40 Films in Robotech: Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)

  

This is the film that started a decades long run on Tarzan movies. It’s also surprisingly dark.

 ROBOTECH MENTION:  

Robotech author Jack McKinney describes the movements of Lancer in Robotech: The New Generation as the main character of this film. In his novelization of the TV episode #64 Survival, McKinney writes the following…

The above McKinney writing appears in the book Invid Invasion on page 104.

 SYNOPSIS:  

A great synopsis from the TCM book Picture Show – Classic Movie Posters from the TCM Archives (2003):

"Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller) kills lions with his bare hands, wrestles alligators, and commands elephants – all to save the life of Jane (Maureen O’Sullivan), the woman he kidnapped out of curiosity but quickly came to love." (p.147)

 AWARDS & KUDOS:  

The USA National Board of Review awarded Tarzan The Ape Man the 1932 NBR as one of its Top Ten Films for that year. TCM lists it as a “must-see” of “essential” director W.S. Van Dyke – along with The Thin Man (1934) and San Francisco (1936). In January 2025, Critics' Choice Video listed Tarzan the Ape Man #16 in their Top 100 Movies.

 OTHER COOL FACTS:  

Director W.S. Van Dyke’s prior film prior to Tarzan the Ape Man  – Trader Horn (1931) – was the first sound film to be shot in Africa. Johnny Weissmuller, who plays Tarzan, was an Olympic swimming champion.

 ROBOTECH REASON:  

Tarzan is also visually referenced in Episode 74 entitled Annie’s Wedding. Once again, Lancer exhibits Tarzan-like moves as he swings through the jungle on a vine and scoops up a native boy about to be hurt by the Invid. By McKinney using Tarzan as a reference for Lancer in Episode 64 (Survival), he established this interesting aspect of Lancer. It also probably doesn’t hurt that there was a blatant Tarzan yell in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) – which came out a few short years prior to Robotech.

To read my ⭐⭐⭐(out of a possible 5 star) rating for Tarzan the Ape Man on Letterboxd, click here.