''Tarzan of the Apes'' is a

1918 This year is noted for the end of the First World War, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as well as for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50–100 million people worldwide. Events Below, the even ...

American

action Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fil ...

adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme ...

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

directed by

Scott Sidney Scott Sidney (1872 – 20 July 1928), born Harry Wilbur Siggins, was an American film director. He directed 117 films between 1913 and 1927. He died in London, England, United Kingdom. Selected filmography Director * ''The Adventures of ...

starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, George B. French and Gordon Griffith. It was the first

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton II, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adv ...

film ever made and is based on

Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 – March 19, 1950) was an American author, best known for his prolific output in the adventure, science fiction, and fantasy genres. Best-known for creating the characters Tarzan and John Carter, ...

' original 1912 novel ''

Tarzan of the Apes ''Tarzan of the Apes'' is a 1912 story by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the first in the Tarzan series. It was first serialized in the pulp magazine ''The All-Story'' beginning October 1912 before being released as a novel in June 1 ...

''. The film adapts only the first part of the novel, the remainder becoming the basis for the sequel, ''

The Romance of Tarzan ''The Romance of Tarzan'' is a 1918 American silent action adventure film directed by Wilfred Lucas starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, Thomas Jefferson, and Cleo Madison. The movie was the second Tarzan movie ever made, and is based on Edgar ...

''. The film is considered the most faithful to the novel of all the film adaptations. Its most notable plot change is the introduction of the character Binns and his role in bringing the Porters to Africa; the novel brought them there through the improbable coincidence of a second mutiny. The role of Tarzan was given to Gordon Griffith, one of the best child actors of the time, and to Elmo Lincoln, an actor who specialized in "strong man" roles. Enid Markey was the first Jane. Especially for Griffith and Lincoln the film represented a huge personal success, which gave them the opportunity to shoot other important films and guaranteed their presence in three sequels: ''

'' (1918), ''

The Son of Tarzan ''The Son of Tarzan'' is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was written between January 21 and May 11, 1915, and first published in the magazine ' ...

'' (1920), and '' The Adventures of Tarzan'' (1921).

Plot

John and Alice Clayton, Lord and Lady Greystoke (

True Boardman William True Boardman (April 21, 1882 – September 28, 1918) was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1911 and 1919 before falling victim to the 1918 flu pandemic. Biography True Boardman wa ...

and

Kathleen Kirkham Kathleen Kirkham Woodruff (April 15, 1895 – November 7, 1961) was an American actress on stage and in silent films. Career Kathleen Kirkham was born on April 15, 1895 to Mrs. L.B. Kirkham, who was a stage actress prior to her marriage. Kirkh ...

), are passengers on the ''Fuwalda'', a ship bound for Africa. When the vessel is taken over by mutineers the sailor Binns ( George B. French) saves them from being murdered, but they are marooned on the tropical coast. After their deaths their infant son is adopted by Kala, an ape, who raises him as her own. The young Tarzan ( Gordon Griffith) grows to maturity among the apes, becoming their king. Binns, returning to find the Claytons after ten years’ captivity among the Arabs, discovers the ape man and travels to England to report his survival to his family. An expedition led by scientist Professor Porter (Thomas Jefferson) is launched to investigate. Meanwhile, Kala has been killed by a native, who is killed in turn by the now-adult Tarzan ( Elmo Lincoln). The villagers kidnap Porter's daughter

Jane Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name * Jane (surname), related to the given name Film and television * Jane (1915 film), ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd * Jane (2016 film), ''Jane'' (20 ...

( Enid Markey); Tarzan rescues and romances her, and she comes to accept his love.

Cast

Production

Burroughs sold the film rights to William Parson for $5,000 plus

stock In finance, stock (also capital stock) consists of all the shares by which ownership of a corporation or company is divided.Longman Business English Dictionary: "stock - ''especially AmE'' one of the shares into which ownership of a compan ...

worth $50,000 plus 10% of the gross, in a period when film rights were normally sold only for $100 to $500, with rights eventually reverting to Burroughs. ''Tarzan of the Apes'' was filmed in 1917 in

Morgan City, Louisiana Morgan City is a small Citibank, city in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, St. Mary and lower St. Martin parishes in the U.S. state, U.S. State of Louisiana. The population was 12,404 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Known for being “rig ...

, utilizing Louisiana swamps as a stand-in for the African jungle. A large portion of Griffith's role as young Tarzan is played in the nude, making ''Tarzan of the Apes'' one of the first films to feature a named actor in a nude scene. Most shots featuring Griffith in the nude are framed to hide his genitals, with the exception of one shot in which his penis is briefly visible. The film also includes brief scenes of female toplessness.

Reception

Like many American films of the time, ''Tarzan of the Apes'' was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For showing in Chicago, its Board of Censors cut: "in Reel 1, the captain shooting man and his falling, two scenes of men with captain being shot and falling, striking man on head, Reel 3, scene of boy being frightened by lion and jumping up showing his sex, woman standing over kettle showing breasts, Reel 5, first two scenes of maid on man's lap in closet, three choking scenes, Reel 7, two closeups of Negro leering at woman and four scenes where he carries her off."

References

External links

*
ERBzine.com Silver Screen: ''Tarzan of the Apes''
* * {{Scott Sidney 1918 films 1910s action adventure films American action adventure films American black-and-white films American silent feature films Articles containing video clips Films based on American novels Films directed by Scott Sidney Films shot in Louisiana First National Pictures films Surviving American silent films Tarzan films Censored films 1910s American films Silent adventure films