B-Movie Tarzans at Brian's Drive-In Theater

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Updated 4/23/2008.

Coming soon: Woody Strode.

Click on the photos below to go to the respective pages, with numerous photos and biographical information.

tarzan actors

Lex Barker	Although Lex Barker had been an actor for a number of years, the Tarzan series provided him with his first starring role.	Herman Brix	A silver medalist in the 1928 Olympics, Herman Brix starred as Tarzan in 1935 serial The New Adventures of Tarzan. Later in his career, changed his name to Bruce Bennett and went on to act in many hit films, including Mildred Pierce.
Buster Crabbe	A gold medalist in the 1932 Olympics, Buster Crabbe starred as Tarzan only once, in the 1933 film Tarzan the Fearless. Later in his career, he gained fame as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, and he also acted in a string of westerns.	Ron Ely	Ron Ely had been working as an actor for nearly ten years before his career took off, when he was cast as Tarzan for the 1966-69 television series of the same name.
Mike Henry	Actor Mike Henry was a pro-football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams before he was cast as Tarzan.	Jock Mahoney	Western actor and former stuntman Jock Mahoney replaced Gordon Scott, becoming the twelfth series Tarzan. The Jock Mahoney page includes images from Mahoney's many western roles.
Denny Miller	Former UCLA basketball star Denny Miller took the title role in MGM's 1959 Tarzan, the Ape Man, the studio's last entry in the Tarzan series. Miller later went on to a successful career in westerns and television.	Glenn Morris	Olympic gold medalist Glenn Morris made only two films. His last film was Tarzan's Revenge released in 1938.
Miles O'Keeffe	Miles O'Keeffe got his big break in films portraying Tarzan in John Derek's 1981 flick Tarzan, the Ape Man. O'Keeffe has since made more than 30 films.	Gordon Scott	Gordon Scott replaced Lex Barker as Tarzan in 1954. He made six Tarzan films before moving on to sword and sandal films.
Johnny Sheffield	Johnny Sheffield first starred as "Boy" in the 1939 film Tarzan Finds a Son!. By 1949, Sheffield had moved on to a film series of his own, the Bomba series from Monogram Pictures.	Johnny Weissmuller	Many folks think of Johnny Weissmuller as the ultimate Tarzan. You'll find numerous photos here, and don't forget to visit the Johnny Weissmuller gallery.

tarzan films available from movies unlimited

Many Tarzan films are not available for the home video market at this time; however, here's a listing of Tarzan films that are currently available on VHS and DVD, by actor:

herman brix (bruce bennett)

The New Adventures Of Tarzan [DVD](1935) DVD
Herman Brix, as Tarzan, joins an expedition to a lost Mayan city hidden in the Guatemalan jungle. Their goal: the "Green Goddess," a gem-encrusted idol that contains a secret formula for a powerful explosive. Ula Holt, Frank Baker co-star; produced by Edgar Rice Burroughs. 12 episodes; 228 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; scene access.
The New Adventures Of Tarzan(1935) VHS
Herman Brix, as Tarzan, joins an expedition to a lost Mayan city hidden in the Guatemalan jungle. Their goal: the "Green Goddess," a gem-encrusted idol that contains a secret formula for a powerful explosive. Ula Holt, Frank Baker co-star; produced by Edgar Rice Burroughs. 12 swinging episodes; 244 min.
Tarzan's New Adventure(1935) VHS
The animal skin and vine have once again been handed down, this time to another Olympic star, Herman Brix, in this feature version of the serial "The New Adventures of Tarzan." Two expeditions, each seeking the legendary "Green Goddess" idol, square off in the Central American jungle, and only Tarzan can set things right. With Ula Holt, Frank Baker. 73 min.
Tarzan: King Of The Jungle [DVD] DVD
Five-disc set includes "Tarzan the Fearless," "The New Adventures of Tarzan," "Tarzan and the Green Goddess," "Tarzan's Revenge," "Tarzan and the Trappers," and the Shirley Temple short "Kid 'in' Africa."
Tarzan And The Green Goddess [DVD](1938) DVD
A special opening sequence was added to this jungle thriller, the second feature to be culled from 1935's "The New Adventures of Tarzan" serial. The ape man (Herman Brix) and his allies are in Guatemala, where they must guard the fabled Green Goddess statue from crooks who want an explosives formula hidden inside it. With Ula Holt, Frank Baker. Standard; Soundtrack: English. Plays All Regions.

