Tarzan The Ape Man (1932)

Two hunters (C. Aubrey Smith, Neil Hamilton) travel in Africa searching for a sacred elephant burial ground where they expect to find a wealth of ivory. They take along the older hunter's daughter (Maureen O'Sullivan) in their quest. But they come across a primitive white man (Johnny Weissmuller), almost ape like in his demeanor. Based on the 1912 novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs and directed by W.S. Van Dyke (SAN FRANCISCO). Not the first Tarzan feature film made but the most successful. It spawned 12 more movies with Weissmuller as Tarzan and the character would continue with Lex Barker and Gordon Scott playing the jungle hero among many others. It's a primitive film in more ways than one. I found much of it difficult to watch what with its indigenous people being whipped because they didn't move fast enough for their white bwanas and the random slaughter of animals in their native habitat because they were in the way. Weissmuller doesn't have to act, just look good in a loin cloth (which he does) and he doesn't come in until a half hour into the movie. The movie really belongs to O'Sullivan as Jane who carries most of the movie. For me, it was of interest for its historical aspect but not much else. I much preferred the Lex Barker Tarzan movies.