The Son of Tarzan (film)
Encyclopedia
The Son of Tarzan is a 15 chapter film serial which focuses on the coming of age of Jack Clayton, also known as Korak, the son of Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
and Jane
Jane Porter (Tarzan)
Jane Porter is a major character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels, and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly film.- In the novels :...
. The serial was produced by David P. Howells, written by Roy Somerville (based on the 1915 novel The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was written between January 21 and May 11, 1915, and first published in the magazine All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial from December 4, 1915-January 8, 1916. It...
by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
), and directed by Arthur J. Flaven and Harry Revier
Harry Revier
Harry Jack Revier was an independent American director, producer and first generation exploitation film maker best known for his sound films; The Lost City , Lash of the Penitentes and Child Bride .-Biography:Born in Philadelphia in 1890, some sources state that Revier gained early experience as...
. The film was released starting in the summer of 1920, with the final chapter released in January 1921.
Plot
Tarzan and Jane have left AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, married and settled in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Their pre-teen son, Jack, dreams of jungle adventures like his father's, but is discouraged by his parents. He sneaks away to see a trained ape called Ajax (in reality, Akut, an old friend from Tarzan's youth). The ape's trainer is really Ivan Paulovich, an old enemy of Tarzan's, who is looking for a way to enact vengeance. He kidnaps Jack and takes him to Africa.
Jack escapes with Akut, and survives on his own in the wild much like his father before him. He is given the Ape name Korak, which means "Killer" in their language. Korak rescues Meriem
Meriem, wife of Korak
Meriem is a minor character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels, and the heroine of the fourth, The Son of Tarzan. Born Jeanne Jacot, the daughter of French general Armand Jacot, she is taken captive by Arabs as a child who give her the name Meriem. She is later rescued from her...
, a young French girl held captive by Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
slave traders, and they grow to adulthood in the jungle. Paulovich hopes to receive a ransom from her wealthy parents for her return as well, and attempts to capture both of them.
Eventually Paulovich lures Jane to Africa in order to extort a ransom, but Tarzan soon follows. Tarzan and Jane, living at their African estate, find Meriem and informally adopt her. They discover her parentage and send for her father. The film climaxes with a battle pitting Korak against Paulovich, his henchmen and the slave traders. An elephant rescues Korak, who is bound to a stake, and he and Meriem are reunited with their parents, and all sail for England.
Cast
- Kamuela C. SearleKamuela C. SearleKamuela C. Searle was an Hawaiian actor, sculptor and painter, best remembered for his portrayal of Korak, the son of Tarzan and Jane.-Early life and film career:...
as Korak/Jack Clayton, the son of Tarzan (adult) - Manilla Martan as Meriem, Korak's companion and eventual wife (adult)
- P. Dempsey TablerP. Dempsey TablerPerce Dempsey Tabler was a Tennessee-born athlete, businessman and actor, best remembered for being the third actor to portray Tarzan in films....
as TarzanTarzanTarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer... - Karla SchrammKarla SchrammKarla Schramm , a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California, was most famous for being the second actress to play Jane in films. She first appeared in the 1920 production The Revenge of Tarzan opposite Gene Pollar as Tarzan. Later that same year she again played the role in the movie serial The...
as JaneJane Porter (Tarzan)Jane Porter is a major character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels, and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly film.- In the novels :... - Gordon GriffithGordon GriffithGordon S. Griffith was an American assistant director, film producer, and one of the first child actors in the American movie industry. Griffith worked in the film industry for five decades, acting in over 60 films, and surviving the transition from silent films to talkies—films with...
as Korak/Jack Clayton (child) - Mae GiraciMae GiraciMae Georgia Giraci , also known as May Giraci, May Garcia, May Geraci, May Giracci, May Giracia and Tina Rossi, was an American child actress who appeared in silent films between 1915 and 1929. She was discovered by director Cecil B. DeMille and worked with him and his brother William C. DeMille. ...
as Meriem (child) - Eugene Burr as Ivan Paulovich, a villain seeking revenge on Tarzan
Production
Edgar Rice BurroughsEdgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
had fallen out with the President of National Film Corporation over the first two Tarzan films. However, following a change in President to Harry M. Rubey, National Film Corporation paid Burroughs $20,000 for the screen rights to his novel The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan
The Son of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was written between January 21 and May 11, 1915, and first published in the magazine All-Story Weekly as a six-part serial from December 4, 1915-January 8, 1916. It...