buster crabbe

Tarzan The Fearless (1933)/Tarzan And The Trappers [DVD](1958) DVD
Olympic great Buster Crabbe dons the loincloth this time as the Lord of the Jungle, helping a young girl find her father, discovering a lost city and fighting treacherous Arabs. Adapted from the serial of the same title. Then, enforcing the jungle's code of justice, Tarzan (Gordon Scott) tries to impede the actions of greedy trappers capturing animals for zoos and save a noble chieftain ("Scatman" Crothers) along the way. Also stars Eve Brent. 149 min.
Tarzan The Fearless(1933) VHS
Olympic great Buster Crabbe dons the loincloth this time as the Lord of the Jungle, helping a young girl find her father, discovering a lost city and fighting treacherous Arabs. Adapted from the serial of the same title. 78 min.

christopher lambert

Greystoke: The Legend Of Tarzan, Lord Of The Apes [DVD](1984) DVD
Faithfully adapted from Burroughs' first Tarzan novel, this film from director Hugh Hudson ("Chariots of Fire") follows the adventures of the jungle lord as he is orphaned as an infant, grows up among the apes, and returns to England to reclaim his heritage. Christopher Lambert, Andie MacDowell, Ralph Richardson star. Special video edition contains footage not show in theatres. 137 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.

elmo lincoln

<Tarzan (5-Movie Set) [DVD] DVD
First, the silent classic "Tarzan of the Apes" (1918), stars Elmo Lincoln as the son of Lord and Lady Greystoke who learns the laws of the African jungle after his parents die and he is raised by apes. With Enid Markey, True Boardman. Then, Buster Crabbe is "Tarzan the Fearless" (1933) as he helps a young girl find her missing folks and battles some Arabs. Features Jaqueline Wells, Eddie Woods. In "Tarzan and the Green Goddess" (1938), the apeman (portrayed by Herman Brix) and his allies guard a sacred statue in Guatemala from crooks seeking a hidden explosives formula. Ula Holt, Frank Baker co-star. Next, in "Tarzan's Revenge" (1938), the loincloth-clad hero (Glenn Morris) tries to rescue a damsel in distress from an evil ruler. Features Eleanor Holm, C. Henry Gordon. Lastly, "Tarzan and the Trappers" (1958) stars Gordon Scott as the jungle-dwelling icon, this time trying to save a noble chieftain and rescue his animal pals from scheming zoo workers. With Scatman Crothers, Eve Brent. 6 hrs. total on two discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1.

frank merrill

Tarzan The Tiger [DVD](1929) DVD
Frank Merrill, as Tarzan, must rescue Jane from native slave traders and keep thieves from stealing the "pretty pebbles" that make up the jewel city of Opar, in this silent serial. With Natalie Kingston, Clive Morgan. 15 swinging episodes; 4 1/3 hrs. Standard; Soundtrack: music score. Plays All Regions. Silent with music score.

glenn morris

Tarzan's Revenge [DVD](1938) DVD
Decathlon champ Glenn Morris takes over the reins as Tarzan, rescuing a young woman from the evil clutches of a demented ruler, who has designs on keeping her for himself in his hidden fortress. Co-stars Eleanor Holm and C. Henry Gordon. 70 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English. Plays All Regions.

