The culture that keeps Tarzan alive
The jungle is calling, with Tarzan coming back to the screen once again. Here's a look back at over 100 years of Tarzan cult, complete with the original book, films, music and musicals.
The Legend of Tarzan - rewritten
The story of Tarzan, the boy raised by apes in the jungle, has been told dozens of times over the past century. The latest attempt is a big-budget Hollywood production with an A-list cast. It makes a concerted effort to rid the plot of the racial and stereotypes that had marred the original. Click through the gallery for a history of the Tarzan story and how it's been adapted over the decades.
How it all began
Author Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) was the creator of the popular character that jumped from tree to tree and behaved like an ape. His story first appeared in the US pulp publication "All-Story Magazine" in 1912. Burroughs not only created a new world in the middle of the African jungle, but even a special ape language, in which "Tarzan" means "white skin."
Tarzan comics
Following the publication of "Tarzan of the Apes" in the "All-Story Magazine" in 1912, Hal Foster turned the story into a comic in 1928 by adding illustrations. From 1931 onwards, weekly Tarzan comics appeared in Sunday papers all over the US. Over the years, these comics were made by various illustrators. They started being published in Germany in 1954.
Silent and black-in-white
"Tarzan of the Apes" was first adapted into a film by Scott Sidney in 1917. The silent film, telling the story of a human child found in the jungle by apes and raised by them, premiered in January 1918, starring Elmo Lincoln (pictured) as Tarzan. Lincoln also worked as a supporting actor in other Tarzan films in 1942 and 1949.
A swimming and yodeling Tarzan
The best known Tarzan actor was probably US swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, winner of five Olympic gold medals. After taking yodeling lessons, Weissmuller also proved to be capable of producing archaic jungle screams. "Tarzan the Ape Man" was the first of a series of 12 movies starring Johnny Weissmuller (r.) and Maureen O'Sullivan (l.).
Underground experimental film
In 1963, US pop artist Andy Warhol created a parody of Tarzan films, entitled "Tarzan and Jane Regained… Sort Of." Searching for his beloved Jane (Naomi Levine), Tarzan (Taylor Mead) is roaming around Los Angeles. In Warhol's experimental movie, Mead's loincloth keeps slipping off.
Tarzan, as he really was?
"Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984) presents the old story in a more somber and dramatic fashion than its predecessors. Christopher Lambert plays Tarzan - though that name is never used in the movie, but rather the character's English name, John Clayton. After some years in the jungle, he returns to British civilization in order to claim his inheritance.
Colorful and funny
Tarzan as a protagonist in a Disney film, accompanied by his cheeky ape "big sister," Terk, and his fearful elephant friend Tantor - that's how most kids of the 1990s have come to know Tarzan. Disney's 1999 version differs quite a lot from the original book written by Burroughs. In the US, the film grossed over $171 million, and in Germany, it was seen by more than 5,6 million people.
Moving sounds from the jungle
British singer Phil Collins produced the entire soundtrack of Disney's Tarzan film, as well as the musical that was produced later. Part of that soundtrack was his famous song "You'll be in my heart." Phil Collins recorded the songs in different languages, and his award-winning soundtrack contributed a lot to the enormous success of the movie.
Vivid jungle world
Personifying Tarzan, Alexander Klaws is swinging through the air. The German actor, former winner of the German television casting show "Deutschland sucht den Superstar" (Germany Seeks the Superstar) starred as Tarzan in a musical in Hamburg from 2010 to 2013. The musical adapted from the Disney film with the music by Phil Collins opened on Broadway in 2006.
Tarzan in 3D
The animated film "Tarzan," released in 2013, tells a science-fiction version of the Tarzan story. Here, Tarzan, with the voice of Kellan Lutz (pictured), defends his jungle from the boss of a huge company. The film was shown in movie theaters in both 2D and 3D.
Sequel with strong pictures
In the new "The Legend of Tarzan," filmed by David Yates (director of four Harry Potter movies), Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) returns to the jungle after a long absence. The film shows Tarzan's life as Lord Greystoke outside of the jungle, as well as his return to his wild African home.This latest Tarzan film adaptation, also starring German actor Christoph Waltz, premiered on June 27.