Bill Hillman's
Volume
013
ON
THE SILVER SCREEN Pt. 1
To
enter Part 2 press below:
CONTENTS
1. Hollywood
Tidbits and Trivia
2. Chrono
List of the Hollywood Tarzan Films -
with
Text Quotes from Newspaper Ads
3. Other
ERB Characters and Stories on Film
4. Bios
on Tarzan Actors:
Johnny
Weissmuller Bio Timeline & Gordon Scott
5. Filmography
Links for the Tarzan Actors
6. Tarzan
and the Lost City
1.
Hollywood Tidbits and Trivia
Women are cheaper in Hollywood than in any
town this side of Port Said, " said a motion-picture director not long
ago. And he was not thinking of them as economic factors..."Not one in
a hundred has a chance; but they see only the big money and the luxurious
life of a 'star'! and so they go on, 'waiting' for a 'chance'. and to get
it----? Well, ask any casting director. If he gives you an honest answer,
you'll blush."
~~~ The Girl From Hollywood ~~ ERB 1927 ~
1950: Hollywood Report
Tarzan and the Slave Girl, soon to be
released, has promises of being the best of the Sol Lessor productions....
Vanessa Brown will be the new "Jane" in the series.... Lex Barker, who
plays Tarzan half clad, was listed as one of the best dressed men in Hollywood....R-K-O
has re-released two Weissmuller Tarzan films, Tarzan's Desert Mystery and
Tarzan Triumphs.... Weissmuller is now at work on his third Jungle Jim
film.... G&D has reprinted three more early Tarzan novels in new editions....
Watch for John Coleman Burroughs' new fantasy novel soon to be published....Bruce
Bennett is in FRAME-UP for Universal.... James H. Pierce is in THE KNIFE
for M-G-M.
Tarzan and His Mate
(1934)
There is a scene in which Tarzan, standing
on a tree limb with Jane, pulls at Jane's scanty outfit and persuades her
to dive into a lake with him. The two swim for a while and eventually surface.
When Jane rises out of the water, one of her breasts is fully exposed.
Because various groups, including official censors of the Hays Office,
criticized the scene for being too erotic, it was cut by MGM.
Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927)
James Pierce said of this picture: "Because
of poor direction, terrible story treatment and putrid acting, the opus
was a stinkeroo. I emerged with nothing to show for my strenuous
effort except being typecast as Tarzan. I was out of a job.''
Tarzan and the
Great River (1967)
In the second week of filming, Dinky
the chimp bit Mike Henry on the jaw. It took 20 stitches to repair
the wound. Henry had monkey fever delirium for three days, and took three
weeks to recuperate. The chimp was destroyed and replaced.
Tarzan and the
Green Goddess (1938)
This is essentially the second half of
the previously released The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935) with
a little additional footage.
Tarzan and the Lost Safari (1957)
Gordon Scott got along well with the
natives involved in the movie. A Masai warrior nicknamed him "Mtu Ule Na
Panda Miti Minegu'' (Warrior Who Climbs Tall Trees).
On the set, Scott won a bet by capturing
and riding a wild giraffe for five minutes. A 500 pound lion with
whom Scott had worked for over a month tore open his leg (32 stitches).
Tarzan and the
Mermaids (1948)
Johnny Weissmuller's stunt double Angel
Garcia was killed while diving from the cliffs at Acapulco.
Tarzan Escapes
(1936)
Originally directed by James McKay, who
filmed many gruesome scenes, and was replaced by John Farrow.
Tarzan Finds a
Son! (1939)
In the original script Jane was to have
died (Maureen O'Sullivan wanted out of the Tarzan series). Fan protest
forced a last-minute rewrite in which Jane recovers from her near-fatal
wound, admitting she had been wrong to disobey Tarzan.
Tarzan Goes to
India (1962)
The Temple of Buddha's Footprint, a sacred
Thai shrine, was photographed for the first time in this movie. Crew members
worked without shoes and in nearly complete silence.
