Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure

Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: stuntmovie on October 31, 2008, 10:40:55 AM

Title: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on October 31, 2008, 10:40:55 AM
Just watched some of the original Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan made in 1932 (Tarzan the Ape Man) and was surprised how good a film it is. Even today I think most people would enjoy it.

Actually the original starred Elmo Lincoln in 1918 and many Tarzan films have been made since then.

There have been many actors filling Tarzan's sandels. Here are some questions that some of you old timers might be able to answer:
How many Tarzan actors were there? Including movie and TV roles?
Who was the best TARZAN?
Who was the best JANE?
Who looked most like what you think a real Tarzan should look like?
Who was the worst person to play the Tarzan role?
How the hell did they film those elephant stampede scenes back then?

Here are a couple of trivia questions .........

Who played the part of "Boy"?
What was the name of the first Tarzan film "Boy" appeared in? (I met him personally many times.)
Was BOY Tarzan and Jane's real son?

I'll throw some of these old Tarzan photos in later if there is any interest. I've met two of them during my lifetime but those photos are long gone or in someone's attic.


Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: ManBearPig... on October 31, 2008, 10:42:51 AM
i think the christopher lambert tarzan movie was good, but christopher lambert is just a disaster of an actor, except for the highlander.

"just tell her i'm immortal" - in his horrible euro accent.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: onlyme on October 31, 2008, 10:49:55 AM
I think a friend of mine brother played "Boy" at one time.  I think the last name was Manuputy
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Stavios on October 31, 2008, 11:01:59 AM
I remember watching Tarzan's disney movie and it was pretty cool

awesome phil collins songs  8)

true story
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: powerpack on October 31, 2008, 11:08:53 AM
I remember watching Tarzan's disney movie and it was pretty cool

awesome phil collins songs  8)

true story
8)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: divcom on October 31, 2008, 11:53:30 AM
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2215750474_13eb5c1c5f.jpg)

mike henry was the illest tarzan
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: johnnynoname on October 31, 2008, 11:54:48 AM
here is one of the chimps from the tarzan movies
(http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/harry_potter_and_the_sorcerer_s_stone/gary_dell_abate/harrypre2.jpg)

Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: BroadStreetBruiser on October 31, 2008, 11:56:20 AM
here is one of the chimps from the tarzan movies
(http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/warner_brothers/harry_potter_and_the_sorcerer_s_stone/gary_dell_abate/harrypre2.jpg)



FLA FLA FLOO FLY
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: johnnynoname on October 31, 2008, 11:57:59 AM
FLA FLA FLOO FLY

yes, not to be confused with the other guy from "hall and oates" though
(http://hotbeans.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/mustache-_0007_john-oates.jpg)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Cleanest Natural on October 31, 2008, 11:59:58 AM
(http://refer.ccbill.com/cgi-bin/clicks.cgi?CA=900004-0000&PA=977637)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: johnnynoname on October 31, 2008, 12:03:17 PM
(http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/touchingbase/docs/images/7bv05k6m.jpg)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: johnnynoname on October 31, 2008, 12:04:03 PM
(http://sternrate.com/files/GaryDellAbate.jpg)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Old-Skool on October 31, 2008, 06:20:31 PM
Gordon Scott...
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: wes on November 01, 2008, 03:02:14 AM
Johnny Sheffield played "Boy".

"Tarzan Finds A Son".

He was not their real son.

Buster Crabbe
Ron Ely (the shittiest Tarzan IMO)
Elmo Lincoln
Jock Mahoney
Gordon Scott
Lex Barker
Johnny Weismueller
Mike Henry
^
All played the role at one time or another.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Flex 215 on November 01, 2008, 03:02:33 AM
I really liked the Weissmuller Tarzan movies when I was a kid. Watched a lot of other renditions, but for me Johnny Weissmuller was the best Tarzan, while Maureen O'Sullivan was the best Jane.

As I remember, Boy was not their real son. They found him alive from a plane wreckage maybe. I think boy's real parents were supposed to be relatives of Jane or Tarzan. In the books their family names were Clayton and Greystoke. I know I read that censors at that time would not allow Tarzan and Jane to have a baby, as they were not legally married.

The movie in which Boy was introduced was " Tarzan Finds a Son " or " Tarzan Takes a Son. " I know it was one of my favorites.

In the books, " Son of Tarzan ' was like the 4th novel and introduced Korak, later to be known as Korak the Killer. Korak was really Jane and Tarzan's son. Korak was his "ape" name, but I don't remember the name Jane gave him.

The first few of the novels are really good and I would recommend them to you highly Stunt. Edgar Rice Burroughs had Tarzan learn how to read English on his own, and was later taught how to speak it perfectly by a Foreign Legion soldier and Jane. I watched a show that said Burroughs went to a premier of one of Weissmuller's films, and walked out in disgust at the " Me Tarzan, you Jane " kind of speech by the movie Tarzan.

