Krippendorf's Tribe (1998)

An anthropologist creates a fictitious lost New Guinea tribe using his family members to cover-up for his mis-use of grant moneys.

Director:

Todd Holland

Writers:

Frank Parkin (book), Charlie Peters (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Jenna Elfman, Natasha Lyonne

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Krippendorf
Jenna Elfman	...	Veronica
Natasha Lyonne	...	Shelly
Gregory Smith	...	Mickey
Carl Michael Lindner	...	Edmund
Jacob Handy	...	Young Edmund
Zachary Handy	...	Young Edmund
Lily Tomlin	...	Ruth Allen
Stephen Root	...	Gerald Adams
Doris Belack	...	President Porter
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Simon Alonso
Siobhan Fallon	...	Lori
Amzie Strickland	...	Gladys Schmades
Phil Leeds	...	Dr. Harvey
Frances Bay	...	Edith Proxmire

Storyline

A university professor is paid to find the last undiscovered tribe of New Guinea. When he fails to find the tribe, he comes home, and rather than admitting that he's failed, he gives a lecture about the Shelmikedmu tribe (named after his children: Shelly, Mike, and Edmund) and then has his family dress like "Shelmikedmus," so that he can film them as proof of his discovery.

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Plot Keywords:

professor | new guinea | lecture | single parent | anthropology | 

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Taglines:

Discover the Tribe

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual humor

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alibi törzs

Filming Locations:

Kualoa Ranch - 49560 Kamehameha Highway, Ka`a`awa, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,316,377 (USA) (27 February 1998)

Gross:

$7,514,883 (USA) (24 April 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dreyfuss / James Productions, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last cinema film of 'Zakes Mokaes'.

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Quotes

Veronica Micelli: The Shelmickedmu deal with the same problems we deal with every day: loneliness... despair... extreme sexual tension!

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Crazy Credits

Production Dogs .... Rosebud and Mickey

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Connections

Spoofs Sunset Blvd. (1950)

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Soundtracks

"Simba"
Written and Performed by Les Baxter
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Anthropology Students

I think this is a great film for anthropology students. It demonstrates many of the hypocricies that exist within academia as well as the types of pressures that many professionals feel within the field. I also think it's a great introductory example for anthropology students regarding ethics, structures of cultures, and the nature of our own culture (how we justify normally taboo items).

I show it to my Introduction to Anthropology students every year. They laugh, they ask questions, and they appreciate the film. I recommend it. I've used it for years in Anthropology classes - I have students analyze the Shelmikedmud and come up with more cultural traits. I then follow by having them simulate the type of cultural creations that scifi writers do - creating their own alien cultures.