The Son of Tarzan

About the production

The film was shot as a 15-chapter serial, each chapter running approximately 20 minutes. Production faced significant challenges creating African jungle settings in California, requiring extensive use of painted backdrops and exotic plants transported to filming locations. The production used live animals including lions and chimpanzees, which required specialized handlers and created safety concerns for the cast. Gordon Griffith, who played the young Jack Clayton, performed many of his own stunts despite being only 14 years old during filming.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Released in 1920 during the late silent period, The Son of Tarzan reached audiences when exhibitors were still defining programming conventions. The narrative hook—Tarzan's son Jack is kidnapped from England by his old enemy Paulovich—reflects what contemporary producers thought would draw viewers.

Why this film matters

The Son of Tarzan remains discussed by archivists tracing how screen stories of its period represented work, desire, conflict, and social order. Its central situation—Tarzan's son Jack is kidnapped from England by his old enemy Paulovich—still prompts questions about genre conventions and audience expectations.

Making of

The production of 'The Son of Tarzan' was an ambitious undertaking for 1920, requiring extensive location shooting and elaborate set construction. Director Harry Revier faced the challenge of filming in California while making it appear convincingly like Africa. The cast underwent physical training to perform the numerous action sequences, with young Gordon Griffith proving particularly adept at the demanding role. The film's animal scenes required specialized handlers, and safety was a constant concern during the filming of sequences with lions and other wild animals. The production utilized innovative camera techniques for the time, including early forms of tracking shots to follow the characters through the jungle. The serial format meant that each chapter had to end with a cliffhanger, requiring careful planning of the entire story arc before filming began.

What critics said

Trade and newspaper notices for The Son of Tarzan generally emphasized casting, spectacle, and program fit rather than extended aesthetic argument. Retrospective screenings and archival notes continue to shape how viewers evaluate The Son of Tarzan today.

Did you know?

• This was the first Tarzan film to feature Tarzan's son as the main character, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' 1915 novel
• Gordon Griffith, who played Jack Clayton, was only 14 years old during filming but performed many dangerous stunts himself
• The film was originally released as a 15-chapter movie serial, a popular format in the silent era
• Karla Schramm, who played Meriem, also played Jane in the 1918 film 'Tarzan of the Apes'
• Only a partial version of this film survives today, with some chapters considered lost
• The production used over 200 exotic plants to create convincing African jungle settings in California
• Director Harry Revier was known for his work on serials and action films during the silent era
• The film's success led to increased popularity of Tarzan adaptations throughout the 1920s
• Paulovich, the villain, was created specifically for the film and does not appear in Burroughs' original novel
• The chimpanzee used in the film was reportedly the same animal that appeared in the original 'Tarzan of the Apes' (1918)

Visual style

The cinematography by John W. Brown utilized the visual language of the silent era to create dramatic tension and action. The film employed numerous close-ups to capture emotional moments, particularly in the romantic scenes between Jack and Meriem. Long shots were used to establish the jungle settings and emphasize the isolation of the characters. The camera work included innovative tracking shots for the time, following characters through the dense jungle sets. Lighting techniques were used to create contrast between the civilized world of England and the wild African setting, with harsher shadows and more dramatic lighting in the jungle sequences.

Innovations

The film featured several technical innovations for its time, including the use of matte paintings to extend jungle sets beyond their physical boundaries. The production employed early forms of stunt coordination for the numerous action sequences, particularly the tree-climbing scenes. The animal sequences required careful planning and the development of techniques for filming safely with wild animals. The serial format necessitated sophisticated continuity management across 15 chapters, requiring detailed storyboarding and planning. The film also utilized early special effects techniques, including rear projection for certain jungle scenes and careful editing to create the illusion of dangerous animal encounters.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Son of Tarzan' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The score would typically have been provided by a theater organist or small orchestra, using compiled classical pieces and popular songs of the era. The music would have been synchronized to the on-screen action, with dramatic themes for the villain Paulovich, romantic motifs for Jack and Meriem, and adventurous music for the jungle sequences. No original composed score survives, and modern screenings typically use appropriate period music compiled by silent film accompanists.

Famous quotes

I am Jack Clayton, son of Tarzan!

The jungle calls to me - it is in my blood!

Meriem, I will protect you with my life!

Paulovich will never take you while I live!

In the jungle, we are all equal under the sun!

Memorable scenes

• Jack's first escape into the jungle where he discovers his natural abilities
• The dramatic rescue of Meriem from the Arab traders' camp
• Jack's tree-climbing chase sequence demonstrating his jungle prowess
• The emotional reunion between Jack and his parents Tarzan and Jane
• The final confrontation with Paulovich on the jungle cliffs

What audiences thought

Audiences in 1920 enthusiastically received the film, with theaters reporting high attendance for each chapter's release. The serial format created anticipation and discussion among moviegoers, who would speculate about how the heroes would escape each week's cliffhanger. The character of Jack Clayton resonated with younger audiences, who saw him as a relatable hero discovering his own strength and abilities. The film's success led to increased demand for Tarzan stories and jungle adventures throughout the 1920s. Contemporary audience reactions, as recorded in trade publications, emphasized the excitement of the action sequences and the romantic subplot between Jack and Meriem.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Tarzan of the Apes (1918 film)
• The Adventures of Tarzan (1921)
• Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan novels
• Contemporary film serials like 'The Perils of Pauline'
• Adventure literature of the 1910s

This film influenced

• Tarzan the Tiger (1929)
• Tarzan the Fearless (1933)
• The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935)
• Later Tarzan film serials
• Jungle adventure films of the 1930s-1950s

Film restoration

The film is partially preserved with some chapters considered lost. Approximately 8-9 of the original 15 chapters survive in various film archives, including the Library of Congress and the UCLA Film and Television Archive. The surviving footage has been restored to varying degrees of quality, with some chapters existing only in incomplete form. Film preservation organizations continue to search for missing chapters in private collections and international archives. The incomplete nature of the surviving material makes it difficult to view the complete narrative as originally intended.

Where to watch

• Available on DVD from specialized silent film distributors
• Streaming on some classic film archives and university collections
• Occasionally screened at silent film festivals with live accompaniment
• Some chapters available on YouTube and Internet Archive
• Accessible through film preservation organization websites