Investigating Tarzan

The glorious and tragic story of American athlete and actor Johnny Weissmuller (1904-84), Olympic swimmer, water polo player and the only true Tarzan, an archetypal character and myth of cinema, that of the original Hollywood blockbusters (1932-48).

Tarzan: Silver Screen King of the Jungle is a documentary focusing on the first six sound Tarzan films produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan. Written and directed by John Rust, the documentary features interviews with film historians Rudy Behlmer and Scott Tracy Griffin, who discuss the films' literary antecedents and behind-the-scenes production details.

The history of the Tarzan films is presented through behind-the-scenes footage and scenes from the Jungle King’s many classic movies.

A look at Tarzan on the big and small screen with interviews with some of those who have played him.

A shipping disaster in the 19th Century has stranded a man and woman in the wilds of Africa. The lady is pregnant, and gives birth to a son in their tree house. Soon after, a family of apes stumble across the house and in the ensuing panic, both parents are killed. A female ape takes the tiny boy as a replacement for her own dead infant, and raises him as her son. Twenty years later, Captain Phillippe D'Arnot discovers the man who thinks he is an ape. Evidence in the tree house leads him to believe that he is the direct descendant of the Earl of Greystoke, and thus takes it upon himself to return the man to civilization.

Charley, hoping to find cultured people in his ancestry in order to be suitable to Muriel's family, is tricked by his rival Ronnie into believing himself a descendant of Tarzan. Conked on the head, Charley suddenly believes he IS Tarzan.

Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

When one of his missteps puts his family in jeopardy, Tarzan decides they would be better off without him.

With the first anniversary of her wedding to Tarzan beckoning, Jane ponders how to make it the perfect English celebration.

Harry Holt returns to Africa with his friend Martin Arlington to head up a large ivory expedition.

Re-edited, feature film version of the 1933 serial, Tarzan the Fearless, sold to television in the mid-1960's.