Review of Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) by Art S — 09 Nov 2015

Strange blend of previously shot footage of African animals and natives (both treated badly and with disrespect) and live action involving Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan and Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane Parker, some actual chimpanzees and elephants and some guys in monkey suits.

When Jane joins her father (C. Aubrey Smith) in the jungle where he is searching for the secret "elephants' graveyard" to score a huge stockpile of ivory, she is unexpectedly abducted by an ape man.

Although the hunters try their best to get her back (including shooting Tarzan and killing some of his friends), she falls in love with Tarzan and eventually decides to stay in the jungle with him, even though they can barely communicate.

Obviously, Stockholm syndrome is involved. Despite its flaws and overall sloppiness, the movie does have a raw, rough and ready feel for action (it has some zing) and there are some peaceful establishing shots.

This was probably fun for the audiences in 1932 and Weissmuller made 11 sequels.