Me Tarzan…You Jane

Today’s blog is a retrospective look at the mattes and visual effects used in the six Johnny Weissmuller-Maureen O’Sullivan original TARZAN series of films made at Metro Goldwyn Mayer from the early thirties, from TARZAN – THE APE MAN made in 1932 through to the 1942 TARZAN’S NEW YORK ADVENTURE.

The Edgar Rice Burroughs’ characters and adventures were solid box office, with dozens of sequels, ripoffs and remakes – from the early silent era Elmo Lincoln incarnation of the loinclothed tree dweller through to nineties Disney animated super hits.

Seriously though, there was really just one TARZAN – and that was Johnny Weissmuller (though in saying that, I’d give a serious ‘thumbs up’ to Christopher Lambert in the excellent 1984 version GREYSTOKE). While Weissmuller was born for the lead role, no one (I repeat, no one) could hold a candle to the lovely Maureen O’Sullivan in the role of Jane – especially before the dreaded Hay’s Code got into the act and diluted so much sensuality from her portrayal after the astonishingly bold – and arguably the best of the series – TARZAN AND HIS MATE (1934)…

…Read the Full Article @ Matte Shot

This blog is intended as a tribute to the ingenuity of the traditional matte painter where movie magic was created entirely by hand. Some of the shots will amaze in their grandeur and epic quality while others will surprise in their ‘invisibility’ to even the sophisticated viewer. I hope this collection will serve as an appreciation of the artform and both casual visitors and those with a specialist interest may benefit, enjoy and be amazed at skills largely unknown today

NZPete

I have gone further back into the archives of Matte Shot – A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX to feature even more articles from this great site, so  I hope you enjoy this wonderful journey we’re on together.

PJ Max