Tarzan the Ape Man

Directed by W.S. Van Dyke
Passed
1932    1h 40mAction, Adventure
6.988%69%6.6
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James Parker and Harry Holt are on an expedition in Africa in search of the elephant burial grounds that will provide enough ivory to make them rich. Parker's beautiful daughter Jane arrives unexpectedly to join them. Jane is terrified when Tarzan and his ape friends abduct her, but when she returns to her father's expedition she has second thoughts about leaving Tarzan.
  • Johnny WeissmüllerTarzan
  • Maureen O'SullivanJane Parker
  • Neil HamiltonHarry Holt
  • C. Aubrey SmithJames Parker
  • Doris LloydMrs. Cutten
  • Forrester HarveyBeamish
  • Ray CorriganApe (uncredited)
  • Ivory WilliamsRiano
  • Johnny EckBird Creature (uncredited)
  • W.S. Van DykeDirector
  • Ivor NovelloWriter
  • Cyril HumeWriter
  • Irving ThalbergExecutive Producer
  • Cedric GibbonsArt Direction
  • Harold RossonDirector Of Photography
  • Clyde De VinnaDirector Of Photography
  • Arthur RoseAssistant Director
  • Tom HeldEditor
  • Ben LewisEditor
  • Douglas ShearerSound
  • RichardAugust 12, 2025
    I still remember the first time I saw Tarzan the Ape Man as a kid, curled up on the couch, completely mesmerized by the wild jungle, the thrilling vine swings, and that unforgettable yell echoing through the trees. Johnny Weissmüller wasn’t just playing Tarzan, he was Tarzan. To me, and I suspect to many others who grew up with his films, he will always be the one and only Lord of the Jungle. Weissmüller’s athleticism, his primal charisma, and the raw simplicity of his portrayal made Tarzan feel real. There was something magical about the way he moved through the jungle, communicated with animals, and connected with Jane. It wasn’t just a movie, it was an adventure that made the wild feel like home. Even now, decades later, no other actor has captured the essence of Tarzan quite like Weissmüller. His version wasn’t polished or overly dramatic, it was instinctive, pure, and deeply human in its own wild way. Watching it again as an adult, I see the layers: the contrast between civilization and nature, the critique of greed, and the innocence of a man raised by apes. But as a kid? It was just magic. So yes, Johnny Weissmüller is, and will always be my Tarzan.

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