Tarzan of the Apes
(1918)
Young men from the New Orleans Athletic
Club played the ape parts. In one scene a lion is supposed to crawl through
the window of Tarzan's cabin to devour Jane. Tarzan grabs him and pulls
him out. In fact the old and drugged lion turned on 'Elmo Lincoln' who
stabbed and killed him. "I stepped on him to beat my chest.
As my foot pressed down on him, the remaining air in his lungs escaped
with a loud whoosh. I was already shaken and you should have seen me jump!''
The lion wound up as a lobby display when
the picture opened on Broadway.
Elmo Lincoln and
ERB on the Tarzan set
Tarzan the Mighty
(1928)
The original star was to have been Joe
Bonomo, promoted by the studio as "the greatest of all Tarzans.''
Near the end of work on another picture, Perils of the Wild (1925),
Bonono fractured his left leg and injured his sacro-iliac. Frank
Merrill, who had doubled for Elmo Lincoln in Perils of the Jungle (?) was
offered the job and began work the next day.
When a friend of Merrill's learned of
a physical culture contest in England he entered Merrill's photo
without his knowledge. Merrill was voted second runner-up for "World's
Most Perfectly Developed Man'' and the publicity from this added to attendance
at the movie. The irony is that Merrill's body was more thoroughly covered
than any other Tarzan.
Tarzan the Tiger
(1928)
This movie was released in both silent
and "sound'' versions. The sound consisted of a crude musical score, sound
effects and a few lip-synched lines on a record.
The record contains the very first Tarzan
yell, invented by Frank Merrill.
Tarzan the Terrible was planned
but the studio decided Merrill's voice wasn't right for talkies and the
film was scrapped.
Tarzan Triumphs
(1943)
Jane's absence was explained in a letter
saying that she's visiting relatives in England. Maureen O'Sullivan
(who had played Jane on many occasions previously) wanted nothing more
to do with Tarzan movies by this time.
Tarzan's Fight
for Life (1958)
Gordon Scott was nearly killed by the
18-1/2 foot python with which he wrestled in this movie. It took six men
to pull the snake off him.
Tarzan's Greatest
Adventure (1959)
Cheetah appears only during one line
("So long, Cheetah''). This is because the chimpanzees brought from
England to Kenya for the filming were so terrified of the jungle night
noises they wouldn't perform.
Sean Connery was paid $5,600 for his role
in this movie. When asked to play in the next Tarzan movie, he said
he couldn't because "Two fellows took an option on me for some spy picture,
and
are exercising it. But I'll be in your next." The "spy picture"
was Dr. No (1962).
Producer Sy Weintraub also wanted Anthony
Quayle to come back for another Tarzan movie, but Quayle had been offered
a part in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) after having been seen in this film,
and couldn't accept.
Tarzan's Hidden
Jungle (1955)
Gordon Scott and Vera Miles married while
making this film.
Tarzan's Peril
(1951)
The first Tarzan film to be shot in Africa,
where it was set. The company arrived in Africa just before winter set
in. The chimps wouldn't perform, so Cheetah's part had to be cut.
The area around Mount Kenya was so cloudy
that Lex Barker's tan disappeared and he had to use body makeup. The first
time Barker showed up in a loin cloth the native extras burst out laughing.
The film was originally shot in color,
but more than half of it was ruined on location. It was converted
to black and white, the remaining footage winding up in later pictures.
Tarzan's Savage
Fury (1952)
The photo of Lord Greystoke is really
Lex Barker in a beard and mustache. Sol Lesser asked Lex Barker to feature
his real son in the movie, but Barker declined... preferring to keep his
son out of the public spotlight. For safety reasons, Barker was prohibited
from skiing during the filming of his series of Tarzan pictures.
Tarzan's Secret
Treasure (1941)
Due to many budget cutbacks following
the death of Irving Thalberg many stock shots from former movies were used.
Tarzan's Three
Challenges (1963)
During the filming, Jock Mahoney contracted
amebic dysentery and dengue fever, and finally pneumonia, going from 220
to 175 pounds before finishing the film.
