How a gold-medal swimmer and a BVD underwear contract created a cinematic icon
In short: Before Johnny Weissmuller became the definitive Tarzan, MGM struggled to cast the role. The studio eventually secured the five-time Olympic gold medalist, but only after negotiating his release from a modeling contract for BVD underwear by promising to feature major Hollywood stars in the brand's advertisements.
Released on April 2, 1932, Tarzan the Ape Man was a massive financial success, generating nearly $1 million in profits. Directed by W.S. Van Dyke, the film marked the first of 12 appearances for Weissmuller as the titular character and introduced the world to his iconic jungle yell. Maureen O'Sullivan, who played Jane, would go on to star alongside Weissmuller in five sequels, cementing their on-screen partnership as a staple of the era.
The production relied on creative artifice to simulate the African wilderness. Because the film used Indian elephants, the crew fitted the animals with fake tusks and oversized ears to mimic the appearance of African elephants. Similarly, the tribe of aggressive dwarfs encountered by the expedition was portrayed by white actors in blackface. Much of the jungle scenery was captured in California, utilizing locations like Lake Sherwood and the undeveloped Toluca Lake region, supplemented by stock footage originally filmed for the movie Trader Horn.
Critics at the time were largely impressed by the technical execution. Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times praised the photography and the effectiveness of the stunts, while Variety lauded the film as a deluxe jungle picture. Despite the film's reliance on staged environments and borrowed lions from Goebel's Lion Farm, it maintained a high reputation, currently holding an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film's legacy extended far beyond its initial run, sparking a long-running franchise that saw 16 additional films produced by MGM and RKO, as well as remakes in 1959 and 1981.
The narrative itself, loosely adapted from Edgar Rice Burroughs' 1912 novel, follows an expedition seeking ivory that is rescued by Tarzan. The story concludes with Jane choosing to remain in the jungle, a decision underscored by the music of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet. This blend of high-stakes adventure and romantic melodrama proved to be a winning formula for MGM, establishing a template for the character that would persist for decades.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tarzan the Ape Man (1932 film)
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