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What did you rate 'Tarzan the Ape Man' ('32) ?

posted 17 years ago by J. Spurlin
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Unconvincing process shots and men in monkey suits are far outnumbered by astonishing stunts, animal performances, jungle footage (from Trader Horn) and a fine script with excellent dialogue (it's not all "Me Tarzan, you Jane"). Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan, as Tarzan and Jane, are remarkable when apart and sexually hot-wired when together. How could anyone prefer computer-generated crap to this? C. Aubrey Smith is notably good as Jane's father.

It rated it a 9. How did you rate it, and what do you think of it?

... Justin

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[–] JohnnyWeissmuller 17 years ago

I rated a 10. A terrific film, bursting with energy, excitement and two splendid leads who were perfectly cast.

NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!

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[–] J. Spurlin 17 years ago

With your screen name I'm not surprised you love this movie. I expected a fun picture, but I didn't imagine it to be such rollicking entertainment. And I can't think of a sexier movie either.

Do you consider any Tarzan movie--with or without Weissmuller--to be better than this one?

... Justin

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[–] JohnnyWeissmuller 17 years ago

I'd rank Tarzan and His Mate alongside Tarzan the Ape-Man. Tarzan Escapes could have been up there had the censors not interevened. I also rank Gordon Scott's Tarzan the Magnificent and Tarzan's Greatest Adventure with Weissmuller's best, but certainly a notch below Tarzan the Ape-Man and Tarzan and His Mate - the two best...

NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!

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[–] J. Spurlin 17 years ago

I have the "The Tarzan Collection" from the library, so I'll be watching all the Johnny Weissmullers. I've already seen Tarzan and His Mate, which is even sexier than the first. I rank it just below Ape-Man because of its looser plot; but it's still great fun.

I also just watched Buster Crabbe's godawful Tarzan the Fearless, a condensed version of the 12-chapter serial. I couldn't have stood 12 chapters. Crabbe laughs like Mortimer Snerd and stares stupidly at anyone who speaks English. He makes you appreciate Weissmuller's performance all the more.

... Justin

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[–] JohnnyWeissmuller 17 years ago

Crabbe's effort was pretty poor. And that awful howl... ouch!!!

Check out Lex Barker's films, too. Some of those are very good. I'm also partial to Jock Mahoney's two efforts.

NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!

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[–] J. Spurlin 17 years ago

I will.

The disc with Buster Crabbe's awful movie (I hope that's the only one he made) also has Tarzan's Revenge with Glenn Morris. Have you seen that one?

... Justin

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[–] JohnnyWeissmuller 17 years ago

I think that Tarzan's Revenge is one of the weakest entries of all the Tarzan pictures.

Not sure about the general consensus on this one - pretty mixed - but I'm also fond of Mike Henry's efforts - updated for the '60s no-less, with Tarzan-meets-Bond perspective. Check out Ron Ely, too...

NOW TARZAN MAKE WAR!

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[–] J. Spurlin 17 years ago

I've seen the Ron Ely ones. They used to rerun those when I was a kid.

Tarzan's Revenge was so awful. Yet I still enjoyed it. The Tarzan formula is just too good for me not to.

... Justin

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[–] dioro 17 years ago

I gave it a 9 too. I agree with all you said. For 1932 or anytime for that matter, some of those stunts were pretty incredible.

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[–] J. Spurlin 17 years ago

One of many advantages old movies have over the new is the stunt work. If this were filmed today, many of the effects would be created with CGI. I notice this especially in Buster Keaton movies. No comedian today would be allowed to do anything close to what he does--assuming they even could. Even Keaton himself was forced to submit to a stunt double in the talkie era: the studios wouldn't allow him to put himself in any real danger.

I wonder how many of the stunts in Tarzan the Ape Man were done with doubles. I couldn't spot the doubles in any of the shots, but surely Weissmuller wasn't allowed to do everything Tarzan does.

... Justin

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[–] joyce-miller777 9 years ago

I rated it a ten. I loved the performances of all the actors including Cheetah. Tarzan and Jane were two sexy beasts. I've watched it too many times to number.

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