Figure 1.-- Here we see Tarzan as a boy in the very first Tarzan film. It was of course a silent shot in 1918. The movie was directed in 1918 by Scott Sidney and starring by Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, George B. French and Gordon Griffith. Gordon played Tarza as a boy. The movie, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel, was the first Tarzan movie ever made.

Silent film shot just 4 years after the Edgar Rice Burroughs 'Tarzan of the Apes' was first published Burroughs' tremendouslu popular Tarzan books. It was the very first Tarzan film and made for very good move fare. The film follows the original novel more closely than the subsequent versions. This was the case with several early book adaptations which often faitfully follwing the book text. The orphaned infant is raised by apes. It only depicts the first part of Burroughs' novel. The rest was kept for a sequel--perhaps the first important film sequel --'The Romance of Tarzan'. The film is considered the most faithful to the novel of all the film adaptations. Its most obvious plot adapttion being the introduction of the character Binns and his role in bringing the Porters to Africa. Burroughs' brought them to Africa through the improbable coincidence of a second mutiny. Apparently the director wanted a more logigal plot. Elmo Lincoln played the adult Tarzan. Gordon Griffith played Tarzan as a boy.

Created: 6:03 PM 7/6/2015
Last updated: 6:03 PM 7/6/2015