Films Johnny Weissmuller

weissmüller maureen o sullivan (jane) in tarzan s secret treasure

his acting career began when signed seven-year contract metro-goldwyn-mayer , played role of tarzan in tarzan ape man (1932). movie huge success , weissmuller became overnight international sensation. author of tarzan, edgar rice burroughs, pleased weissmuller, although hated studio s depiction of tarzan barely spoke english created own concurrent tarzan series filmed on location in central american jungles , starring herman brix suitably articulate version of character.

weissmuller starred in 6 tarzan movies mgm actress maureen o sullivan jane , cheeta chimpanzee. last 3 included johnny sheffield boy. then, in 1942, weissmuller went rko , starred in 6 more tarzan movies markedly reduced production values. sheffield appeared boy in first 5 features rko. brenda joyce took on role of jane in weissmuller s last 4 tarzan movies (the first 2 rko films had not featured jane). unlike mgm, rko allowed weissmuller play other roles, though three-picture contract pine-thomas productions led 1 film, swamp fire, being made, co-starring buster crabbe. in total of twelve tarzan films, weissmuller earned estimated $2,000,000 , established himself many movie historians consider definitive tarzan. although not first tarzan in movies (that elmo lincoln), first associated traditional ululating, yodeling tarzan yell. during appearance on television s mike douglas show in 1970s, weissmuller explained how famous yell created. recordings of 3 vocalists spliced effect‍—‌a soprano, alto , hog caller.

when weissmuller left role of tarzan, traded loincloth costume slouch hat , safari suit role of jungle jim (1948) columbia. made thirteen jungle jim films between 1948 , 1954. according actor michael fox, weissmuller shoot 2 jungle jim films consecutively 9 days filming each break of 2 days between, return home in mexico. within next year, appeared in 3 more jungle movies, playing himself due rights of name jungle jim being taken screen gems. in 1955, began production of jungle jim television adventure series screen gems, film subsidiary of columbia. costars martin huston , dean fredericks. show produced twenty-six episodes, subsequently played repeatedly on network , syndicated television. aside first screen appearance adonis , role of johnny duval in 1946 film swamp fire, weissmuller played 3 roles in films during heyday of hollywood career: tarzan, jungle jim, , himself.