. The producer, David P. Howells, decided to abandon the feature film format of the previous Tarzan production in favour of a film serial.
National Film Corporation was unable to cast either of the previous Tarzan actors, Elmo Lincoln
Elmo Lincoln
Elmo Lincoln was an American film actor.Born Otto Elmo Linkenhelt, the barrel-chested actor is best known in his silent movie role as the first Tarzan in 1918's Tarzan of the Apes as an adult --...
or Gene Pollar
Gene Pollar
Gene Pollar was the screen name of New York City firefighter Joseph Pohler, who in his very brief movie career played Tarzan.-Background:...
. As the production was without a star to begin with the early publicity focussed on the serial itself. Howells told the press, "This picture will be an animal serial supreme with a special cast. It is to be no mad jumble of blood and thunder, nor a series of unrelated incidents intended to be mystifying, but will be a consistently constructed dramatic production."
Casting
On 3 April 1920, Rubey announced that cowboy actor Jack HoxieJack Hoxie
Jack Hoxie was an American rodeo performer and motion picture actor whose career was most prominent in the silent film era of the 1910s through the 1930s...
would play the lead as Tarzan's son, Korak. The female lead would be Rubey's wife, Lucille. Harry Revier
Harry Revier
Harry Jack Revier was an independent American director, producer and first generation exploitation film maker best known for his sound films; The Lost City , Lash of the Penitentes and Child Bride .-Biography:Born in Philadelphia in 1890, some sources state that Revier gained early experience as...
was hired as the director and the filming would take place on an island in the South Pacific. He even stated that "over 300 apes, orangutangs, gorillas and chimpanzees have been contracted for".
Within a month most of these plans had changed. With the backing of Howells and casting director Jean Temple, Revier replaced Lucille Rubey with Kathleen May, only to replace her in turn by Manilla Martan. Hoxie had never been enthusiastic about the part and soon pulled out. This left the serial without a star again until Revier cast Hawaiian actor Kamuela C. Searle
Kamuela C. Searle
Kamuela C. Searle was an Hawaiian actor, sculptor and painter, best remembered for his portrayal of Korak, the son of Tarzan and Jane.-Early life and film career:...
, who had played an important part in Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
's Male and Female
Male and Female
Male and Female is a 1919 silent film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. Its main themes are gender relations and social class. It is based on the J. M. Barrie play "The Admirable Crichton".-Plot:...
, as Korak. Searle spent four weeks in the desert prior to filming "hardening" himself in preparation for the role.
Mae Giraci
Mae Giraci
Mae Georgia Giraci , also known as May Giraci, May Garcia, May Geraci, May Giracci, May Giracia and Tina Rossi, was an American child actress who appeared in silent films between 1915 and 1929. She was discovered by director Cecil B. DeMille and worked with him and his brother William C. DeMille. ...
was cast as the young Meriem. The role of the young Korak initially went to Kenneth Nordyke but he was replaced by Gordon Griffiths
Gordon Griffiths
Gordon Craven Griffiths was an English cricketer: a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper who played five times for Worcestershire between 1932 and 1935. He never made a significant impact on a game with the bat, having a top score of just 16 from his ten innings and finishing with a batting...
, who had played the young Tarzan in Tarzan of the Apes
Tarzan of the Apes (film)
Tarzan of the Apes is a 1918 American action/adventure silent film directed by Scott Sidney starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, George B. French and Gordon Griffith. The movie was the first Tarzan movie ever made, and is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel Tarzan of the Apes...
and The Romance of Tarzan
The Romance of Tarzan
The Romance of Tarzan is a silent, black and white action adventure film directed by Wilfred Lucas starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, Thomas Jefferson and Cleo Madison. The movie was the second Tarzan movie ever made, and is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel Tarzan of the Apes...
. P. Dempsey Tabler
P. Dempsey Tabler
Perce Dempsey Tabler was a Tennessee-born athlete, businessman and actor, best remembered for being the third actor to portray Tarzan in films....
