The second act moves to Jane’s estate in England, where she attempts to civilize her wild man. She gives him the name "John" (his birth name), shaves him, dresses him in a suit, and tries to teach him English. Despite becoming "civilized," Tarzan’s libido remains feral. The film’s funniest moments come from the culture clash, such as when Tarzan struggles with silverware or attempts to initiate games of love with the household staff. The final act deals with the choices both characters must make, forcing Tarzan to return to the jungle and leave Jane behind.
The storyline follows a basic structural arc common to traditional Tarzan adaptations, using it as a framework for its explicit romance:
When their plane crashes, Jane is separated from the group. She wanders the jungle, hallucinating due to toxic berries. Enter Tarzan—played by bodybuilder . This Tarzan speaks in broken monosyllables, but unlike the Johnny Weissmuller version, this Tarzan is aggressively sensual. He doesn’t just rescue Jane; he inspects her. He sniffs her hair. He tears her torn safari blouse further (accidentally, the film implies, then deliberately).
Yes, that title is real. No, it is not a lost adult film (though it dances right up to that line). It is, in fact, one of the strangest, most baffling entries in the long, weird history of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ ape-man.
Today, the film stands as a nostalgic, albeit provocative, time capsule of 1990s adult entertainment, reflecting a specific era of physical media distribution and underground animation history. tarzan shame of jane 1995
: D'Amato frames the natural wilderness using rich textures, deep shadows, and sun-drenched clearings to emphasize the isolation of the setting.
Critics and viewers alike noted that their passion "radiates off the screen," lending the film a sincerity rarely found in adult cinema. One reviewer on Letterboxd hailed it as "the best thing Joe D‘Amato ever made... the only one with any heart," and "genuinely romantic and beautiful". Caracciolo, in particular, received praise for her acting ability; one audience member wrote that she has a rare quality that is missing in almost all porn stars: "She has ‘Expressions’". Another review declared her to be "mind-blowing" and noted she "carries emotions" alongside the film’s plot. Siffredi, meanwhile, is convincing as a feral creature discovering the world, possessing an "animalistic endowment" that perfectly suits his character’s untamed nature.
The 1990s witnessed a massive boom in the adult entertainment industry, driven by the mainstream explosion of the home video market and the infancy of the internet. During this era, adult film studios frequently looked to pop culture, mainstream Hollywood blockopers, and classic literature for inspiration. One of the most notable, high-profile results of this trend was the 1995 adult cinematic release, Tarzan: Shame of Jane .
: Unlike many low-budget productions of the era, the film was shot on location in The second act moves to Jane’s estate in
Tarzan: Shame of Jane remains a benchmark for high-budget adult features. It demonstrated that parodies could achieve mainstream crossover recognition through high production values and narrative structure. Decades after its 1995 release, the title is still cited by film historians as a definitive example of the 1990s adult feature boom, prior to the internet reshaping the industry into short-form content. If you want to explore this topic further,
Tarzan: Shame of Jane (1995) – Exploring the Cult Adult Parody and Its Place in Pop Culture History
However, the existence of this sequel highlights the commercial success of the first film and the eagerness of distributors to cash in on the "Tarzan X" brand.
The film takes place one year after the events of the television series. Tarzan and Jane are living together in the jungle, and their relationship is put to the test when a group of thieves, led by a woman named Nidia, come to the jungle in search of a valuable treasure. The film’s funniest moments come from the culture
Played by Rocco Siffredi , perhaps the most famous figure in the European adult industry.
The film attempts to mirror the lush, romantic sensuality of 1970s erotic art films rather than the crassness of 1990s gonzo porn. One user review notes that D'Amato is "known for shooting his women with a self-possessed dignity and pride, and lusts, and his men get oggled by the camera". The erotic scenes are initially intercut with artistic shots—including random zooms of a monkey scratching his genitals—which adds a layer of surrealism that divides audiences but certainly makes the film unique.
"Tarzan & Jane" was released on VHS and DVD in 1995. The film was later included in a DVD box set with the television series "The Legend of Tarzan" in 2004.