Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
A shipping disaster in the 19th Century has stranded a man and woman in the wilds of Africa. The lady is pregnant, and gives birth to a son in their tree house. Soon after, a family of apes stumble across the house and in the ensuing panic, both parents are killed. A female ape takes the tiny boy as a replacement for her own dead infant, and raises him as her son. Twenty years later, Captain Phillippe D'Arnot discovers the man who thinks he is an ape. Evidence in the tree house leads him to believe that he is the direct descendant of the Earl of Greystoke, and thus takes it upon himself to return the man to civilization.
The film earned $45.9M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) showcases deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Hugh Hudson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 23 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.4, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The infant John Clayton lives peacefully in the African jungle, raised by apes after his parents' shipwreck, fully integrated into the ape family as "Tarzan.".. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 18 minutes when Belgian explorer Captain Phillippe D'Arnot discovers the adult Tarzan in the jungle, representing the first human contact and the inciting incident that will pull him toward civilization.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 36 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Tarzan makes the active choice to leave the jungle and travel to Scotland with D'Arnot, abandoning his ape family to claim his birthright as Lord Greystoke, sixth Earl of Greystoke., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 108 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tarzan's grandfather, the Earl of Greystoke, dies. This death removes the primary human connection binding Tarzan to civilization and forces him to confront who he truly is without that anchor., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 115 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Tarzan achieves clarity: he cannot deny his true nature. He recognizes that his heart belongs to the jungle and his ape family, understanding that identity comes from within, not from society's labels., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes against these established plot points, we can identify how Hugh Hudson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes within the adventure genre.
Hugh Hudson's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Hugh Hudson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Hugh Hudson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Hugh Hudson analyses, see Chariots of Fire, I Dreamed of Africa.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The infant John Clayton lives peacefully in the African jungle, raised by apes after his parents' shipwreck, fully integrated into the ape family as "Tarzan."
Theme
The ape community demonstrates the tension between nature and civilization, suggesting the central question: what truly makes us human—our biology or our culture?
Worldbuilding
John grows from infant to young man among the apes, learning their ways, forming bonds with his ape family, and becoming a skilled jungle dweller completely unaware of human civilization.
Disruption
Belgian explorer Captain Phillippe D'Arnot discovers the adult Tarzan in the jungle, representing the first human contact and the inciting incident that will pull him toward civilization.
Resistance
D'Arnot teaches Tarzan language and human ways while recovering from injuries. Tarzan debates between his ape identity and this new human world, torn between two families and two identities.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tarzan makes the active choice to leave the jungle and travel to Scotland with D'Arnot, abandoning his ape family to claim his birthright as Lord Greystoke, sixth Earl of Greystoke.
Premise
Tarzan explores aristocratic British society: learning manners, wearing formal clothes, attending social events, bonding with his grandfather, and developing feelings for Jane—the "civilized Tarzan" experience.
Opposition
Tarzan increasingly struggles with the artificiality and cruelty of civilization. He witnesses caged animals, rigid social conventions, and the hypocrisy of "civilized" behavior, growing more conflicted about his place.
Collapse
Tarzan's grandfather, the Earl of Greystoke, dies. This death removes the primary human connection binding Tarzan to civilization and forces him to confront who he truly is without that anchor.
Crisis
In the dark aftermath of his grandfather's death, Tarzan grieves and wrestles with his dual identity, questioning whether he can ever truly belong in either world—ape or human.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tarzan achieves clarity: he cannot deny his true nature. He recognizes that his heart belongs to the jungle and his ape family, understanding that identity comes from within, not from society's labels.
Synthesis
Tarzan returns to Africa and reunites with his ape family. He synthesizes both worlds—bringing his human knowledge and compassion while reclaiming his authentic identity in the natural world where he belongs.