The Adventures of Tarzan

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The Adventures of Tarzan
Adventures of Tarzan - Elmo Lincoln.jpg
Directed by Robert F. Hill
Scott Sidney
Written by Robert F. Hill
Lillian Valentine
based on novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Produced by Louis Weiss
Starring Elmo Lincoln
Louise Lorraine
Scott Pembroke
Frank Whitson
Lillian Worth
Production
company
Distributed by Numa Pictures Corporation
Release date
  • December 1, 1921 (1921-12-01)(first chapter)
Running time
15 chapters
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent
English Intertitles

The Adventures of Tarzan (1921) is a 15 chapter movie serial which features the third and final appearance of Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan. The serial was produced by Louis Weiss, written by Robert F. Hill and Lillian Valentine (partially based on the novels The Return of Tarzan and Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs), and directed by Robert F. Hill and Scott Sidney. The first chapter was released on December 1, 1921. [1]

Contents

Plot

Tarzan holding a leopard's corpse over his head in The Adventures of Tarzan The Adventures of Tarzan (1921) - 2.jpg
Tarzan holding a leopard's corpse over his head in The Adventures of Tarzan

The serial's prologue features Edgar Rice Burroughs himself. [2]

Tarzan rescues Jane from Arab slave traders after they become marooned in Africa. They return to the cabin where his parents lived before their deaths. Jane is captured by Queen La of Opar, taken to that hidden city, and is to be made a sacrifice. Tarzan rescues her and they escape. Nikolas Rokoff and William Cecil Clayton, the usurper to Tarzan's title of Lord Greystoke, learn that Jane has a map to the city (which contains fabulous riches in exotic jewels), tattooed onto her back. They kidnap her and attempt to loot the city. Tarzan braves many perils, finally rescues Jane, defeats the villains and escapes La's amorous clutches.

Cast

Production

The success of the serial The Son of Tarzan inspired Great Western Producing Company to approach Tarzan's creator Edgar Rice Burroughs about making another Tarzan serial. However, the rights for another Tarzan film were still retained by the Weiss brothers' Numa Pictures Corporation, the makers of the feature film The Revenge of Tarzan . When Numa discovered that Great Western had Elmo Lincoln, the first screen Tarzan, signed to play the lead, they agreed to a deal in which Great Western would produce the film, while Numa would handle distribution. [3] The story was based partially on two of the Tarzan novels, The Return of Tarzan and Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar , with the addition of some new material. [3] [2] The desert scenes were filmed in Arizona.

Casting

This serial marked Elmo Lincoln's return to the part of Tarzan, whom he was the first to play, but it was also Lincoln's last time as the character. [3] The serial was advertised as "Censor-proof." [2] Nevertheless, censorship forced the previously bare-chested Lincoln to cover up and wear an over-the-shoulder-styled costume for this production. [3] Louise Lorraine celebrated her sixteenth birthday during production. [3] As advertised, "Joe Martin, famous screen ape, plays a leading part." [2]

Production started January 1 and finished August 13, 1921. [3]

Stunts

Frank Merrill began doubling Lincoln about halfway through the serial. Lincoln was insured for $150,000, and the insurers were not happy with him doing his own stunts. Seven years later, Merrill was cast as the apeman in Tarzan the Mighty . [3] [2] [4]

Release

For marketing purposes, The Adventures of Tarzan Serial Sales Corporation was formed in New York. The serial sold in half of all available markets without the use of a road man. Within three months of the completion date, it had sold out in most countries world wide. [3] Despite rumours circulated that the serial was not new material, but just a rehash of footage from previous Tarzan films, The Adventures of Tarzan was a successful film and one of the top four attractions of the year. [3] The film was reedited and released with sound effects twice—first in 1928, and a second time in 1935.

