Where Was The First Tarzan Movie Filmed Top Info

Swinging Through History: Where Was the First Tarzan Movie Filmed?

The character of Tarzan, the aristocratic Lord Greystoke raised by apes in the African jungle, has been a cornerstone of popular culture for over a century. Created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the “Lord of the Jungle” has swung from the pages of novels into comic strips, radio shows, television series, and, most memorably, the silver screen. When discussing the film legacy of Tarzan, a common question arises: where was the first Tarzan movie filmed?

1. It Established the “Jungle Movie” Genre

Before Tarzan of the Apes, no American film had successfully depicted a dense, treacherous jungle. The success of the Louisiana shoot proved that filmmakers could “fake” exotic locations with creative cinematography. This paved the way for later jungle epics like King Kong (1933), which also famously used rear-projection and studio swamps.

The production of Tarzan of the Apes in Louisiana was groundbreaking for several reasons: where was the first tarzan movie filmed top

Local lore even suggests that during filming, monkeys escaped into the swamps; while there is no scientific evidence of a breeding population today, the story remains a popular part of Morgan City's "Tarzan" identity. Following nine weeks in Louisiana, the production shifted to California to complete filming at Griffith Park and the Selig Zoo in Los Angeles. Expand map

Filming in Louisiana was brutal. The cast and crew suffered from: Swinging Through History: Where Was the First Tarzan

However, the “top” filming location wasn’t Africa—as most audiences assumed—but the American South. Let’s swing through the vines of cinema history to uncover why this location was chosen, how it became the “top” jungle on screen, and why it remains a pilgrimage site for silent film buffs.

The primary location for the film's "jungle" scenes, chosen for its dense, moss-draped vegetation and wild waterways. Lake End Park ClosedMorgan City, LA When discussing the film legacy of Tarzan, a

The Primary Filming Location: Louisiana, Not Africa

The first Tarzan movie was not filmed in Africa. Instead, the production chose the swamps, bayous, and dense woodlands of the American South.

The first-ever Tarzan movie, Tarzan of the Apes (1918) , was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana