The Tarzans of The Movies

The longest continuing character in movie series history turned 90 in 2008. From Elmo Lincoln in 1918 to Disney's animated Tarzan in 1998. Sixteen actors portrayed the ape man on screen in over 50 motion pictures based on the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan debuted in 1912 in "Tarzan of the Apes" and many more Tarzan novels followed.

The most popular and famous Tarzan star was Johnny Weissmuller who appeared in 12 Tarzan films between 1932 and 1948. Lex Barker followed between 1949 to 1955 then Gordon Scott took over in 1955 to 1960 with Jock Mahoney, Mike Henry following in the 60's. Ron Ely starred as Tarzan on television in the early 60's with 2 episodes combined to make a theatrical feature thus he was included here as part of Tarzan of the movies.

In 1981 John Derek cast his sexy wife Bo in the lead as a nude Jane causing conroversy and a lawsuit by the Edgar Rice Burroughs Estate. Also in the 80's Christopher Lambert portrayed the apeman in Greystoke. The 90's brought Casper VanDien & Disney's animated Tarzan to the screen.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Tarzan
• Johnny
• Weissmuller
• Maureen
• O'Sullivan
• Lex
• Barker
• Gordon
• Scott
• Bruce
• Bennet
• Bo
• Derek
• Greystoke
• Elmo
• Lincoln
• Gene
• pollar
• Ron
• Ely
• Mike
• Henry
• Miles
• O'Keef
• Frank
• Merrill
• Glenn
• Morris
• Jock
• Mahoney
• Casper
• Van
• Dien
• Jane
• Marsh

[columbokicksass]

weissmuller was the best! those movies are so much fun. Greystoke with Lambert was excellent though.denny "the gorton's fisherman" miller's version might be a little better than miles o'keefe's.that one's good for other reasons though.you forgot joe lara in the mid 90's.you had ely so i figured you included tv as well.the filmation cartoo was superb also.

[condensedclassics]

Ron Ely's "Tarzan's Deadly Silence" which was a two part TV episode from his series was released theatrically in the mid sixties as a movie so it was included as part of the movie Tarzans. Thanks.

[KonElKent]

you left out Jim Pierce from Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927), he was also the voice of Tarzan on radio and ERB's son in law.

[condensedclassics]

You're right! He'll be added with a video response, he was also ERB's son-in-law.

[banner74]

Bravo,excellent history lesson on one of fictions greatest adventure heroes.

[Hendrikdevuile]

3:56 I hadn't realized that Bruce Bennett whom I know as the interloper in the band of gold prospectors in "The Treasure of Sierra Madre" who is shot dead by the bandidos had been a Tarzan. He was tall enough but more like the before than the after part of a Charles Atlas advert.

Buster Crabbe was built like a tank. I recall him also in some B western in his 50s still as tough as nails.

[nergvol]

Tarzan got woody.



[orlandobabe]

Yep! Weissmaller was the man of all other Tarzans, like Chris Reeve is the Superman of all Supermen.

[dsjump]

Beware, beware, beware of the naked man.

[bangtwister]

Weismuller and Ely the best, I can't stand the Disney cartoon. Do you remember the Tarzan Cartoon from the 70's? Check out my you tube page "Bangtwister ", I have a Tarzan program I uploaded you might like :)

[Galygal77]

i still love disneys tarzan

[ShakinJonny]

They stil need to make the ultimate perfect Tarzanmovie...that wil let us forget about all the others.

So manyTarzanmovies allready made but none seems to be "THE Tarzanmovie"!

[mrness123]

i have amost all tarzan movies but the 12 by johnny weissmuller are far the best playing tarzan

[freein2339]

racist bullshit....

[DarkAngel182]

Hey you missed out "Tarzan in Manhattan" from 1989.