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Tarzan the Ape Man

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.

Director(s)

W.S. Van Dyke

Arthur Rose

Cast & Crew

C. Aubrey Smith

C. Aubrey Smith

James Parker

Forrester Harvey

Forrester Harvey

Beamish

Ray Corrigan

Ray Corrigan

Ape (uncredited)

Doris Lloyd

Doris Lloyd

Mrs. Cutten

Johnny Weissmüller

Johnny Weissmüller

Tarzan

Maureen O'Sullivan

Maureen O'Sullivan

Jane Parker

Neil Hamilton

Neil Hamilton

Harry Holt

Ivory Williams

Ivory Williams

Riano

Johnny Eck

Johnny Eck

Bird Creature (uncredited)

W.S. Van Dyke

W.S. Van Dyke

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Arthur Rose

Arthur Rose

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Details

GenresAction, Adventure
Runtime1h 40 mins
Released on22 Mar 1932
Languageen
Produced InUnited States of America

Reviews

CinemaSerf

7/10

By my reckoning, it takes around twenty-three minutes before our intrepid explorers C. Aubrey Smith ("Parker") and his on-screen daughter "Jane" (Maureen O'Sullivan) hear the jungle call of vine-swinging Johnny Weissmuller and the pace of this treasure hunt really starts to get going. Our travellers, alongside Neil Hamilton ("Holt") are in search of the legendary elephant's graveyard - riches beyond the dreams of avarice. Of course this journey through the hitherto unknown wilderness is perilous: lots of treacherous rivers, mountains and beasties - oh yes, lots and lots of hungry beauties. Much of the imagery is back shot (or stock footage) which isn't great, but there is still quite bit of chemistry once the agile and handsome "Tarzan" comes to the screen and kidnaps/rescued (depending on your point of view) the beautiful "Jane" and the stuff of cinema legend is established. The quality of the production struggles a bit 90-odd years later, but the story is a characterful boy meets girl affair with plenty of action, noise and a good bit of loin-cloth clad romance. I imagine that at the time, this may have been the first exposure many people would have had to a jungle scenario and it must have been quite exciting to watch... There are plot holes a-plenty, but I'd suggest that you don't judge it by modern standards (though I'd say it is still better than any of the 1981, 1984 or 2016 iterations). It's a fun adventure story that is there to be enjoyed on face value.

All Trailers

Tarzan the Ape Man Official Trailer #1 - C. Aubrey Smith Movie (1932) HD

Part of the Series

Tarzan and His Mate

Tarzan and His Mate

1934EN
Tarzan Escapes

Tarzan Escapes

1936EN
Tarzan Triumphs

Tarzan Triumphs

1943EN
Tarzan and the Huntress

Tarzan and the Huntress

1947EN
Tarzan and the Amazons

Tarzan and the Amazons

1945EN
Tarzan's Desert Mystery

Tarzan's Desert Mystery

1943EN
Tarzan and the Mermaids

Tarzan and the Mermaids

1948EN
Tarzan's New York Adventure

Tarzan's New York Adventure

1942EN
Tarzan Finds a Son!

Tarzan Finds a Son!

1939EN
Tarzan's Secret Treasure

Tarzan's Secret Treasure

1941EN, IT
Tarzan and the Leopard Woman

Tarzan and the Leopard Woman

1946EN