Tarzan The Ape Man Blu-ray Review
“Tarzan The Ape Man” is a classic action adventure film.
Based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs magazine story, 1932’s “Tarzan The Ape Man” isn’t the first Tarzan movie, but it is the movie that spawned an entire franchise for MGM. The story begins in Africa with Harry Holt and James Parker searching for the sacred (and forbidden) elephant burial ground which is rich in ivory. During the trip, Parker’s daughter Jane joins the trip. During the often treacherous trip, Jane encounters a wild man named Tarzan who saves her life. Initially terrified of him, Jane begins to develop a bond with Tarzan who will do anything to protect her.
Skillfully directed by W.S. Van Dyke (best known for “The Thin Man”), “Tarzan The Ape Man” is quite a spectacle for 1930’s cinema. There are big action set pieces with hippos and crocodiles, an elephant stampede sequence, impressive vine acrobatics, iconic jungle yelling, an impressive ape performance by Jiggs as Cheeta, and some dangerous sequences with live animals. Admittedly, the movie is very much a product of its time as Tarzan doesn’t quite have the same cultural impact that he once did. The movie itself also has a lot of elements that don’t age well like the blackface dwarfs, the not so PETA friendly treatment of animals, and the very archaic depiction of gender roles.
If you can look past its shortcomings, you will still find an exciting movie about nature, romance, and primal man that features superbly seamless editing by Tom Held and Ben Lewis. Really, what makes the movie work as well as it does is the chemistry between Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan. To this day, they are still the ultimate screen version of Tarzan and Jane. They just compliment each other so well.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.37:1 1080p. How does it look? The B&W print looks crisp and clean here.
Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Although a bit muted and snowy in spots, this is still a solid 2.0 track.
Extras:
* Original theatrical trailer
* 2 “Merrie Melodies” cartoons “I Wish I Had Wings” and “Moonlight For Two.”
* “Tarzan: Silver Screen King Of The Jungle”- A fascinating 79 minute documentary about the history of Tarzan from the page to the screen.
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Robert Ham
dmanderson
Andrea
nicklyons1
DVD Corner 
I must have seen that on TV long ago.
I’ve always loved this movie and am glad it’s finally out on Blu-ray. I’m also not in the camp that feels a need to call out its un-PC ‘problems’, and can do without that presumptuous disclaimer preceding the movie.