I really liked the films though, even if they weren't perfectly true to Burrough's novels.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: io856 on November 01, 2008, 03:23:36 AM
Gary is a great father and producer too.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: D_1000 on November 01, 2008, 04:16:14 AM
Gordon Scott...

You can tell this guy is a real jungle badass.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: HTexan on November 01, 2008, 05:00:05 AM
(http://i36.tinypic.com/307vvo9.jpg)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: JimmyThomson on November 01, 2008, 05:36:06 AM
The monkey from the Weismuller film who played Cheetah is still alive  :o

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-548332/Tarzans-favourite-kick-Cheeta-turns-76-wont-retire---pens-autobiography.html
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Croatian on November 01, 2008, 05:37:56 AM
The best build Tarzan was  Steve Hawkes (real name Steve Sipek)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Tapeworm on November 01, 2008, 05:45:00 AM
i think the christopher lambert tarzan movie was good, but christopher lambert is just a disaster of an actor, except for the highlander.

"just tell her i'm immortal" - in his horrible euro accent.

Haha he sucks.  Der kin bee onlay wan. 

Gayer than a Christoph Lamber avatar.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Stavios on November 01, 2008, 06:00:12 AM
George of the Jungle was much cooler
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: onlyme on November 01, 2008, 09:20:20 AM
My old friend Bob Wall has one of the largest private collections of Tarzan memorabilia.  His office is filled with it.  He has some neat elephant foot tables.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 01, 2008, 10:24:48 AM
Flex, You do know your Tarzan stuff! Good going! Tarzan and Jane could not have a son because they were not married at that time so he/they found him in a plane crash as you so stated. I don't think I ever saw that one.

You all failed to name two other actors who played the Tarzan role....

Denny Miller played basketball for USC or UCLA and was discovered on the court and made one (I believe only one) Tarzan movie.

The other was Miles O'Keeffe (spelling) who played Tarzan opposite Bo Derek's Jane!

I met Miles before he got that role but I never had the opportunity to meet Bo. (Damn!) Back then Miles was a rough looking, ripped up kid who actually looked like he had lived in the jungle.

A good friend of mine was up for that Tarzan part opposite Jane when the original Tarzan actor left the set down in Africa or whatever location they were using, but Jane picked Miles cause he actually looked the part. (or something like that!)

From what I could find, here's a list of all the Tarzan actors ...

Stellan Windrow
Gordon Griffith
Elmo Lincoln (note: this link works)
Gene Pollar
P. Dempsey Tabler
James Pierce
Frank Merrill (note: this link works)
Johnny Weissmuller
Buster Crabbe
Herman Brix
Glen Morris
Lex Barker
Gordon Scott
Denny Miller
Jock Mahoney
Mike Henry
Ron Ely
Miles O'Keeffe
Christopher Lambert
Casper Van Dien

Here's Miles. I thought that he did a decent job but the movie was a big flop and according to some major critics .... the worst Tarzan movie of all time.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 01, 2008, 10:29:57 AM
ANd all the best Tarzan flicks included "Jane" .... Here's Bo with Miles heading to Safeway.

What GetBig contributor would be good enough to fill Tarzan's sandles today if Hollywood came a looken? And Ditto for Jane!
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: onlyme on November 01, 2008, 10:32:48 AM
The best build Tarzan was  Steve Hawkes (real name Steve Sipek)

Actually Miles O'Keefe had the best body of any Tarzan
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 01, 2008, 10:35:39 AM
Keith, the only "Boy" role that I can remember was filled by Johnny Sheffield. He owned that surfboard shop on Kalakaua by Kapiolani and never spoke about his days in Hollywood. He had one mean dog who used to follow me around the corner until I'd yell at him to "Go home!".

Spanky (Our Gang) used to hang around that area too. Remember him? I never yelled at him though!
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 01, 2008, 10:46:58 AM
Yea, Miles was built like that even years before he got that Tarzan role.

I forgot to mention that I was on a Tarzan set at one of the major studios in Hollywood a long while back and they did one hell of an amazing job making it look like a real jungle. It all looked perfectly real as long as you didn't look straight up. And it was big enough to get lost in. A good friend of mine was playing an ape role and we were there to check it out.

After filming that scene we went over to another set and he did some ape scenes on the old set that was the original sailing ship for Clark Gable's Mutiny on the Bounty. Good stories there for a later time.


Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: divcom on November 01, 2008, 11:50:24 AM
(http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=243684.0;attach=284079;image)

yeah...80s boy band hair in a tarzan movie.  >:(

mike henry looked like he was from the bush. X-NFL LB!
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: knny187 on November 01, 2008, 12:00:38 PM

Johnny Weissmuller


Thats the only Tarzan i watched on tv as a kid
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: onlyme on November 01, 2008, 12:22:34 PM
Keith, the only "Boy" role that I can remember was filled by Johnny Sheffield. He owned that surfboard shop on Kalakaua by Kapiolani and never spoke about his days in Hollywood. He had one mean dog who used to follow me around the corner until I'd yell at him to "Go home!".

