Tarzan of the Apes

About the production

The film was shot in various California locations to simulate the African jungle, with additional scenes filmed in Louisiana swamps for authentic jungle atmosphere. Production faced challenges with the live animals used in filming, particularly lions and elephants. The film was among the costliest productions of its time, requiring elaborate sets and extensive location shooting.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Tarzan of the Apes (1918) survives in catalogs and archives as a record of the silent era.

Why this film matters

Scholars and collectors reference Tarzan of the Apes when discussing how the silent era filmmakers addressed popular themes.

Making of

The production of 'Tarzan of the Apes' was groundbreaking for its time, featuring extensive location shooting and elaborate jungle sets constructed in California. Director Scott Sidney faced numerous challenges working with live animals, including lions that had to be carefully managed during action sequences. Elmo Lincoln, a former circus performer and World War I veteran, performed many of his own stunts, including the famous scene where he fights a lion. The film's success was partly due to Edgar Rice Burroughs' active involvement in promoting the adaptation. The production team built elaborate treehouse sets and used innovative camera techniques to create the illusion of a vast African jungle. Young Tarzan's scenes with apes were particularly challenging, requiring the child actor Gordon Griffith to interact with performers in ape costumes.

What critics said

Later retrospectives treat Tarzan of the Apes (1918) as representative the silent era fare valued by archivists and genre historians.

Did you know?

• Elmo Lincoln was the first actor to portray Tarzan on screen, and he reportedly got the role after demonstrating his strength by knocking out a stuntman during audition
• A young Tarzan was played by Gordon Griffith, who performed many of his own stunts including wrestling with real lions
• The film was so successful that it spawned numerous sequels throughout the silent era
• During one scene, Lincoln reportedly killed a lion that had gotten out of control on set, though this story may be apocryphal
• Edgar Rice Burroughs, the author of the original novel, was heavily involved in the production and reportedly made over $100,000 from the film
• The film used real elephants, lions, and other animals, making it one of the first major productions to feature extensive animal sequences
• Portions of the original film are now lost, with only about 60 minutes of the original 73-minute runtime surviving
• The film's success helped establish Tarzan as a major pop culture icon and led to the character appearing in over 40 films
• Lincoln was a former circus strongman before becoming an actor, which helped him perform many of Tarzan's physical feats
• The film's jungle scenes were shot in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, which was then largely undeveloped wilderness

Awards & recognition

• No major awards were given in 1918 as the Academy Awards had not yet been established (first Oscars in 1929)

Visual style

The cinematography by Harold Rosson and William Fildew was innovative for its time, featuring extensive location shooting and creative camera work to simulate the African jungle. The film utilized moving camera shots and dynamic angles during action sequences, which was relatively advanced for 1918. The photography effectively captured the scale of the jungle sets and the physicality of the action scenes. The use of natural lighting in outdoor scenes gave the film a more realistic feel than many studio-bound productions of the era. The camera work during Tarzan's vine-swinging sequences created a sense of movement and excitement that audiences had rarely experienced before.

Innovations

The film was notable for its pioneering use of location shooting and elaborate special effects for the time. The production created some of the most convincing jungle sets ever filmed up to that point. The film featured innovative techniques for showing Tarzan's interactions with animals, using carefully staged sequences with real animals and performers in ape costumes. The treehouse sequences required complex set construction and camera rigging. The film's success demonstrated the commercial viability of expensive, location-heavy productions, influencing future Hollywood productions to invest more heavily in production values and special effects.

Music

As a silent film, 'Tarzan of the Apes' would have been accompanied by live musical performance in theaters. The original score was composed by William Furst, who created dramatic orchestral pieces to accompany the jungle scenes and romantic moments. Large theaters would have employed full orchestras, while smaller venues used piano or organ accompaniment. The music emphasized the exotic nature of the setting and heightened the emotional impact of key scenes. Modern restorations have been accompanied by newly composed scores that attempt to capture the spirit of the original musical accompaniment.

Famous quotes

I am Tarzan!" (first appearance of the iconic line on screen)

Me Tarzan, you Jane" (though this famous line actually originated in later adaptations)

Intertitle: "Born of noble parents, raised by savage beasts, Tarzan stands between two worlds

Intertitle: "In the heart of the jungle, civilization is but a memory

Intertitle: "Love knows no bounds - not even those between man and beast

Memorable scenes

• The infant Tarzan being adopted by the she-ape Kala in the jungle treehouse
• Young Tarzan learning to swing on vines and developing his jungle skills
• Tarzan's first encounter with Jane Porter after saving her from a lion attack
• The dramatic fight between Tarzan and a lion that showcases his incredible strength
• The emotional scene where Tarzan must choose between his jungle home and Jane
• The final sequence where Tarzan leads Jane to safety through the dangerous jungle

What audiences thought

The film was a massive commercial success, reportedly earning over $1 million against its $125,000 budget - an extraordinary return for 1918. Audiences were thrilled by the action sequences and the novelty of seeing such elaborate jungle adventures on screen. The film's popularity led to long lines at theaters and established Tarzan as a major box office draw. Contemporary audience members were particularly impressed by Elmo Lincoln's physical performance and the film's use of real animals. The success spawned immediate demand for sequels, which the studios quickly provided, making Tarzan one of the first film franchises.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Tarzan of the Apes (1912 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
• The Jungle Book (Rudyard Kipling)
• Romantic literature about the noble savage
• Contemporary adventure serials
• Circus strongman performances

This film influenced

• The Romance of Tarzan (1918)
• The Revenge of Tarzan (1920)
• Tarzan the Tiger (1929)
• Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)
• Numerous Tarzan adaptations throughout film history
• Mighty Joe Young (1949)
• King Kong (1933)
• George of the Jungle (1997)

Film restoration

The film is partially preserved with approximately 60 minutes of the original 73-minute runtime surviving. Some scenes, particularly those involving Jane Porter, are incomplete or missing entirely. The surviving footage has been restored by various archives including the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art. The film exists in the public domain, which has led to multiple DVD releases of varying quality. While incomplete, the remaining footage provides a comprehensive view of the film's major sequences and storyline.

Where to watch

• Available on various public domain streaming platforms
• DVD releases from multiple distributors
• YouTube (public domain uploads)
• Internet Archive
• Classic film streaming services like The Criterion Channel (occasionally)
• Library of Congress website (for research purposes)