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?
The answer is a fascinating journey into early cinema, revealing that the wilds of Africa were actually recreated much closer to home.
Why did the filmmakers choose Morgan City, Louisiana, as the top filming location? Three reasons: Geography, Vegetation, and Water. where was the first tarzan movie filmed top
Morgan City, located about 80 miles west of New Orleans, sits in the heart of the Atchafalaya Swamp—the largest river swamp in North America. In 1918, this area was virtually untouched by modern development. The landscape featured:
The specific “top” spot within Morgan City was the Teche Bayou 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. The character of Tarzan, the aristocratic Lord Greystoke
The first Tarzan film, Tarzan of the Apes (released 1918), shot its “jungle” scenes in southern Louisiana and its studio scenes in the Los Angeles area. Production began in 1917: director Scott Sidney and a crew spent several weeks filming on location in the Atchafalaya Basin around Morgan City, Louisiana (notably Lake End Park and nearby cypress swamps) to stand in for Edgar Rice Burroughs’s moss-draped jungle. The company then moved to California—using Hollywood sets and the Griffith Park/Selig-era facilities and stock footage—to complete the picture.
Why Louisiana?
Notable production facts
Legacy
Sources consulted: contemporary film histories and location accounts documenting the 1917 Morgan City shoots and the Los Angeles studio work for Tarzan of the Apes (1918).