The first Tarzan movie ever made, the 1918 silent classic Tarzan of the Apes, was primarily filmed in the lush bayous and swamps of Morgan City, Louisiana. While the story is set in the African jungle, producers chose this South Louisiana location because its thick vegetation and vine-draped trees closely mimicked the environment described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel. Primary Filming Location: Morgan City, Louisiana
Director Scott Sidney pushed for realism, insisting on authentic outdoor conditions. One famous anecdote recounts how Elmo Lincoln had to wrestle a live, sedated lion on a makeshift jungle set—a far cry from today’s CGI.
In addition to Lake Piru, other locations in Southern California were used for filming. These included: where was the first tarzan movie filmed top
: Studios in Hollywood used for supplemental production work. Morgan City Producers chose this location for its lush vegetation convenient logistics
: This waterfront area served as the backdrop for many of the film's "jungle" scenes. The production team built native palmetto huts here, some of which were dramatically burned for the movie's climax. Avoca Island : Located south of Morgan City The first Tarzan movie ever made, the 1918
Exotic Appearance: The moss-covered trees closely matched the "moss-covered branches" described in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel.
Producers chose this specific Louisiana town for several practical and aesthetic reasons: One famous anecdote recounts how Elmo Lincoln had
In the early 1910s, the filmmakers behind "Tarzan of the Apes" sought to create an authentic jungle experience for their audience. They scouted various locations, finally settling on the tropical regions of Florida, USA.