, a Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
athlete with experience in light opera, was cast as Tarzan. As he was balding, he wore a bad, unconvincing wig for the part. He was not popular as Tarzan and this was his final performance on screen. Karla Schramm was another Tarzan film veteran after Griffiths. With this serial she was reprising her role as Jane from The Revenge of Tarzan
The Revenge of Tarzan
The Revenge of Tarzan is a silent adventure film, and the third Tarzan film produced. The film was produced by the Great Western Film Producing Company, a subsidiary of Numa Pictures Corporation. It was sold to Goldwyn Distributing Company before release...
.
Filming
Production started 15 May 1920, with the intention of an autumn release. This timetable could not be kept to and Revier hired an assistant director, Arthur J. Flavin, in June 1920 to speed up production. The fifteenth and final chapter was not finished until 27 January 1921, for a total negative costNegative cost
Negative cost is the cost of actually producing and shooting a film. It does not include such costs as distribution and promotion.Low-budget movies, for example The Blair Witch Project, can have promotional expenses that are much larger than the negative cost.The term comes from the costs up to the...
of $106,000.
As the audience may not have been aware of the background to the Tarzan story, Revier arranged a pictorial prologue to acquaint them with the basics. This played at the start of the first chapter and the idea was extended to replace the written opening synopsis of the story so far in each subsequent chapter. This was the first serial to do so and pictorial retelling of earlier chapters became a common feature of later serials. The prologue makes this serial notable as it contains the first on-screen wedding of Tarzan and Jane.
The serial was actually filmed in the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
, the river bottom at Pico Riviera (in what is now the Woodland Park
Woodland Park
Woodland Park can refer to:United Kingdom* Woodlands Family Theme Park DevonUnited States* Woodland Park, Colorado* Woodland Park, Idaho* Woodland Park, Michigan* Woodland Park, New Jersey* Woodland Park ** Woodland Park Zoo...
area), along the coasts of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
(Corona del Mar) and San Francisco. As a pre-Hays Code production, the film shows Manilla Martan bathing nude, and several shots show her breasts pop out of her skimpy costume during fight and chase scenes.
While filming the fifteenth chapter an accident occurred on set involving Searle and the elephant playing Tantor. Searle had been tied to a stake and, following a Tarzan Yell, Tantor was supposed to come to his rescue, pull the stake out of the ground and place Searle down again. Instead of placing him gently on the ground, however, the elephant thrust him down so hard it shattered the stake. According to Essoe, Harmon & Glut, Searle died from his injuries and the serial was completed by a double. However, Searle's brother later stated that though Searle was hurt enough that a double did stand in for him in a few final long shots, he survived the mishap, only to die of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1924.
The accident was played down but proved to be a big draw with the movie going public regardless, The serial was being released while it was shot, rather than being completed and then released, so publicity from the event helped the serial, as the audience wished to see the "death scene". Further injury occurred when Tabler broke several ribs in a fight scene with Eugene Burr (playing Ivan Paulovich).
The song "Tarzan, my Jungle King" was written for the serial.
Critical reception
Critics enjoyed the film but were divided in the extent of their praise. The Exhibitors Herald declared it the "best serial of all time. Should have been twenty episodes or more instead of fifteen. Will be the greatest moneymaker over the Christmas holidays." However, the Motion Picture Magazine said "Even tho' good entertainment, The Son of Tarzan could have been much improved with name actors." The success of this Tarzan serial inspired the subsequent The Adventures of TarzanThe Adventures of Tarzan
The Adventures of Tarzan is a 15 chapter movie serial which features the third and final appearance of Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan. The serial was produced by Louis Weiss, written by Robert F. Hill and Lillian Valentine , and directed by Robert F...
.
Chapter titles
- "The Call of the Jungle"
- "Out of the Lion's Jaws"
- "Girl of the Jungle"
- "The Sheik's Revenge"
- "The Pirate's Prey"
- "The Killer's Mate"
- "The Quest of the Killer"
- "The Coming of Tarzan"
- "The Kiss of the Beast"
- "Tarzan Takes the Trail"
- "Ashes of Love"
- "Meriem's Ride in the Night"
- "Double Crossed"
- "Blazing Hearts"
- "An Amazing Denouement"
External links
- The Son of Tarzan at Silent Era