Where Was The First Tarzan Movie Filmed Top Direct

: After wrapping in Louisiana, the remainder of the filming was completed in Hollywood at Griffith Park , the E&R Jungle Film Company , and the old . Morgan City was Chosen

Yes, but not in its original full form. For decades, Tarzan of the Apes (1918) was considered a lost film. However, incomplete prints have surfaced in film archives. The and the George Eastman Museum hold partial reels. What remains shows the Louisiana landscape clearly doubling for Africa—cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss standing in for towering African hardwoods.

Interior scenes, including the cabin built by Tarzan’s parents and certain staged jungle sets, were filmed at the Universal Studios facility in Chicago. At the time, Universal had a major production hub there before shifting entirely to Universal City, California.

So, where was the first Tarzan movie filmed? The 1918 film Tarzan of the Apes did not go to Africa. Instead, it brought a convincing, low-budget version of Africa to the American South. where was the first tarzan movie filmed top

If you have ever found yourself typing into a search engine, you are likely looking for the definitive answer—quickly, but with rich historical context. You want the name of the location, the reason it was chosen, and perhaps some trivia to satisfy your curiosity.

cinema trivia: Where was the first-ever Tarzan movie filmed? 🎥🌿

The first Tarzan movie ever made, the 1918 silent film masterpiece Tarzan of the Apes , was filmed on location in the lush, moss-draped bayous of . While audiences on Broadway believed they were looking deep into the untamed jungles of equatorial Africa, they were actually seeing the primeval backwaters of the Atchafalaya Basin. : After wrapping in Louisiana, the remainder of

Sources consulted: contemporary film histories and location accounts documenting the 1917 Morgan City shoots and the Los Angeles studio work for Tarzan of the Apes (1918).

The movie "Tarzan of the Apes" was based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' novel of the same name, published in 1914. The story follows John Clayton, a British nobleman who grows up in the African jungle, raised by gorillas after his parents' death. He becomes Tarzan, a wild but kind-hearted hero who ultimately returns to civilization.

While the apes were actors in suits, the production did bring in some real animals. Rumors persisted for a century that monkeys were released into the wild after filming wrapped. However, incomplete prints have surfaced in film archives

The story of Tarzan's cinematic origins reminds us that big-screen magic can be found in the most unexpected places. The Louisiana bayous, with their unique beauty, played a pivotal role in launching one of Hollywood's longest-running and most beloved franchises. Next time you're watching a Tarzan movie, take a closer look at the scenery—it might just be a little bit of Louisiana, Florida, England, or even Hawaii, adding to the timeless allure of the Lord of the Apes.

Tarzan of the Apes (1918), Elmo Lincoln, silent film, filming location, Morgan City, Louisiana cinema history

The production required a massive number of extras to play members of African tribes. The filmmakers hired hundreds of local Morgan City residents, including many from the local African American community, and dressed them in traditional costumes to populate the fictional jungle villages. Other Locations Used in Early Tarzan Films