The Romance of Tarzan
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| The Romance of Tarzan | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Scott Sidney |
| Produced by | William Parsons |
| Written by | Edgar Rice Burroughs (novel) Bess Meredyth and Wilfred Lucas (adaptation) |
| Starring | Elmo Lincoln Enid Markey Thomas Jefferson Cleo Madison |
| Cinematography | Harry Vallejo |
| Editing by | C. R. Wallace |
| Distributed by | National Film Corporation of America |
| Release date(s) | 16 September 1918 |
| Running time | 96 min |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
| Preceded by | Tarzan of the Apes (film) |
| Followed by | The Revenge of Tarzan |
| IMDb profile | |
The Romance of Tarzan (1918) is a silent, black and white action adventure film directed by Scott Sidney starring Elmo Lincoln, Enid Markey, Thomas Jefferson and Cleo Madison. The movie was the second Tarzan movie ever made, and is based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel Tarzan of the Apes. It adapts only the second part of the novel, the earlier portion having been the basis for the preceding film, Tarzan of the Apes. Less popular than its predecessor due to much of the action taking place in the wild west rather than Africa, the film has not been preserved, and no prints of it are known to survive today.
[edit] Plot
The film opens with flashbacks from Tarzan of the Apes to establish the back story. The African expedition led by Professor Porter (Thomas Jefferson) to find Tarzan (Elmo Lincoln), the ape-raised heir of Lord Greystoke, has been crowned with success, and Tarzan and Porter's daughter Jane (Enid Markey) are in love. The party now prepares to return to civilization when it is attacked by natives and separated from the ape-man. Tarzan's cousin Clayton (Colin Kenny), the current Lord Greystoke, desiring to keep his wealth and title, reports having seen the savages kill Tarzan. Believing him dead, they leave without their charge. But Tarzan has in fact survived, and is eager to be reunited with Jane. Finding his new friends gone he swims out to another boat to follow. Eventually he reaches California in the United States of America, and is landed near the Porters' San Francisco ranch. Tarzan in civilization is like a bull in a china shop, as is demonstrated early in a destructive incident in a dance hall, where his prowess impresses La Belle Odine (Cleo Madison). Things get back on track when Jane is kidnapped by outlaws, presenting him with the opportunity to rescue her. Jane, however, is cold to him, as Clayton has falsely convinced her he is in love wit the other woman. Heartbroken, Tarzan swears off civilization and returns to Africa. Belatedly learning the truth from Odine, Jane follows, and is happily reunited with her lover in the jungle.
