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IMDbPro

Tarzan the Ape Man

  • 1932
  • Passed
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
7.8K
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.

  • Director
    • W.S. Van Dyke
  • Writers
    • Edgar Rice Burroughs
    • Cyril Hume
    • Ivor Novello
  • Stars
    • Johnny Weissmuller
    • Neil Hamilton
    • C. Aubrey Smith
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    7.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • W.S. Van Dyke
    • Writers
      • Edgar Rice Burroughs
      • Cyril Hume
      • Ivor Novello
    • Stars
      • Johnny Weissmuller
      • Neil Hamilton
      • C. Aubrey Smith
    • 63User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    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)
    • Director
      • W.S. Van Dyke
    • Writers
      • Edgar Rice Burroughs
      • Cyril Hume
      • Ivor Novello
    • 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 reviews63

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Tarzan is a hit in movies
    Johnny Weissmuller,the former Olympic champion in swimming,makes his debut as Tarzan.The movie spawned a lot of sequels and Weissmuller continued as Tarzan for 11 more films during the next 16 years. I had seen this early and somewhat primitive talkie a couple of years back and found it hard to sit through.I decided I'd give it another chance and was surprised at how much more I enjoyed it.Weissmuller is stunning, he fits the part excellent and looks amazing.There's screen charisma by the thousands.Maureen O' Sullivan as Jane really made the role her own.The African footage, shot during the making of "Trader Horn" is exciting and must have been worth the ticket on its own back in the thirties.There's some bad rear-projection used,but it doesn't spoil the movie if you don't let it bother you. So enjoy this entertaining film.
    helpful•26
    5
    • nnnn45089191
    • Jan 30, 2007

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    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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