miles o'keeffe

Tarzan, The Ape Man [DVD](1981) DVD
Bo Derek is the swinging-est Jane yet in this sexy version of the legend. Dry, wet or undressed, Bo will steal your heart and bulge your eyes. No wonder jungle king Miles O'Keeffe screams, "ah uhh-uhh ah-uh!" Richard Harris co-stars. 115 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
"10" (1979)/Tarzan, The Ape Man (1981) [DVD] DVD
"10" is Blake Edwards' hilarious look at mid-life crises that made Dudley Moore a star and beautiful Bo Derek a sex symbol. Songwriter Moore spies dream girl Derek and follows her from L.A. to a Mexican resort in order to meet her, with surprising results. Julie Andrews, Robert Webber, Brian Dennehy also star, along with Ravel's "Bolero." Then, Derek is the swinging-est Jane yet in "Tarzan, The Ape Man." Dry, wet or undressed, Bo will steal your heart and bulge your eyes. No wonder jungle king Miles O'Keeffe screams, "ah uhh-uhh ah-uh!" Richard Harris co-stars. 3 3/4 hrs. total. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French

gordon scott

Tarzan The Fearless (1933)/Tarzan And The Trappers [DVD](1958) DVD
Olympic great Buster Crabbe dons the loincloth this time as the Lord of the Jungle, helping a young girl find her father, discovering a lost city and fighting treacherous Arabs. Adapted from the serial of the same title. Then, enforcing the jungle's code of justice, Tarzan (Gordon Scott) tries to impede the actions of greedy trappers capturing animals for zoos and save a noble chieftain ("Scatman" Crothers) along the way. Also stars Eve Brent. 149 min.
Tarzan And The Trappers(1958) VHS
Enforcing the jungle's code of justice, Tarzan (Gordon Scott) tries to impede the actions of greedy trappers capturing animals for zoos and save a noble chieftain ("Scatman" Crothers) along the way. Also stars Eve Brent. 71 min.

johnny sheffield

The Tarzan Collection [DVD] DVD
Johnny Weissmuller swings as the jungle hero, and Maureen O'Sullivan is his true love, Jane, in six classic MGM Tarzan actioners. See how the pair first met in "Tarzan, The Ape Man" (1932); ivory hunters threaten their idyllic life in "Tarzan and His Mate" (1934); Tarzan must rescue Jane from poachers in "Tarzan Escapes" (1936); the tree-dwelling duo take in an orphan boy who they name...well, Boy, in "Tarzan Finds a Son!" (1939); gold seekers take Jane and Boy hostage in "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (1941); and the ape man takes the Big Apple by storm in "Tarzan's New York Adventure" (1942). Also includes a bonus disc featuring the documentary "Silver Screen: King of the Jungle" and other special features. 8 1/2 hrs. on four discs. Standard; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; documentary; bonus shorts; theatrical trailers. Four-disc set.
The Tarzan Collection, Vol. 2 [DVD] DVD
Jungle hero Johnny Weissmuller moved from MGM to RKO for his next six swinging action sagas. First, "Tarzan Triumphs" (1943) over Nazis who attempt to conquer a lost civilization; the search for a plant that will yield a malaria serum leads Tarzan and Boy (Johnny Sheffield) back into conflict with German agents, in "Tarzan's Desert Mystery" (1943); Tarzan and Jane (Brenda Joyce) help defend a female tribe from some nosy archeologists, in "Tarzan and the Amazons" (1945); a bizarre African cult must contend with an angry ape man when they attack Jane and Boy, in "Tarzan and the Leopard Woman" (1946); the jungle king goes up against poachers out to repopulate a zoo, in "Tarzan and the Huntress" (1947); and Weissmuller plays Tarzan for the last time in "Tarzan and the Mermaids" (1948), rescuing a young girl from a pearl trader posing as a tribal god. 7 1/4 hrs. total on three discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.

johnny weissmuller

collection sets

Tarzan 5-Pack VHS
You'll go "ape" with the money you can save with this collector's set. Included are "Tarzan and the Green Goddess," "Tarzan and the Trappers," "Tarzan the Fearless," "Tarzan's New Adventure" and "Tarzan's Revenge."

tarzan books available

from amazon.com

Kings of the Jungle: An Illustrated Reference to Tarzan on Screen and Television, written by David Fury, Cast, production credits, chronicles every Tarzan film ever made. Includes release dates and running times for each of the Tarzan films. The plot synopses include the storyline, background information on the making of the film, and contemporary critical commentary. Also examined is Tarzan on television, from the TV movie Tarzan and the Trappers (1958) to the 1991 series. Illustrated with many photos. Hardcover, 270 pages. Published April 2002.

