: It was one of the first major motion pictures to film on location outside of the Los Angeles or New York areas. Casting Milestones
: The moss-draped cypress trees and waterways closely matched the "moss-covered branches" described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel. Transportation Morgan City
: The dark bayous and waterways of the Atchafalaya Swamp served as the backdrop for most of the jungle scenes.
The first Tarzan movie, "Tarzan of the Apes," was released in 1918, directed by William A. Seiter and starring Gordon Griffith as Tarzan. The film was a silent movie, and it's considered a lost film, as no complete copies have survived to the present day. where was the first tarzan movie filmed top
: The cast and crew stayed here during their time in Morgan City.
The specific “top” spot within Morgan City was the and the surrounding woodlands near Avery Island . Today, visitors can still take a “Tarzan Tour” through parts of the region, though much of it has been reclaimed by private land or conservation efforts.
Producers chose this specific Louisiana town for several practical and aesthetic reasons: : It was one of the first major
: The town offered necessary amenities for a large film crew, including hotels , a railway-serviced wharf , and local storage warehouses.
| Aspect | Details | | :--- | :--- | | | Tarzan of the Apes | | Release Year | 1918 | | Director | Scott Sidney | | Starring | Elmo Lincoln, Gordon Griffith, Stellan Windrow | | Primary Filming Location | Morgan City, Louisiana (Specifically Lake End Park) | | Additional Filming Locations | Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana; California; Stock footage from African travelogues. | | Other Locations Considered | Florida |
This legendary shoot did more than just introduce Edgar Rice Burroughs’ iconic character to the silver screen. It marked a historic milestone as the , laying the foundational stones for the state's modern film industry. Key Filming Locations in Morgan City The first Tarzan movie, "Tarzan of the Apes,"
: The moss-draped cypress trees and dense waterways of the Atchafalaya Basin provided the "jungle" atmosphere. Lake End Park
movie, titled Tarzan of the Apes (1918), was primarily filmed in Morgan City, Louisiana