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Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)

 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
type
TVTItem
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
label
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
page
TarzanTheApeMan1981
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
comment
Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })Tarzan, the Ape Man is a 1981 film starring Bo Derek as Jane, Richard Harris as James Parker, John Phillip Law as Harry Holt, and Miles O'Keeffe as Tarzan. The movie was intended to retell the Tarzan story from Jane's perspective, a fact which was made clear by the original Working Title of Me, Jane. As it is, audiences are left to wonder why Tarzan seems to be a Satellite Love Interest in his own film.The storyline, such as it is, is mostly a rehash of the 1932 film by the same name. This version is meant to be a more adult look at the Tarzan mythos, focusing on Jane's sexual awakening, and featuring a large supply of Fanservice along the way. This is Tarzan updated for the sexual revolution, or at least that's what they seem to be going for here. To date, this is the only Tarzan movie to receive an "R" rating.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })While the film made back nearly six times its budget at the box office, reception from general audiences was largely negative. Male audience members hoping to see a naked Bo Derek were disappointed to see what was mostly a romance film with Tarzan in a supporting role, while female audience members were turned off by the more blatant scenes of nudity. It was also ravaged by the critics, and nominated for several Razzies, winning "Worst Actress" for Bo Derek. Since then, it's come to be regarded as a camp classic of the So Bad, It's Good variety.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
fetched
2022-12-17T03:28:04Z
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
parsed
2022-12-17T03:28:04Z
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_108c268e
type
Hotter and Sexier
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_108c268e
comment
Hotter and Sexier: The whole point, pretty much.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_108c268e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_108c268e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_108c268e
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_17a45ff5
type
Misplaced Wildlife
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_17a45ff5
comment
Misplaced Wildlife: Those are Asian elephants, not African elephants. Orangutans and Burmese pythons are not native to Africa either.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_17a45ff5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_17a45ff5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_17a45ff5
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_259d5879
type
Anachronism Stew
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_259d5879
comment
Anachronism Stew: At one point, James Parker sings, "Jerusalem." Although the words were written by William Blake in 1804, they weren't put to music until 1916. The movie is set in 1910. In another scene, he mentions "the seat of my pants" in reference to acting on instinct. "The seat of my pants" is short for "fly by the seat of my pants" and comes from 1930s aviation parlance.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_259d5879
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_259d5879
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_259d5879
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_33ba37ca
type
Out with a Bang
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_33ba37ca
comment
Out with a Bang: Telling Jane about her mother, her father says, "Your conception almost killed her." No, not her birth, her conception. He goes on to explain that he left Jane's mother because he "loved her too much." So, you see, James Parker had to abandon his wife in order to save her from succumbing to his mighty penis. Seriously.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_33ba37ca
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_33ba37ca
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_33ba37ca
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_34642505
type
The Edwardian Era
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_34642505
comment
The Edwardian Era: Set in 1910, around the time when the original book was written. This may be the first movie to treat Tarzan as a Period Piece, beating Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes by three years.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_34642505
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_34642505
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_34642505
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_36ec2454
type
Rule of Pool
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_36ec2454
comment
Rule of Pool: Two separate scenes on the docks feature someone falling into the water, Jane the first time and Holt the second time.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_36ec2454
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_36ec2454
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_36ec2454
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_43b154c9
type
Not Even Bothering with the Accent
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_43b154c9
comment
Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Jane has an American accent while Richard Harris speaks with his native Irish accent.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_43b154c9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_43b154c9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_43b154c9
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_5473668f
type
Logo Joke
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_5473668f
comment
Logo Joke: The MGM lion emits the Tarzan yell instead of its usual roar.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_5473668f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_5473668f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_5473668f
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_67529a41
type
Signature Roar
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_67529a41
comment
Signature Roar: Rather than letting Miles O'Keeffe do his own Tarzan yell, they dub in the old Johnny Weissmuller yell. This is Tarzan's only "dialogue" in the film.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_67529a41
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_67529a41
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_67529a41
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6a36abe2
type
Hollywood Natives
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6a36abe2
comment
Hollywood Natives: A tribe of these act as the villains at the end.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6a36abe2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6a36abe2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6a36abe2
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6aa28a76
type
Overcrank
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6aa28a76
comment
Overcrank: In what may be the film's most infamous sequence, a Fight Scene between Tarzan and a snake is filmed entirely in slow motion. It's completely incomprehensible what's supposed to be going on in the fight, and it comes complete with a steady drone of "danger" music in the background. And it goes on a loooooong time.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6aa28a76