Lex Barker was the only
screen Tarzan to live in Tarzana.
Warner Bros. reportedly
paid Pretty Woman writer Jonathan Lawton $825,000 for a story based
on the novel Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs, according to The Hollywood
Reporter. The story is said to be about a scientist who is seeking to create
the perfect monster.
2. Chrono List of
the Hollywood Tarzan Films -
- with Text Quotes from Newspaper Ads
1918
TARZAN OF THE APES (55 m) Elmo Lincoln
- Enid Markey
This
is the the first Tarzan film. Legend has it that Lincoln actually killed
a lion on camera in this movie.
Gordon Griffith
Elmo Lincoln
STARLAND
THEATRE
(Illustrated
display ad in the
Anderson,
Indiana, Daily Bulletin, Feb. 1, 1919)
ANOTHER
STARLAND ATTRACTION THAT THE WHOLE TOWN HAS BEEN WAITING FOR!
Here's
adventure...For everyone...Thrills for every human mood...Romance to feed
the hunger of every mortal heart that cries out for the primitive---
TARZAN
OF THE APES
It thrills...It
startles...It fascinates...It gives the adventure that the primitive heart
of every one craves and carries you away beyond the borderlands of civilization
across the frontier of imagination and lets you dwell spellbound in the
grip of the strangest fiction ever written.
How few of us have not longed for the realm of Tarzan? Man, woman, child,
each tug at the chains of convention, while the heart cries out for the
wildwood.
THE
STRANGEST STORY EVER WRITTEN
He who
leaped from tree to tree, as did the Apes who were his sole companions
-- Who slew the Lion, and made Great Tusks his slave-- Who spoke no tongue
save that of those whose tails entwined the trees-- Who feared not the
dread gorrilla (sic) and who, with bare hands, ripped hides from skulking
jaguar-- Who nestled at the breast of a mother ape-- but who, when first
his primordial eyes fell upon a white woman, smothered her with kisses--
THE
NOVELTY OF THE SEASON -- THREE BIG DAYS
Attend
the Matinees to Avoid the Crowds at Nights.
3 DAYS
3 -- SUNDAY, MONDAY, and TUESDAY
1918
THE ROMANCE OF TARZAN Elmo Lincoln - Enid Markey.
1920
THE REVENGE OF TARZAN Gene Pollar - Karla Schramm.
1920
THE SON OF TARZAN SERIAL
P. Dempsey Tabler --Karla
Schramm. Kamuela Searle (playing Korak, the son of Tarzan) died tragically
during the filming.
Adapted from the book by Edgar
Rice Burroughs
THE
SON OF TARZAN
The
World's Wonder Jungle SERIAL From the Heart of Darkest Africa Enthralls
with its
THRILLS
~FIGHTS ~ROMANCE ~ SENSATION
15 EPISODES
of JUNGLES, WILD ANIMALS, THRILLING ACTION, LOVE and ROMANCE
THE
STORY of a boy and girl growing to manhood and womanhood and Love in the
heart of the African Jungle fighting for Life and Happiness - The most
absorbing Love Story Ever Told.
They
were alone together in the jungle. Their daily life was just one thrilling
adventure after another.
You
will love them both, ...Do not fail to attend the opening at the STRAND
Opening
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Credits
Directors:
Harry Revier & A. J. Flaven ~ Script: Roy Summerville ~ Titles &
Editing: ERB & Summerville
P. Dempsey
Tabler: Tarzan ~ Gordon Griffith: Korak (youth)
~ Kamuela
Searle: Korak (Man) ~Mae Giraci: Meriem (youth)
~ Manilla
Martan: Meriem (woman) ~ Karla Schramm: Jane
15
Chapters - 31 Reels
1. The Call of the Jungle
~ 2. Out of the Lion's Jaws ~ 3. Girl of the Jungle ~ 4. The Sheik's Revenge
~ 5. The Pirate's Prey ~ 6. The Killer's Mate ~ 7. The Quest of the Killer
~ 8. Coming of Tarzan ~ 9. The Kiss of the Beast ~ 10. Tarzan Takes the
Trail ~ 11. Ashes of Love ~ 12. Meriem's Ride in the Night ~ 13. Double
Crossed ~ 14. Blazing Hearts ~ 15. An Amazing Denouement.