Spanky (Our Gang) used to hang around that area too. Remember him? I never yelled at him though!

I can't remember but I thought it was Tarzan he was in but maybe not.  I will try to remember
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: wes on November 01, 2008, 01:40:52 PM
Johnny Sheffield also played "Bomba The Jungle Boy" and Weismueller played "Jungle Jim"!!

Any other old fucks remember these flicks?  :)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: TechnoViking on November 01, 2008, 01:59:51 PM
ANd all the best Tarzan flicks included "Jane" .... Here's Bo with Miles heading to Safeway.

What GetBig contributor would be good enough to fill Tarzan's sandles today if Hollywood came a looken? And Ditto for Jane!


Tony Little all gased up there...The guy had some legs...
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 01, 2008, 04:56:38 PM
Yea, Wes, I do remember Bomba!

Do you remember the Buster Crabb "Flash Gordon" serials with Emperor Ming?

Wasn't it filmed on Planet Mongo? The space ship landing scenes and sound effects were 'amazing'.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: wes on November 01, 2008, 05:53:00 PM
Stunt,I remember seeing some episodes of the Flash Gordon cliffhangers............ ..way ahead of its time as far as special effects go.
Long live Ming The Merciless!  :)
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: dr.chimps on November 01, 2008, 07:42:15 PM
Excellent thread, lads.   :)

/maureen o'sullivan can still cause serious wood! 
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Parker on November 01, 2008, 10:35:21 PM
Who was the Tarzan that had a kinda white collar corp job and a lion? It was like in the 50-60's, and the series was in color. I remember seeing dude used to take a Plane to Africa or something.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: wes on November 02, 2008, 05:10:56 AM
Parker,I think that was with ex-pro footballer Mike Henry.

Chimps,where ya` been bud?
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: dr.chimps on November 02, 2008, 06:29:59 AM
Parker,I think that was with ex-pro footballer Mike Henry.

Chimps,where ya` been bud?
Been in TO for a big book festival. Colour me a nerd, but it makes my world go 'round.  :D
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 02, 2008, 09:26:06 AM
Welcome back, Chimps. I thought you'd be showing up in here sooner or later. What book festival and why? I'm also a book nerd. Right now I'm reading one of those NOLO books on how to set up a Nonprofit Corporation in California.

I told the story about that friend of mine who dressed up as Clark Kent with his Superman suit beneath and finally had to change his demeanor because it just got too hot and sweaty when the winter months back east were done.

He had mentioned that he was interested in becoming Tarzan for the summer, but I never did hear how that that worked out. I'll try to locate him, get his story, and pass it on. This guy is one amazing bodybuilder who literally lived the life of his Super-Heros regardless of the consequences.

Last I heard, he was working for one of the railroads back east. Gonna try to contact him to see what's new!
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 02, 2008, 09:31:50 AM
Yea, Wes! Ming the Merciless! I had forgotten that "last name". Sorry to say, but I never did meet anyone from the cast and crew of that original Flash Gordon series.

I can recall going to those old time movies and seeing a couple of "serials" after three or four cartoons and before the major feature.

I remember getting sick to my stomach when Superman first got exposed to Kryptonite. I never realized he had a weakness.

Trivia .... When and what was the last movie serial ever made? And why did they discontinue making them? They called them "Cliff-Hangers".

To tell ya the truth - I think they'll be back!

Gonna attempt to write a 12 episode "cliff-hanger" about the bodybuilding world and what it takes to reach the top and eventually hit the bottom. Maybe Grant would be interested as one of the lead characters.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: wes on November 02, 2008, 09:34:58 AM
Great thread guys!!

Chimps,I used to read a lot but have lost the urge lately..............gott a` get back into it.
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: Megalodon on November 02, 2008, 09:56:41 AM
Maureen O'Sullivan appeared totally nude in a Tarzan movie in the 1930s!!!!

Then the censors became involved the movie industry. It wasn't until the late 1960s/early 70s when censorship was not as much of a problemo.

 
Title: Re: Original Tarzan Films
Post by: stuntmovie on November 02, 2008, 10:15:50 AM
The Outlaw

The Moon is Blue

Lolita

Those were the top three censored movies when I was growing up. Nothing at all similar to Deep Throat many years later.

When Tarzan (Weismuller) first meets Jane and tries to communicate with her while sitting in the tree was real suggestive back then but apparently never censored.

Those underwater scenes swimming with the elephants was way before its time. Way before scuba and underwater cameras even.

I don't know the ear that Universal built that tank on the back lot for filming underwater scenes but I was asked to be the best man for a good friend who was a stuntman there for an underwater wedding to promote some movie that they were in the process of promoting. I got fitted in a tailored wet suit that looked identical to a tux and was all prepared to do my best man duties but a couple of days before the wedding I got unexpected orders to hop over to some foreign country to do my duties elsewhere. I believe that was the first and possibly the last underwater wedding ever held in that tank and it's still there the last time I looked a while back.