Tarzan the Ape Man (1932

Sir Charles Aubrey Smith CBE, (C. Aubrey Smith), appearing in this photograph as “James Parker”, in W. S. Van Dyke’s Pre-Code classic and iconic action-adventure movie for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ‘Tarzan the Ape Man’ (1932), also featuring Hungarian-American actor, and Olympic swimmer and polo player, Johnny Weissmuller, as “Tarzan”, Irish actress Maureen O'Sullivan as “Jane Parker”, Neil Hamilton as “Harry Holt”, Doris Lloyd as “Mrs Cutten”, Forrester Harvey as “Beamish”, Ivory Williams as “Riano”, Ray Corrigan as the Ape, Johnny Eck as the Bird Creature, and Angelo Rossitto as the Evil Dwarf. The film is loosely based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' 1912 novel ‘Tarzan of the Apes’.

The movie tells the story of Ivory-seeking explorers Harry Holt (Neil Hamilton) and James Parker (C. Aubrey Smith) who arrive in a remote jungle to search for a mythical elephant graveyard. Accompanied by Parker's lovely daughter, Jane (Maureen O'Sullivan), the men are at odds with their dangerous environment. When the virile Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller) and his primate companions abduct Jane, it creates conflict between the jungle dwellers and the outsiders. As Jane spends time with Tarzan, however, she begins to fall for him.

Remembering Sir Charles Aubrey Smith CBE (21 July 1863 – 20 December 1948), on his birthday. He was the legendary English Test cricketer who became a stage and film actor, acquiring a niche as the officer-and-gentleman type, as in the other movie he is most renowned for, in the role of “Colonel Zapt” in the first sound version of ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ (1937), which also featured Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Raymond Massey, Mary Astor, and David Niven, and which was directed by John Cromwell.

In Hollywood, C. Aubrey Smith organised British actors into a cricket team, much intriguing local spectators. It was clear evidence of how important the British were, and still are, to motion picture making in Hollywood. He will always be fondly remembered for that in addition to playing many memorable parts in movies.