NATIONAL
MAKES SON OF TARZAN SERIAL FOR DISTRIBUTION
BY DAVID P. HOWELLS
Production has just started on the West
coast on the serial picturization of "The Son of Tarzan," according to
word received by David P. Howells from the studios of the National Film
Corporation of America where the drama is being filmed. Harry Revier, director
of the previous "Tarzan" pictures, is directing, assisted by Edgar Rice
Burroughs, author. The picture will be made under the general supervision
of Captain Harry M. Rubey, president of National.
"The Son of Tarzan" is the fourth of the
series of "Tarzan" stories to be screened. "Tarzan of the Apes" and "The
Romance of Tarzan," both from the studios of the National Film corporation,
proved successful as dramatic productions and as box-office winners. the
third, "The Return of Tarzan," has been completed and is now being released
with a big publicity campaign back of it.
Director Revier has arranged for a pictorial
prologue which will tell briefly the story of "Tarzan" and his "Romance."
To carry out this idea two sets of players were secured, one to enact the
roles of the previous stories and one to play the story of "The Son of
Tarzan."
There has been assembled at the national
studios a varied and large collection of jungle animals. It is said that
Director Revier has planned the most spectacular of his jungle scenes for
picturization during the visit to Los Angeles of a large circus in order
that he might utilize the circus menagerie. Steam and sailing vessels have
been assembled near Los Angeles for the ocean and deck scenes. Two vessels
have been bought outright that they may be burned for one of the big scenes.
K.C. Searle will play the title role.
Other players inclued P. Dempsey Tabler, who will impersonate Tarzan, DeSacia
Saville, Karla Schram, May Gratcia and Kathleen May.
Kamuela C. Searle
Production of "The son of Tarzan" will proceed
rapidly now that it has started. The prologue and the first episode have
been completed and it is expected that the first few episodes will be ready
for screening within the next month. It is planned to have the picture
ready for release before fall by David P. Howells.
~ THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD, May 29, 1920
1920
THE SON OF TARZAN - Feature Made from Serial (111 m)
P. Dempsey Tabler. Karla Schramm.
Kamuela Searle.
1921
THE ADVENTURES OF TARZAN
- 15 Chapter Serial - Elmo
Lincoln - Louise Lorraine.
1927
TARZAN AND THE GOLDEN LION
James H. Pierce -Dorothy Dunbar.
The last "Silent Tarzan."
Pierce was married to Edgar
Rice Burroughs' daughter Joan. Recently-found, long-lost film.
1928
TARZAN THE MIGHTY
- 15 Chapter Serial - Frank
Merrill. Natalie Kingston.
1929
TARZAN THE TIGER
- 15 Chapter Serial - Frank
Merril - Natalie Kingston
1932
TARZAN, THE APE MAN
(99 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Maureen O'Sullivan
Weissmuller is the best known
of the movie Tarzans even though he does portray him as an illiterate oaf.
O'Sullivan's Jane is intelligent,
sexy and resourceful.
TARZAN
THE APEMAN
The
Sensational Novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The
jungle law -- To seize what he wanted!
Mothered
by an ape -- he knew only the laws of nature. All the adventure, all the
wild life of africa in the big thrill picture of the year.
The
"Trader Horn" of 1932 with more thrills--more wild life!
Johnny
Weismuller -- The Adonis of All Swimming Champions"
Maureen
O'Sullivan -- Neil Hamilton -- C. Aubrey Smith
Starts
TODAY! -- PARAMOUNT THEATRE
MICKEY
MOUSE CARTOON AND NEWS VIEWS
1933
TARZAN THE FEARLESS
12 Chapter Serial - Buster
Crabbe - Jacquelene Wells
1933
TARZAN THE FEARLESS
The movie version of the serial
(85 m)
Buster Crabbe - Jacquelene
Wells
1934
TARZAN AND HIS MATE (93 m)
Johnny Weissmuller - Maureen
O'Sullivan
The best of the Weissmuller
series.
TARZAN
AND HIS MATE
(1934
Poster Ad)
Johnny
Weissmuller is back again!
Maureen
O'Sullivan -- Neil Hamilton -- Paul Cavanaugh -- directed by Cedric Gibbons
A Metro-Goldwyn
-Mayer Picture
Based
upon the characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Screen
play by J.K. McGuinness -- Adaption by Leon Gordon
1935
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN
12 Chapter Serial - Herman
Brix - Ula Holt
1935
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN
The movie version of serial
(75 minutes) -- Herman Brix - Ula Holt.
1936
TARZAN ESCAPES
(95 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Maureen O'Sullivan.
1937
TARZAN'S REVENGE
(70 m) Glenn Morris. Elenor
Holm.
1938
TARZAN AND THE GREEN GODDESS
The 2nd movie version of 1935
serial (72 m) --Herman Brix. Ula Holt.
1939
TARZAN FINDS A SON
(90 m)Johnny Weissmuller -
Maureen O'Sullivan -- Boy.
1941
TARZAN'S SECRET TREASURE
(81 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Maureen O'Sullivan
M-G-M
re-presents
TARZAN'S
SECRET TREASURE
with
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER (The Original Tarzan)
MAUREEN
O'SULLIVAN -- John Sheffield -- Reginald Owen
TARZAN'S
BACK!
Unique
in show world! Tarzan's love call in primitive jungle Paradise echoes
1,000
thrills on the screen!
Tarzan
... King of the Jungle and his White Goddess! An unforgettable thrill.
It's
TERRIFIC
2 Years
in the Making
Plus:
"Late World News"
1942
TARZAN'S NEW YORK ADVENTURE
(71 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Maureen O'Sullivan
Tarzan's
New York Adventure
Johnny
Weissmuller - Maureen O'Sullivan
John
Sheffield - Virginia Grey - Charles Bickford - Paul Kelly - Chill Wills
Screen
Play by William R. Lipman and Myles Connolly - From a Story by Myles Connolly
Based
Upon the Characters Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
War
Stamps and Bonds On Sale Here!
July
1942 -- YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT -- A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
Tarzan's
primitive call is the call to amazing new adventures among the man-made
canyons of Manhattan!
Primitive
lovers...In the Big Town --- 1000 New Thrills!
SEE!
Jungle beasts vs. gangser bullets! The leap from Brooklyn Bridge! Tarzan
swings from skyscrapers!
1943
TARZAN TRIUMPHS
(78 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Frances Gifford ("Nyoka, The Jungle Girl"). Tarzan versus the
Nazis. "Now, Tarzan make war!"
EDGAR
RICE BURROUGHS'
TARZAN
TRIUMPHS
Starring
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER - with Frances Gifford - Johnny (Boy) Sheffield
Helpless
Beauty and the Beast Men! Tarzan braves River of Cannibal Fish and Pit
of Pythons to save a Pagan Princess! Terror Traps a Forest Maiden!
Released
by RKO Radio Pictures
1943
TARZAN'S DESERT MYSTERY
(70 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Connie Bryce.
Edgar
Rice Burroughs'
TARZAN'S
DESERT MYSTERY
SAHARA'S
SANDS AFLAME - DEATH AND TREACHERY ON SAHARA'S SANDS!
Turbaned
terror rides the dunes, seeking out Tarzan and the doomed beauty he's protecting!
Starring
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER
~ NANCY
KELLY ~ JOHNNY SHEFFIELD
Otto
Kruger ~ Joe Sawyer ~ Lloyd Corrigan ~ Robert Lowery
~Frank
Puglia ~ Phil Van Zandt
Produced
by SOL LESSER Directed by William Thiele
Screen
Play by Edward T. Lowe ~ From a Story by Carroll Young
Based
Upon the Characters created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
1945
TARZAN AND THE AMAZONS
(76 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Brenda Joyce.
Edgar
Rice Burroughs'
TARZAN
AND THE AMAZONS
Starring
Johnny Weissmuller ~ Brenda Joyce ~ Johnny Sheffield
Henry
Stephenson ~ Madame Maria Duspenskaya ~ Barton MacLane ~ Don Douglas
PRIMITIVE
BEAUTIES IN A SECRET JUNGLE KINGDOM, FORBIDDEN TO MEN!
Greedy
white adventurers in a ruthless raid on the fabulous forest city of the
lovely warrior maidens!
RKO
Radio Pictures
1946
TARZAN AND THE LEOPARD WOMAN
(72 m) Johnny Weissmuller.
Brenda Joyce.
Edgar
Rice Burroughs'
TARZAN
AND THE LEOPARD WOMAN
Starring
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER ~ BRENDA JOYCE
~ JOHNNY
SHEFFIELD ~ with ACQUANETTA
HER
EYES PROMISE LOVE...HER LIPS SNEER "DEATH!"
Savage
priestess of the Leopard Men...sworn to bring back
Tarzan's
body for her fiendish jungle ritual!
Original
Story and Screen Play by Carroll Young
~ Based
Upon the Characters Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs ~
Produced
by SOL LESSER
~ Associate
Producer and Director KURT NEUMANN
RKO
Radio Pictures
1947
TARZAN AND THE HUNTRESS
(72 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Brenda Joyce. Boy's last appearance. Sheffield went on to be Bomba, the
Jungle Boy, in his own film series.
Edgar
Rice Burroughs'
TARZAN
AND THE HUNTRESS
Starring
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER
~ BRENDA
JOYCE ~ JOHNNY SHEFFIELD
Patricia
Morison ~ Barton MacLane
BEAUTIFUL
KILLER AT BAY!
Snarling
death claws back at white man's treacherous terror...
In
Tarzan's new thrill-on-thrill adventure!
RKO
Radio Pictures
1948
TARZAN AND THE MERMAIDS
(68 m) Johnny Weissmuller
- Brenda Joyce.
Weissmuller's last Tarzan.
He went on to star in 16 Jungle Jim movies.
SOL
LESSER presents EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS'
TARZAN
AND THE MERMAIDS
with
JOHNNY WEISSMULLER
~ BRENDA
JOYCE ~ LINDA CHRISTIAN ~ CHETA
TARZAN
AT HIS BEST!
FILMED
IN BEAUTIFUL ACAPULCO, MEXICO!
TARZAN...against
primitive people!
RKO
Radio Pictures
1949
TARZAN'S MAGIC FOUNTAIN
(73 m) Lex Barker - Brenda
Joyce. Elmo Lincoln cameo.
Released in England as: Tarzan and the Arrow of Death
Edgar
Rice Burroughs'
TARZAN'S
MAGIC FOUNTAIN
Starring
LEX BARKER ~ BRENDA JOYCE ~
with
Albert Dekker, Evelyn Ankers, Charles Drake
Produced
by SOL LESSER ~ Directed by LEE SHOLEM
Screen
Play by Curt Siodmak and Harry Chandlee ~
Based
Upon the Characters Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs
1950
TARZAN AND THE SLAVE GIRL
(74 m) Lex Barker - Vanessa
Brown.
1951
TARZAN'S PERIL (79 m)
[Tarzan and the Jungle Goddess]
Lex Barker - Virginia Houston.
1952
TARZAN'S SAVAGE FURY
[Tarzan the Hunted]
(80 m) Lex Barker - Dorothy
Hart.
1953
TARZAN AND THE SHE-DEVIL
(76 m) Lex Barker - Joyce
Mackenzie.
To
enter Part 2 press below:
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