Critical reception

The Exhibitors Herald wrote, "Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan is too well known to theater-goers to need further introduction. His red-blooded fights, staged in each episode, will evoke applause from the serial audience." Film Fun Magazine wrote, "There are enough wild animals introduced in each episode to keep the younger generation, which has shown a predilection for the serial form of entertainment, whooping her up." [3]

Influence

The success of the serial inspired a Broadway show, Tarzan of the Apes, but critics attacked it as fit only for film and unsuitable for the stage. [3]

Survival status

The complete fifteen-chapter version has not survived.[ citation needed ] The version available on DVD is the 1928 ten-chapter rerelease.[ citation needed ] The ten-chapter version can also be viewed at the Internet Archive. [5] The first thirteen chapters survive in 16mm film at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Archive.[ citation needed ] The UCLA Film and Television Archive has restored chapter 11: "The Hidden Foe". [6] Silent Era claims that the archive also has prints of the film and 1928 rerelease. [7]

The Library of Congress possesses a window card for the film. [8]

Original book chapter titles

  1. Jungle Romance
  2. The City of Gold
  3. The Sun Death
  4. Stalking Death
  5. Flames of Hate
  6. The Ivory Tomb
  7. The Jungle Trap
  8. The Tornado
  9. Fangs of the Lion
  10. The Simoon
  11. The Hidden Foe
  12. Dynamite Trail
  13. The Jungle's Fury
  14. Flaming Arrows
  15. The Last Adventure

1937 film chapter titles

  1. Tarzan the Boy
  2. Tarzan's Revenge
  3. Tarzan to the Rescue
  4. Tarzan the Fearless
  5. Tarzan's Hide-Out
  6. Tarzan's Enemies
  7. Tarzan Vanishes
  8. Tarzan Conquers
  9. Tarzan Faces Death
  10. Fighting Tarzan
  11. Cyclone Tarzan
  12. Fangs vs. Tarzan
  13. Message from Tarzan

Novel

The Adventures of Tarzan
AuthorMaude Robinson Toombs
Series Tarzan (book series)
PublisherERBville Press
Publication date
2006 (trade paper)
2008 (hardcover)
Pages158
ISBN 978-1-4357-4973-3
Preceded by Tarzan the Mighty (2005) 
Followed by The Greystoke Legacy (2011) 

Originally written as a 15-part serial for newspapers in 1921, it was collected and published as a released as a trade paperback ( ISBN   978-1-4357-4973-3) by ERBville Press in January 2006. The book became available as a hardcover via Lulu.com in 2008.

Chapters

  1. Jungle Romance
  2. The City of Gold
  3. The Sun Death
  4. Stalking Death
  5. Flames of Hate
  6. The Ivory Tomb
  7. The Jungle Trap
  8. The Tornado
  9. Fangs of the Lion
  10. The Simoon
  11. The Slave Market
  12. Dynamite Trail
  13. The Jungle's Prey
  14. The Flaming Arrow
  15. The Last Adventure

Related Research Articles

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The New Adventures of Tarzan is a 1935 American film serial in 12 chapters starring Herman Brix. The serial presents a more authentic version of the character than most other film adaptations, with Tarzan as the cultured and well-educated gentleman in the original Edgar Rice Burroughs novels. It was filmed during the same period as the Johnny Weissmuller/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Tarzan films. Film exhibitors had the choice of booking the serial in 12 episodes, the feature film, or the feature film followed by 11 episodes of the serial.

Opar is a fictional lost city in the Tarzan novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs and later the Khokarsa novels of Philip José Farmer and Christopher Paul Carey, as well as various derivative works in other media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La (Tarzan)</span> Fictional character

La is a character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels, the queen and high priestess of Opar, a lost city in the jungles of Africa.Opar is portrayed as a surviving colony of ancient Atlantis in which incredible riches have been stockpiled down through the ages. The city's population exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism caused by a combination of excessive inbreeding, cross-breeding with apes, and selective culling of offspring. Consequently, female Oparians are physically perfect, while male Oparians are hideous bestial creatures.

Jane Porter (<i>Tarzan</i>) Fictional character in Edgar Rice Burroughss series of Tarzan novels

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<i>Tarzan of the Apes</i> (1918 film) 1918 film directed by Scott Sidney

Tarzan of the Apes is a 1918 American action/adventure silent film directed by Scott Sidney starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, George B. French and Gordon Griffith.

<i>Tarzan the Untamed</i> 1919 book by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan the Untamed is a book by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the seventh in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was originally published as two separate stories serialized in different pulp magazines; "Tarzan the Untamed" in Redbook from March to August, 1919, and "Tarzan and the Valley of Luna" in All-Story Weekly from March to April 1920. The two stories were combined under the title of the first in the first book edition, published in 1920 by A. C. McClurg. In order of writing, the book follows Jungle Tales of Tarzan, a collection of short stories about the ape-man's youth. Chronologically, it follows Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar.

