David Nezelek
Cibbuano
TyronneJohnny Weissmuller
November 27th 2007 00:11
Johnny Weissmuller - Olympic Jungle
Johnny Weissmuller
“Swimming gave me my start, but my pal Tarzan did the real work. He set me up nicely.” – Johnny Weissmuller
For some he will always be revered as “one of”, if not “the” greatest swimmer ever to freestyle in a pool, winning 5 Olympic Gold medals and setting an astonishing 67 World record’s.
Weismuller in the pool, soon he would outswim a crocodile.
For others he stands alone as the definitive cinema incarnation of Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan. The one thing that both sides agree on is his 6 foot 3 inch ripped physique and distinct masculinity in real life made him a star.
"How can a guy climb trees, say "Me, Tarzan, you, Jane," and make a million? The public forgives my acting because they know I was an athlete. They know I wasn't make-believe." – Johnny Weissmuller
Ungawa - Striking the pose for publicity as the simian ruler. of the jungle
Born in Austria-Hungary in 1904, 7 months later young Janos emigrated to the U.S with his family. After moving to Pennsylvania, they settled in Chicago where Johnny’s father owned a bar. By his own admission a “scrawny kid”, it was in Lake Michigan on summer vacations that the future champion of champions would first embrace his passion for swimming.
"I started out as a scrawny kid in Chicago, and even that was lucky. It got me to swimming. Then all the good breaks in the world happened-and kept on happening." – Johnny Weissmuller
After leaving school Weissmuller began training for the Olympics and in 1921 made his amateur debut, winning his race. At this early stage in his career he had already developed the revolutionary high-riding-front crawl that would set him ahead of the competition.
Lying on the registration so he could represent America in the 1924 Olympiad and also gain a passport, at 17 years of age he broke his first world record for the 100 metre freestyle. He also won the 400 metre freestyle in the same games and would go on to score two more gold four years later at the next summer Olympics.
Moving on to modelling and promotions it was in 1932 as Tarzan the Ape Man that Johnny Weissmuller became a global sensation. Starring in 6 more Greystoke adventures with MGM even the author of the series said he was pleased with the portrayal, though disliked the grunting and hollering.
Notorious for his womanising and competitive nature, rumour has it that he actually wrestled a live lion in the Tarzan and his Mate and also insisted on diving from the Brooklyn Bridge in Tarzan’s New York Adventure.
Tarzan and Maureen O Sullivan as Jane
Moving to RKO the series quickly took a nose dive though the large chested testosterone machine remained for another half dozen films. After his monumentally successful run as the Lord of the Apes Johnny then turned to the character of Jungle Jim.
As Jungle Jim
Retiring in 1965 with only speckled screen appearances later, the legendary athlete and screen idol died in 1984 from a pulmonary edema.
Here you can relish in the infamous skinny dipping scene from Tarzan and his Mate which was the last straws in the war for film censorship
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Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
I've never seen that scene before. It's both hypnotic and poetic in its direction.
Nice clip.
MNG
Comment by Tyronne
Sydney Fun
Melbourne DiaryStar
This scene was highly controversial and was removed from prints early in release. It was one of those great lost moments that was dug out of the vault and restored to the original for DVD.
Thanks for visiting
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Aah yes, this was my favourite Tarzan and I too hadn't seen this scene... now, unless there are other 'bits' that were also removed... I think I have seen ALL the Weissmuller Tarzan films.
It is sad when something this poetic is canned by those who would later flaunt 'no talents' in harsher light.
Lilla ...