Bessie Toner

The 1st Tarzan movie ever made, the plot follows the novel more closely than does any other Tarzan movie & has an overwhelmingly negative & stereotypical portrayal of native Africans, both Arab and Black. Burroughs reflects common attitudes, widely held in his time. Although these people look more like him than any ape in the jungle, Tarzan views them as completely different. Plot: John and Alice Clayton, Lord and Lady Greystoke (True Boardman and Kathleen Kirkham), are passengers on the Fuwalda, a ship bound for Africa. When the vessel is taken over by mutineers the sailor Binns (George B. French) saves them from being murdered, but they are marooned on the tropical coast. After their deaths their infant son is adopted by Kala, an ape, who raises him as her own. The young Tarzan (Gordon Griffith - one of the 1st child actors) finds his father's knife and uses it to become King of Apes as he grows to maturity. Binns, the sailor who saved the Claytons and who has been held by Arab slavers for ten years, finds the young Tarzan and then heads for England to notify his kin. A scientist arrives to check out Binns' story. Tarzan, now a man, kills the native who killed Kala; when their chief is killed the black villagers appease Tarzan with gifts and prayers. The scientist's daughter Jane is carried off by a native, rescued by Tarzan (who has burnt the native village). Will Jane ever accept Tarzan's love? Watch Movies Online for Free on 10StarMovies.