P.D. Tabler Movies
Perhaps the oddest Tarzan of them all, P. Dempsey Tabler wore an ill-fitting wig and was quite elderly in the serial The Son of Tarzan (1920) . As the title indicates, Tabler's King of the Jungle was not the leading role and his very much retired Tarzan was actually not far from how creator Edgar Rice Burrough's had described him. Often reported to be an opera singer, or even a boxer, Tabler had indeed appeared in light opera at the turn of the century, but not as a singer. By the mid-1910s, he was playing supporting roles for various Triangle companies and rather than a comeback, as has previously been reported, Tabler's brief stint as Tarzan was merely yet another acting assignment. His death was not reported in the New York Times until 1975, when an obituary appeared on behalf of the estate of Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1920
Produced by poverty row company National Film Corp., the sequel to Tarzan of the Apes (1918) and The Return of Tarzan (1920) proved a troubled production throughout. Burgeoning Western star Jack Hoxie (then known as "Hart Hoxie") had been pegged to co-star as the King of the Jungle, but in one of film history's more notorious blunders, Hoxie's wife, Kalem star Marin Sais, convinced him to stick with Westerns and turn the role down. Instead, casting director Jean Temple chose P. Dempsey Tabler, a dignified Englishman who sorely lacked the brawny physique of his predecessor in the role, Elmo Lincoln (or, for that matter, Hoxie), but actually fit "Tarzan" creator Edgar Rice Burroughs' description of the English nobleman. Tabler, however, was not quite up to the strain of serial-making and was seriously injured during filming of a fist-fight with villain Eugene Burr. Lucille Rubey, the untalented wife of National president E.R. Frey, was at first forced forced upon the production as "Meriem," the leading lady, but director Harry J. Revier dismissed her in favor of Kathleen May. For unknown reasons, Miss May also failed to get the part which instead went to Manilla Martans. Little Gordon Griffith played Korak, The Son of Tarzan, as a boy but the real star of the 15 chapter serial proved to be Kamuela C. Searle, a native of Hawaii, as the young adult Korak. The plot followed Rice Burroughs' original story closely enough: Lord Greystoke's young son, Jack, is kidnapped in England by an evil Russian, Ivan Paulovitch (Burr), and carted off to Africa. With the assistance of a clever chimpanzee, Akut, Jack manages to escape into the jungle where he saves a little white girl, Meriem (Mae Giraci), from a gang of vicious Arabs. Jack (now known as Korak and played by Searle) and Meriem (Martans) grow up together in the jungle, love, of course, blossoming along the way. They are soon reunited with Korak's famous father and lady Greystoke (Karla Schramm, recreating the role she had played in Revenge of Tarzan earlier that year), but Meriem proves to be an heiress and the Arabs and Petrovitch soon reappear. The serial continued to be cursed by freak accidents, the most serious of which occurred when Searle was nearly trampled to death by an elephant. The young Hawaiian (known as Sam Searle to his friends) never recovered from his injuries, passing away at the age of 33, February 14, 1924. Tragically, Searle's stunt-double, Ray Thompson, later drowned in Alaska's Copper River during the epic filming of The Trail of '98, (1927). The Son of Tarzan was released between May of 1920 and February of 1921 to generally generous reviews. Songwriters Norman Stuckey and Osborne Tedman composed a ballad, Tarzan, My Jungle King, to be played during the screening of the serial. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1916
A veteran of the Spanish-American War and a proud patriot, Bob Wiley (William S. Hart) finds himself swindled out of a fortune by a corrupt local politician. Hart's Wiley goes to Washington to complain but proves unsuccessful. Returning to the homestead, he finds his little son (Georgie, later George E. Stone) murdered and his heart fills with bitterness towards the country he once loved. Joining up with Mexican General Zapilla's forces, Wiley becomes a spy and misdirects the American forces into an ambush. The enormity of his betrayal slowly dawning on him, Wiley manages to save the local town from the Mexican usurpers, pledges allegiance to the flag and becomes once again a patriotic American. Only William S. Hart could get away with an overbaked plot like this, and only this early in his career. Most reviewers, however, bought the story. "It is probably the best thing Hart has done, and the entire production is of high quality," opined Louis Reeves Harrison in the influential Moving Picture World. A couple of names in the supporting cast stand out: Francis Carpenter, a blond child star very popular at the time, here playing a child who reminds the hero of what he has lost, and, further down the list, British-born character actor Percy Dempsey Tabler, who later played a rather unlikely Tarzan in the serial The Son of Tarzan (1920). ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- 1916
This early epic is set in 16th-century Mexico amidst a carefully researched and painstakingly detailed recreation of an East coast Aztec village. The people there are peaceful and when a Spanish child washes up half-drowned upon the shore, they adopt him. Years pass and as he was raised by the leader, he becomes the new leader. One day a war-like tribe attacks the village and captures the young man. They hold him captive in preparation for sacrifice to the gods. While incarcerated he falls in love with the rival chief's daughter. When she learns that he is to die, she sneaks to the coastal village to warn them. A terrifying battle ensues as they struggle to get their leader back, but in the end they succeed and peace is restored. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
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