<i>The Return of Tarzan</i> 1913 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Return of Tarzan is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the second in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. The story was first published in the pulp magazine New Story Magazine in the issues for June through December 1913; the first book edition was published in 1915 by A. C. McClurg.

<i>The Beasts of Tarzan</i> 1914 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Beasts of Tarzan is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. Originally serialized in All-Story Cavalier magazine in 1914, the novel was first published in book form by A. C. McClurg in 1916.

<i>Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar</i> 1916 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fifth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. The story first appeared in the November and December issues of All-Story Cavalier Weekly in 1916, and the first book publication was by McClurg in 1918.

<i>Tarzan and the Golden Lion</i> Novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan and the Golden Lion is an adventure novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the ninth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. The story was first published as a seven part serial in Argosy All-Story Weekly beginning in December 1922; and then as a complete novel by A.C. McClurg & Co. on March 24, 1923.

<i>Tarzan the Tiger</i> 1929 film

Tarzan the Tiger (1929) is a Universal movie serial based on the novel Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It stars Frank Merrill as Tarzan, Natalie Kingston as Jane, and Al Ferguson. It was directed by Henry MacRae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarzan in film, television and other non-print media</span>

Tarzan, a fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in the 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, and then in twenty-four sequels by Burroughs and numerous more by other authors. The character proved immensely popular and quickly made the jump to other media, first and most notably to comics and film.

<i>The Romance of Tarzan</i> 1918 film by Wilfred Lucas

The Romance of Tarzan is a 1918 American silent action adventure film directed by Wilfred Lucas starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, Thomas Jefferson, and Cleo Madison. The movie was the second Tarzan movie ever made, and is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' original 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes. It adapts only the second part of the novel, the earlier portion having been the basis for the preceding film Tarzan of the Apes (1918). Less popular than its predecessor due to much of the action taking place in the wild west rather than Africa, the film has not been preserved, and no prints of it are known to survive today.

<i>Tarzan the Mighty</i> 1928 film

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<i>The Son of Tarzan</i> (film) 1920 film

The Son of Tarzan is a 1920 15-chapter American film serial which focuses on the coming of age of Jack Clayton, also known as Korak, the son of Tarzan and Jane. The serial was produced by David P. Howells, written by Roy Somerville, and directed by Arthur J. Flaven and Harry Revier. The film was released starting in the summer of 1920, with the final chapter released in January 1921.

<i>Tarzan and the Lost Safari</i> 1957 film by H. Bruce Humberstone

Tarzan and the Lost Safari is a 1957 action adventure film featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous jungle hero Tarzan and starring Gordon Scott, Robert Beatty, Yolande Donlan and Betta St. John. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, it was the first Tarzan film released in color, Eastman Color. The nineteenth film of the Tarzan film series that began with 1932's Tarzan the Ape Man and the first produced by MGM since 1942, it was filmed in Nairobi, British East Africa. The character of Jane does not appear in this motion picture. Released April 12, 1957, it was followed by Tarzan and the Trappers in 1958.

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<i>Tarzan: The Greystoke Legacy Under Siege</i> 2017 novel by Ralph N. Laughlin and Ann E. Johnson

Tarzan: the Greystoke Legacy Under Siege is a novel written by Ralph N. Laughlin and Ann E. Johnson featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs's jungle hero Tarzan. It is the fourth volume in The Wild Adventures of Tarzan, a series of new works authorized and licensed by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. It was first published by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. in May 2017 in trade paperback, with a hardcover edition following in June of the same year.

References

  1. Erbzine
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut (1973). "6. Jungle "Look Out The Elephants Are Coming!"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. pp. 123 and 125. ISBN   978-0-7130-0097-9.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Essoe, Gabe (1972). Tarzan of the Movies . Citadel Press. pp.  37–44. ISBN   978-0-8065-0295-3.
  4. Stedman, Raymond William (1971). "3. At This Theater Next Week" . Serials: Suspense and Drama By Installment. University of Oklahoma Press. pp.  56. ISBN   978-0-8061-0927-5.
  5. "The Adventures Of Tarzan (1921 [sic] USA) (edición Americana). 3gp". Internet Archive.
  6. "Silent Fragments". UCLA Film and Television Archive. March 22, 2015.
  7. "The Adventures of Tarzan". silentera.com.
  8. "'Adventures of Tarzan' / Ritchey Litho. Corp". Library of Congress.


Preceded by Tarzan series
The Adventures of Tarzan
Succeeded by