Edgar Rice Burroughs’ memorable creation, Tarzan, came to the screen in the person of Elmo Lincoln in 1918’s Tarzan of the Apes. Here we get the youth of the jungle lord and his growth to maturity and his finding of love. Both Lincoln, as the adult Tarzan, and Gordon Griffith, as Tarzan in childhood, give good performances in the style of the time. Enid Markey is satisfactory as Jane but doesn’t really contribute too much. George B. French, as the loyal sailor Binns, does well. The surviving version of the movie lacks some of the story but is nonetheless complete enough to be entertaining.

  Mildly recommended. Otto judiciously thinks this movie is OK, but not great.

Movie 53 for 2021.