"Tarzan The Apeman" is the original Tarzan classic starring Olympic swimming sensation Johnny Weissmuller. It was also the first Tarzan film to feature sound. Released by MGM in 1932 it was a movie milestone in its day, pleasing audiences worldwide & laying the foundations for our popular loincloth jungle hero. Today, it still stands alone as a very entertaining jungle adventure & possibly still the best in the popular long-running series of Tarzan films.
In this Tarzan adventure we see the beautiful Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan) & her father set out on an African expedition in search of the legendary elephant graveyard. During the expedition Tarzan abducts Jane & we hear for the first-time the immortal words spoken by the apeman, "Me Tarzan, You Jane". From this moment on, the tender romance between the wild jungle man & the educated Englishwoman begins to develop. In the exciting finale members of the expedition are captured by a band of vicious Pygmies. Tarzan is called to the rescue by his faithful companion Cheetah. During the rescue we witness the famous elephant stampede & Tarzan's fight to the death with a gorilla.
The film's success can be largely attributed to the outstanding chemistry between Weissmuller & O'Sullivan. Weissmuller has a likeable screen presence & moves through the film with style & grace, while O'Sullivan exudes innocent sex appeal & charm. The duo went on to star in five successful MGM sequels & Weissmuller starred without O'Sullivan, in another six adventures for RKO.
Tarzan is one of the most successful screen characters in cinema history. Weissmuller's famous jungle-cry, heard for the first-time in this film, has been imitated by audiences for decades. "Tarzan The Apeman" has just the right blend of action, romance & adventure, complemented with scenic locations & outstanding animal footage. Young viewers should not let the age of this film (1932) put them off watching it. "Tarzan The Apeman" is a cinematic classic worthy of your attention.