Tarzan, My Father [Paperback]

Johnny Weissmuller Jr. (Author), William Reed (Author), W. Craig Reed (Author), Danton Burroughs (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

An authoritative biography of the first Tarzan—Olympic swimming champion Johnny Weissmuller—this account offers an intimate look at the actor's life, from Olympic triumphs and failed marriages to his life in Hollywood and television career. Penned by Weismuller’s only son, this definitive chronicle is a sensitive yet unsentimental portrayal of the man who was Tarzan to movie fans around the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Johnny Weissmuller-he was a great Tarzan." -- Roger Moore --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Johnny Weissmuller, Jr., is the only son of Johnny Weissmuller. William Reed is a retired Naval intelligence officer, the author of Olaf Wieghorst, and the coauthor of Crazy Ivan: Based on a True Story of Submarine Espionage. W. Craig Reed is the coauthor of Crazy Ivan: Based on a True Story of Submarine Espionage. They all live in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155022834X
• ISBN-13: 978-1550228342
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #857,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Craig Reed served as a U.S. Navy diver, submarine fire control "weapons" technician and photographer for special operations on nuclear fast-attack submarines. Craig earned commendations for completing secret missions during the Cold War, and is an alumnus or member of several military, veteran, and technology associations.

When not writing, Craig is a partner in Aventi Group--a technology marketing consulting firm (www.aventigroup.com). He was a former vice president and board director for the Silicon Valley American Marketing Association, founded two software companies and co-authored the book Tarzan, My Father with the late Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. Craig is the author of the thriller DNA and the non-fiction memoir Crazy Ivan: A True Story of Submarine Espionage. RED NOVEMBER: Inside the U.S. - Soviet Submarine War is Craig's latest non-fiction thriller published in May 2010 by William Morrow/HarperCollins. Born into a Navy family on the island of Guam, Reed lives in Silicon Valley, CA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Written & Researched Book. First Rate., January 26, 2003

By 

Champawat Pictures "Mick LaSalle" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarzan, My Father (Hardcover)

Most books are mediocre. And I say this based upon a lifetime of reading everything. This book is wonderful, well-written, well-researched, well-published. I simply could not stop reading it, and when I'd finished, I really truly felt I knew the great Johnny Weissmuller, my childhood idol. I also came to know Johnny, Jr., and have enormous empathy for this fellow, who has managed to carve a successful life for himself, against large odds, it would seem, and with little guidance. The book is amazingly candid and very moving, and virtually un-put-down-able. If you have even the slightest interest in humanity, Tarzan, or John Weissmuller, buy this excellent book. RM

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best Weissmuller bio yet!, December 19, 2002

By 

Bruce Scivally "Author, Superman On Film, Tel... (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarzan, My Father (Hardcover)

As a film buff and life-long Johnny Weissmuller fan, I thought I knew all there was to know about the Olympic swimming champion who became the most beloved of all movie Tarzans. I was wrong. TARZAN, MY FATHER is the inside story of Johnny Weissmuller, told from the point-of-view of the ultimate insider - his son and namesake, Johnny Jr. This incredible book is neither a scandalous tell-all nor hero-worshipping hagiography, but rather a respectful and honest account of the life of the legendary actor/athlete. With many facts revealed for the first time, and hypocryphal stories refuted once and for all, this book is the definitive account of the life of Johnny Weissmuller, from his humble origins to his Olympic victories to his sad and tragic end. Though written without cloying sentiment, the book is still moving and heartfelt. It's the ideal book for sports fans, movie buffs or anyone interested in reading a fascinating biography of a remarkable man. Highly recommended!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great tribute by a son about his famous father., January 27, 2007

By 

Dr. Fred R. Eichelman "arous" (Salem,, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tarzan, My Father (Hardcover)

In the thirties and forties there was something big film wise to look forward to nearly every year, bigger than the anticipation of the next Star Wars, Bond or Potter film. It was Tarzan and most of those years there was only one Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller. To many today he is still the only Tarzan.

Tarzan fans in our generation actually embraced a parallel universe in the jungle man's world. There was the long time favorite given us by author Edgar Rice Burroughs, an articulate educated Lord Greystoke who could stow away his tux, put on a loin cloth to lead Tantor and his herd of elephants. Then there was the bigger than life Johnny Weissmuller on the screen who portrayed a Tarzan of few words, gave a battle cry that is more familiar today than most any other sound byte and whose biggest vocabulary word was "Umgawa!" Whether we were first introduced to the book Tarzan or film Tarzan, we could love both. Weissmuller himself was familiar with the concern Burroughs had about the portrayal that first MGM and then RKO required and wished also that he could have a bigger speaking role. However, the money was good and he couldn't object too much. When Burroughs himself made Tarzan films and hand picked Bill Brix with his well spoken vocabulary the films bombed.

In "Tarzan My Father" the author Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. gives a portrayal unlike others in the past. It is not an apology or a "daddy dearest". Johnny Jr. loved his father and admits there were both good and bad things that can be related. However, even in the bad, Johnny Weissmuller is more the innocent taken in by business managers, partying big name friends and two of his five wives, especially the last one who did all she could to trash his name and memorial while making money off of interviews. There is also a rebuttal against Esther Williams's recent book with interviews that reveal she has lied about Johnny Weissmuller as she did other legendary Hollywood heroes.

Johnny Jr. covers the myths behind the legend and uses documentation when needed. When stories conflict he gives both sides as would a true historian. I found myself looking at older books I have on the father and find that in general the son has been forthright in his handling of events. There is also detailed information about his father's sports career which makes him also legendary in that world as well. I had an opportunity to meet Johnny Weismuller briefly in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia and the man I saw was the man described by his son. It was a moment I will always remember. He was both generous and kind.

The book covers the father's friends and cronies, people like Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Red Skelton and others who are icons today. In his own case the author knew well Robert Mitchum, Ricky Nelson, Burt Reynolds and Elvis. There are great pictures in the book that will delight any and all film fans.

Yes, the book is very personal and unlike some, the author does it not to exploit his name but to give honor to one of the great film heroes of the 20th century. The book itself is endorsed by Danton Burroughs, secretary of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. This is a tribute and it shows us a man bigger than life who greatly influenced more than one generation.

Johnny Weissmuller had what some might call a simplistic philosophy that his son paraphrases as "A man should stand where God places him-jungle trails or Hollywood streets-and fight for those things he believes."