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6aa28a76
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_6aa28a76
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_735b3587
type
Naked First Impression
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_735b3587
comment
Naked First Impression: Jane is in her underwear when Tarzan meets her for the first time. And before you object that Edwardian underwear is not that revealing, note that she was in the water, rendering said underwear transparent.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_735b3587
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_735b3587
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_735b3587
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_823c6e3e
type
Large Ham
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_823c6e3e
comment
Large Ham: Ironically, Richard Harris seems to be playing the Michael Gambon version of Dumbledore.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_823c6e3e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_823c6e3e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_823c6e3e
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9a6990
type
Skinny Dipping
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9a6990
comment
Skinny Dipping: Judging from this film, one of Jane's favorite activities.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9a6990
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9a6990
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9a6990
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9cbf01d6
type
Stay in the Kitchen
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9cbf01d6
comment
Stay in the Kitchen: "My expedition... no, no, any expedition on this continent is no place for a woman!" Not that Parker makes any apparent effort to stop his daughter from tagging along.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9cbf01d6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9cbf01d6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_9cbf01d6
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_b032e4ed
type
Ms. Fanservice
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_b032e4ed
comment
Ms. Fanservice: Let's face it, they didn't cast Bo Derek for her acting talent.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_b032e4ed
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_b032e4ed
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_b032e4ed
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_bdc453a0
type
Incest Subtext
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_bdc453a0
comment
Incest Subtext: Jane is said to look a great deal like her mother. Her loopy father seems to be, at best, only mildly aware that Jane and her mother are not actually the same person:
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_bdc453a0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_bdc453a0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_bdc453a0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_c93a6560
type
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_c93a6560
comment
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Jane's dad is killed when a native impales him with a giant elephant tusk. Well, he wanted ivory.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_c93a6560
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_c93a6560
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_c93a6560
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dc121769
type
Elephant Graveyard
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dc121769
comment
Elephant Graveyard: As in the 1932 version, the expedition is looking for one of these. Budget-savingly, they never actually get there in this version.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dc121769
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dc121769
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dc121769
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dfb71617
type
Male Gaze
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dfb71617
comment
Male Gaze: Even though this is supposed to be from Jane's perspective, the movie is clearly a lot more excited about her body than Tarzan's body.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dfb71617
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dfb71617
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_dfb71617
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_e1f90397
type
Body Paint
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_e1f90397
comment
Body Paint: The hostile natives wear nothing but this and loincloths. After capturing members of the expedition, the natives quickly set about putting Jane into this attire as well. For some reason, they don't seem to care about doing the same to their male captives.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_e1f90397
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_e1f90397
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_e1f90397
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_eaaf461f
type
National Geographic Nudity
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_eaaf461f
comment
National Geographic Nudity: We see a lot of topless native women. Then again, we also see a lot of topless Bo Derek, so at least it's equal opportunity this time.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_eaaf461f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_eaaf461f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_eaaf461f
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ebd01bc5
type
Bathe Her and Bring Her to Me
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ebd01bc5
comment
Bathe Her and Bring Her to Me: Happens to Jane as she is captured by the generic African savages and prepared as the royal bride for their chief, alongside getting a Body Paint.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ebd01bc5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ebd01bc5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ebd01bc5
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_faa71569
type
Romantic False Lead
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_faa71569
comment
Romantic False Lead: Seriously, did anyone think Jane might actually end up with Harry Holt instead of Tarzan?
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_faa71569
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_faa71569
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_faa71569
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ff6d8ad9
type
Adaptational Nationality
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ff6d8ad9
comment
Adaptational Nationality: Jane and her father are American in the original novels (and British in most adaptations); they're Irish in this movie, with Jane having a noticeable lack of accent.
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ff6d8ad9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ff6d8ad9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_ff6d8ad9
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_name
type
ItemName
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_name
comment
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_name
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981) / int_name
itemName
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Finger-Forced Smile / int_61eadcda
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Money, Dear Boy / int_61eadcda
 Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981)
hasFeature
Primal Chest-Pound / int_61eadcda