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

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Krippendorf
Jenna Elfman	...	Veronica
Natasha Lyonne	...	Shelly
Gregory Smith	...	Mickey
Carl Michael Lindner	...	Edmund
Lily Tomlin	...	Ruth Allen
Stephen Root	...	Gerald Adams, Dean
Doris Belack	...	President Porter
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Simon Alonso
Siobhan Fallon Hogan	...	Lori (as Siobhan Fallon)
Amzie Strickland	...	Gladys Schmades
Phil Leeds	...	Dr. Harvey
Frances Bay	...	Edith Proxmire
Susan Ruttan	...	Mrs. O'Brian
Barbara Williams	...	Jennifer

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 | family relationships | hoax | 

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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:

A Tribo dos Krippendorf

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,316,377, 1 March 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$7,514,883, 26 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

On Twitter, Richard Dreyfuss said "I had so much fun with Jenna Elfman during Krippendorf. The movie was not very good, but we had some fun."

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Quotes

James Krippendorf: [in costume] The Shelmikedmu utabaji embraces his death with courage and dignity.
[belches]

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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

The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Original Music and Lyrics by Solomon Linda (uncredited)
Written by Hugo Peretti, George David Weiss and Luigi Creatore
Performed by The Nylons
Courtesy of Attic Productions Ltd.
By Arrangement with The Windham Hill Group

User Reviews

Krippendorf's Tribe — A very intelligent family comedy with a flair for the exotic

Krippendorf's Tribe has achieved something special, an incredible balance of fun and smarts accessible to all.

There's a bit of exaggeration that will hold the interest of those who want primal fun, but little enough as not to displease those who do not want to be submerged by unrealistic situations.

The intelligent humor of the dialogs and scenario will easily enthused those who need smarts to appreciate a comedy, but not so much as to rebuff those who do not want to work their brains to laugh.

The acting is without reproach, even if a few of the secondary characters are a bit caricatured. The photography, soundtrack, and editing are as perfect as they are invisible, yet remarkable. The story is without logical flaw.

A must see, easily enjoyable by anyone.