I first saw a Tarzan movie as a child, accompanying my father to the theater and then having to put up with him attempting to imitate actor Johnny Weissmuller’s cry all way home. I don’t recall which particular film it was, but having been born in 1946, it was certainly a re-release, as by the 1950s, Weissmuller, perhaps the most famous screen Tarzan of them all, had given up the role to a younger, leaner actor; Lex Barker. Anyway, this was my first introduction to the famous apeman as invented by writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. I liked the character a lot, what fun loving America kid wouldn’t?

Many years later, as a teenager, I tripped over the Tarzan books then being printed in paperbacks. Being a fan of the character, I bought them to finally see if there were any differences between the source books and the film interpretations. To say there were plenty would be a gross understatement. Immediately upon reading TARZAN OF THE APES, the reader learns the true origins of the character and how he is a descendant of British gentry. At the end of the first book, he’s traveled to Europe, become educated and speaks several languages fluently. He is known as Lord John Graystoke and is a very wealthy man. A far cry from the illiterate, grunting figure portrayed in the movies. As much as I was thrilled to discover the “true” Tarzan of the novels, it made viewing the cinematic version quite difficult from that point on.
My young teenage mind wondered why it was Hollywood couldn’t give us the real Tarzan from the books. In 1962 filmland my wish, and that of thousand other Tarzan fans, was granted.

Veteran actor/stuntman, Jock Mahoney, was cast as an intelligent, sophisticated Tarzan in TARZAN GOES TO INDIA. Using the sixties environmental issues as a backdrop, Tarzan became not only an action hero, but a defender of mother earth and all wildlife as well. The studios followed this up with TARZAN’S THREE CHALLENGES. To this day, I am still a big fan of both these movies. But I was naiively ignorant of a long forgotten Tarzan project that had trumped these movies by nearly thirty years.
It was an eye-opening revelation and one I would come to appreciate more and more as time went on.

In 1934 a group of Hollywood investors came to Burroughs suggesting he join them in a business partnership to exploit his now highly lucrative writings. A silent screen Tarzans had made millions for the studios and MGM was just going into production for what would be the biggest Tarzan of them all, starring Olympic swimming champ Johnny Weissmuller and the lovely Maureen O’Hara. It was easy to convince Burroughs that he would make a bigger profit if he were directly involved and he signed on. First he wrote a screen treatment for a story to be called TARZAN AND THE GREEN GODDESS, then he asked for permission to choose the actor who would portray his famous tree dweller. From a long list of possible wannabes, Burroughs hand picked as yet another Olympic veteran, handsome, young Herman Brix.
Brix was a former shot-putter with a tall, rangy physique and a charasmatic visage perfect to play the Jungle Lord. Since this newly formed company had no real studio to shoot in, it was decided to film on location in the jungles of Guatemala. In the late months of 1934, an expedition of twenty-nine cast and crew members, with tons of freight, via a huge line, set sail for the highland ruins of Guatemala. Under the direction of Edward Kull and Wilber F.McGaugh, the movie, now called THE NEW ADVENTURES OF TARZAN, was shot in four months. Upon completion, MGM, having gotten wind of this competitive venture, purposely set about making sure they could not get a decent distribution contract with any of the major theater chains.
This effectively buried the movie in America and paved the way for the MGM Weissmuller movie to become a major blockbuster hit. Meanwhile NEW ADVENTURES found acceptance in Eurpoean markets and is still considered among the favorite Tarzan movies of all time to this day in these countries.

The company that produced this long-ago classic released it in multiple versions, including a 12 Chapter Serial and this is available today from various DVD outfits. I recently purchased one from the Roan Film Group and watched it this past week. I’d seen it many years ago but am thrilled to own it on DVD. It is a damn shame that history conspired against Brix in his role as the true Tarzan, but thanks to modern technology, his performance is captured forever in this rare, wonderful adventure from a long ago time. I can’t recommend it enough to all airmen who truly love grand, old fashion jungle adventures. This is Burroughs noble savage played to perfection. Go find it and see if I’m not right.

As I write this, a steady, warm rain is blanketing most of New England. A dismal weekend if forecast with more of the same. But that isn’t dampening are our plans. Valerie and I are catching an Amtrak train out of Boston tomorrow and heading for Conn. to visit our new grandson, Logan, for the very first time. Going to be a great weekend. I hope yours is as well. See you in seven.

Ron, over and out.