs, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 40 minutes

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