Where Was The First Tarzan Movie Filmed Top Jun 2026

The franchise has also been marked by several firsts. The first Tarzan film to be shot on the continent of Africa was 1951's Tarzan's Peril starring Lex Barker, with some scenes filmed in Kenya. The first color Tarzan film was 1957's Tarzan and the Lost Safari , which integrated footage of African wildlife from Nairobi, British East Africa (now Kenya), with studio work in London. Lastly, the 1999 animated Disney film Tarzan was a landmark as the first major animated feature, using a revolutionary animation system called that created 3-D backgrounds to give the film a unique depth.

: The dense, exotic-looking swampland served as the primary backdrop for the jungle scenes. Lake End Park

In 1917, the producers of Tarzan of the Apes needed a location that looked like the African Congo but was accessible from Los Angeles. They chose the dense, humid swamplands of Morgan City, Louisiana.

The Morgan City Chamber of Commerce agreed not to charge a fee to film in the area, a massive benefit to the production budget.

: This waterfront site in Morgan City served as the main location for the . The crew built many palmetto huts there, some of which were later burned for dramatic effect on camera. Atchafalaya Basin where was the first tarzan movie filmed top

[Morgan City, Louisiana] │ ├─► Lake End Park (Waterfront & Native Village Scenes) │ ├─► Atchafalaya Basin (Swamps standing in for African Jungle) │ └─► Lake Palourde (Deep Jungle & Waterway Sequences) Specific Filming Spots in the Bayou

: It was one of the first major motion pictures to film on location outside of the Los Angeles or New York areas. Casting Milestones

Interior scenes, including the cabin built by Tarzan’s parents and certain staged jungle sets, were filmed at the Universal Studios facility in Chicago. At the time, Universal had a major production hub there before shifting entirely to Universal City, California.

It was the first silent film to earn over $1 million at the box office, becoming an overnight sensation. The franchise has also been marked by several firsts

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.

Discover the origins of Hollywood's iconic ape-man and explore the filming locations of the 1918 silent film, "Tarzan of Hobbingen." Learn where the first Tarzan movie was filmed and uncover the challenges faced by the production team.

They used the local swamps to double for the African jungle! 🐊🌴

The deep swamps allowed for the staging of native tribal canoe scenes and shipwreck sequences required by the script. Lastly, the 1999 animated Disney film Tarzan was

While the apes were actors in suits, the production did bring in some real animals. Rumors persisted for a century that monkeys were released into the wild after filming wrapped.

Long before Louisiana became celebrated as "Hollywood South," Morgan City hosted the country's very first major cinematic blockbuster. The film revolutionized the motion picture industry by proving that massive commercial successes could be achieved outside of New York and California.

The moss-covered cypress trees and bayous provided the "jungle" atmosphere. Lake End Park: Used for many of the village and hut scenes. Avoca Island: Another key wilderness location used for outdoor filming. Shannon Hardware: