The Death of Tarzan
Today in 1984 came the end to an iconic career: Johnny Weissmuller, better known as Tarzan, passed away. He starred in several of MGM’s Tarzan movies, beginning with Tarzan the Ape Man in 1932. However, Weismuller was more than a pretty Hollywood face. He came ready to play the jungle man by having won five, count’em, five gold medals in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics in swimming. Although he never starred in the 1966 TV show version of Tarzan, Weissmuller’s yodelling howl is still synonymous with the ape man he made famous.
Oh yeah, today is also Bill Maher’s birthday. Holla!
As a huge Tarzan fan, thanks for a small rememberance of his most iconic portrayer. I've loved those old Weissmuller movies since I was a kid and happily own them on DVD. It's amazing to me to think that's it's been 24 years since his passing, and even longer since his heyday, but it's refreshing to see him acknowledged for both his Tarzan role and his amazing Olympic accomplishments. While people may sometimes deride his "Me Tarzan, You Jane" Tarzan (and yes, I know he never actually said that line), neither he nor Tarzan would be thought of as fondly as they are today if his performance wasn't charming, exciting, and endearing. A very underrated performer all around.
Ho incominciato a 5 anni a vedere i film di Tarzan con Johnny Weissmuller e per me è l'unico Tarzan. Peccato che in Italia non si trovino i suoi film in DVD. Rivedrei molto volentieri questo eroe della mia infanzia. Ho trovato qualche film di Tarzan (naturalmente con Johnny Weissmuller) su You Tube, ma purtroppo in lingua inglese. Senza il doppiaggio in italiano mi è impossibile godermelo. Spero che qualche azienda del settore audiovisivi si accorga anche di Johnny Weissmuller e riproponga i suoi film in DVD oppure ili inserisca su You Tube in lingua italiana. Antonio