Tarzan the Ape Man (1932 film)

Tarzan the Ape Man
Theatrical poster
Directed by	W. S. Van Dyke
Produced by	Irving Thalberg
Written by	Cyril Hume
Based on	Tarzan of the Apes 1912 magazine by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Starring	Johnny Weissmuller Neil Hamilton Maureen O'Sullivan C. Aubrey Smith
Music by	George Richelarie
Cinematography	Clyde De Vinna
Edited by	Tom Held Ben Lewis
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	March 25, 1932 (1932-03-25)
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$652,675
Box office	$2.54 million

Tarzan the Ape Man is a 1932 Pre-Code, American action adventure film featuring Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous jungle hero Tarzan and starring Johnny Weissmuller, Neil Hamilton, C. Aubrey Smith and Maureen O'Sullivan. It was Weissmuller's first of 12 Tarzan films. The film is loosely based on Burroughs' novel Tarzan of the Apes from approximately two decades earlier, with the dialogue written by Ivor Novello. The film was directed by W. S. Van Dyke. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released two remakes of Tarzan, the Ape Man in 1959 and in 1981, but each was a different adaptation of Rice Burroughs' novel.

James Parker (C. Aubrey Smith) and Harry Holt (Neil Hamilton) travel in Africa, on a quest for the legendary elephant burial grounds and their ivory. They are joined by Parker's daughter Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan). Holt is attracted to Jane, and tries somewhat ineffectively to protect her from the jungle's dangers. He notably fails to prevent her abduction by the jungle's guardian, the mysterious Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller) and his ape allies.

The experience is terrifying to Jane at first, but as their relationship develops, she finds herself happy: "Not a bit afraid, not a bit sorry." As she returns to her father, her feelings are brought to a test. She wants Tarzan to come with her to London, and to be part of her world. But Tarzan turns his back on her and returns to the jungle. Her father tells her that is where Tarzan belongs, she cries, "No dad, he belongs to me."