Please Don't Call Me Tarzan: The Life Story of Herman Brix/Bruce Bennett, written by Mike Chapman, is the story of the fascinating life of Herman Brix/Bruce Bennett, from the lumber camps of Washington to the Olympic Games to the Hollywood scene of the 1930s, '40s, '50s and '60s. The book takes the reader through Brix's life and to Guatemala, where Brix struggled not only to become the screen's eighth Tarzan, but to stay alive in primitive conditions. The book also includes a foreword by Danton Burroughs, the grandson of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. More than 90 photos. 150 pages.

Johnny Weissmuller: Twice the Hero
David Fury's biography of Johnny Weissmuller spans his entire life and includes a number of rare photos. The book covers Weissmuller's life from his birth in Europe in 1904 to his death in 1984. Foreword by Johnny Sheffield. Many rare photos.

Mike Chapman's The Gold and the Glory: The Amazing True Story of Glenn Morris, Olympic Champion and Movie Tarzan

The Gold and the Glory: The Amazing True Story of Glenn Morris, Olympic Champion and Movie Tarzan
Mike Chapman's biography of Glenn Morris, 1936 Olympic champion and Tarzan actor, tells an interesting and at times sad tale of the life of this Olympic champion and war hero. Wonderfully illustrated with 125 rare photos, this 144-page softcover book was published by Culture House Books of Newton, Iowa, in March 2003.

watch tarzan's revenge

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This page premiered April 15, 1999.
Counter reset March 1, 2001.
Copyright and Disclaimer Information

Updated 4/23/2008.

Coming soon: Woody Strode.

Click on the photos below to go to the respective pages, with numerous photos and biographical information.

tarzan actors

Although Lex Barker had been an actor for a number of years, the Tarzan series provided him with his first starring role.

A silver medalist in the 1928 Olympics, Herman Brix starred as Tarzan in 1935 serial The New Adventures of Tarzan. Later in his career, changed his name to Bruce Bennett and went on to act in many hit films, including Mildred Pierce.

A gold medalist in the 1932 Olympics, Buster Crabbe starred as Tarzan only once, in the 1933 film Tarzan the Fearless. Later in his career, he gained fame as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, and he also acted in a string of westerns.

Ron Ely had been working as an actor for nearly ten years before his career took off, when he was cast as Tarzan for the 1966-69 television series of the same name.

Actor Mike Henry was a pro-football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams before he was cast as Tarzan.

Western actor and former stuntman Jock Mahoney replaced Gordon Scott, becoming the twelfth series Tarzan. The Jock Mahoney page includes images from Mahoney's many western roles.

Former UCLA basketball star Denny Miller took the title role in MGM's 1959 Tarzan, the Ape Man, the studio's last entry in the Tarzan series. Miller later went on to a successful career in westerns and television.

Olympic gold medalist Glenn Morris made only two films. His last film was Tarzan's Revenge released in 1938.

Miles O'Keeffe got his big break in films portraying Tarzan in John Derek's 1981 flick Tarzan, the Ape Man. O'Keeffe has since made more than 30 films.

Gordon Scott replaced Lex Barker as Tarzan in 1954. He made six Tarzan films before moving on to sword and sandal films.

Johnny Sheffield first starred as "Boy" in the 1939 film Tarzan Finds a Son!. By 1949, Sheffield had moved on to a film series of his own, the Bomba series from Monogram Pictures.

Many folks think of Johnny Weissmuller as the ultimate Tarzan. You'll find numerous photos here, and don't forget to visit the Johnny Weissmuller gallery.