History Main / HollywoodNatives

->“When people like Mrs. Whitlow use [the term ‘savages’] they are not, for some inexplicable reason, trying to suggest that the subjects have a rich oral tradition, a complex system of tribal rights and a deep respect for the spirits of their ancestors. They are implying the kind of behaviour more generally associated, oddly enough, with people wearing a full suit of clothes, often with the same sort of insignia.”

A variation comes up with stereotypical depictions of American Indians in InjunCountry -- the approach is the same, and the only difference will be in the superficial details. They will wear BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins, speak using TontoTalk, and add tomahawks to their arsenal. Their camps will be filled with TipisAndTotemPoles, they greet other people with a gruff "How," the chief will wear a giant feather headdress, and the elders will sit around a big bonfire for a "pow-wow." If they befriend the protagonists, a peace pipe will probably be smoked, and maybe the heroes will end up being honorary chiefs of the tribe.

Quite simply, this trope is the (hopefully) now-discredited stereotypical depiction of "natives" in a HungryJungle, InjunCountry, DesertIsland, or other such unsettled wilderness. The locals will inevitably be portrayed as culturally "inferior" to the main characters -- typical depictions will show the natives as unkempt, dark-skinned, and scantily clad, decorated with TribalFacePaint and SavagePiercings, and brandishing spears or bows. When they meet the protagonists, they will either be mesmerized by the MightyWhitey and [[GodGuise accept them as gods]], have the heroes [[CapturedByCannibals for lunch]], or invite them to be [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod guests of the volcano god]]. If they can speak the protagonists' language, expect lots of YouNoTakeCandle.

A variation comes up with stereotypical depictions of Native Americans -- the approach is the same, and the only difference will be in the superficial details. They will wear BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins, speak using TontoTalk, and add tomahawks to their arsenal. Their camps will be filled with TipisAndTotemPoles, they greet other people with a gruff "How," the chief will wear a giant feather headdress, and the elders will sit around a big bonfire for a "pow-wow." If they befriend the protagonists, a peace pipe will probably be smoked, and maybe the heroes will end up being honorary chiefs of the tribe.

A meta-trope to CapturedByCannibals, HollywoodVoodoo, ChasedByAngryNatives, StewedAlive, and many others. A supertrope to TheSavageIndian, CannibalTribe, and TheNativesAreRestless.

Contrast with NobleSavage and MagicalNativeAmerican, which glamorizes the locals instead of denigrating them. May overlap with InjunCountry.

Quite simply, this trope is the (hopefully) now-discredited stereotypical depiction of "natives" in a jungle, open prairie, tropical island, or other such unsettled wilderness. The locals will inevitably be portrayed as culturally "inferior" to the main characters -- typical depictions will show the natives as unkempt, dark-skinned, and scantily clad, decorated with TribalFacePaint and SavagePiercings, and brandishing spears or bows. When they meet the protagonists, they will either be mesmerized by the MightyWhitey and [[GodGuise accept them as gods]], have the heroes [[CapturedByCannibals for lunch]], or invite them to be [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod guests of the volcano god]]. If they can speak the protagonists' language, expect lots of YouNoTakeCandle.

A variation comes up with stereotypical depictions of Native Americans -- the approach is the same, and the only difference will be in the superficial details. They will wear BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins, speak using TontoTalk, and add tomahawks to their arsenal. They invariably greet other people with a gruff "How," the chief will wear a giant feather headdress, and the elders will sit around a big bonfire for a "pow-wow." If they befriend the protagonists, a peace pipe will probably be smoked, and maybe the heroes will end up being honorary chiefs of the tribe.

A variation comes up with stereotypical depictions of Native Americans -- the approach is the same, and the only difference will be in the superficial details. They will wear BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins, speak using TontoTalk, and add tomahawks to their arsenal. If they befriend the protagonists, a peace pipe will probably be smoked, and maybe the heroes will end up being honorary chiefs of the tribe.

* The Kukuanas from ''Literature/KingSolomonsMines''. Not only are they savage warriors living in unexplored Africa, they're also easily convinced into accepting Quatermain's party as great white "visitors from the stars" by their use of false teeth and glass eyes.

* The Ewoks from ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' invoke this, not in their appearance (they look like UglyCute teddy bears), but in their behaviour. They speak a language C-3PO calls "some kind of primitive dialect", use stone-age weapons and BambooTechnology ([[RockBeatsLaser which is still pretty effective against Imperial Stormtroopers]]), they capture the protagonists, [[TribalCarry carry them tied to a stick]] and attempt to [[CannibalTribe eat them]], and they worship C-3PO as their god.

-->-~Terry Pratchett, ''Literature/TheLastContinent''

[[caption-width-right:350:"[[ShakespearianActors Six years in the Royal Shakespeare Company,]] and my only line is [[YouNoTakeCandle 'You marry squaw or me chop-chop']]?"]]

A meta-trope to CapturedByCannibals, HollywoodVoodoo, ChasedByAngryNatives, StewedAlive, and many others. A supertrope to InjunCountry, TheSavageIndian, CannibalTribe, and TheNativesAreRestless.

Contrast with NobleSavage and MagicalNativeAmerican, which glamorizes the locals instead of denigrating them.

* The Indians in the Disney ''Disney/PeterPan'' movie. They smoke pipes, wear feathered headdresses, speak in TontoTalk, and live in teepees. They even come complete with a truly cringeworthy song called "What Makes the Red Man Red."

* On ''WesternAnimation/TimonAndPumbaa'', there's a tribe of masked natives that kidnap Pumbaa and make him their king. Subverted when at the end they take off their masks, revealing them to be urbane yuppies with British accents on some sort of corporate retreat.

A meta-trope to CapturedByCannibals, HollywoodVoodoo, ChasedByAngryNatives, StewedAlive, and many others. A supertrope to TheSavageIndian, CannibalTribe, and TheNativesAreRestless.

A variation comes up with stereotypical depictions of Native Americans -- the approach is the same, and the difference will be in the superficial details. They will wear BraidsBeadsAndBuckskins, speak using TontoTalk, and add tomahawks to their arsenal. If they befriend the protagonists, a peace pipe will probably be smoked, and maybe the heroes will end up being honorary chiefs of the tribe.

Quite simply, this trope is the (hopefully) now-discredited stereotypical depiction of "natives" in a jungle, open prairie, tropical island, or other such unsettled wilderness. The locals will inevitably be portrayed as culturally "inferior" to the main characters -- typical depictions will show the natives as unkempt, dark-skinned, and scantily clad, decorated with TribalFacePaint and SavagePiercings, and brandishing spears or bows. When they meet the protagonists, they will either be mesmerized by the MightyWhitey and [[GodGuise accept them as gods]], have the heroes [[CapturedByCannibals for lunch]], or invite them to be [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod guests of the volcano god]]. If they can speak the protagonists' language, expect lots of TontoTalk or YouNoTakeCandle. Needless to say, when these folks appear, UnfortunateImplications will be quick to follow.

* ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle:'' Features such stereotypical Indians in the story arc, "Bumbling Bros. Circus"; the rain dancers capture Rocky and Bullwinkle and attempt to burn them at the stake to please Great Spirit. However, Bullwinkle's humming comb gives them dance fever, and they literally dance up a storm, putting out the flames. The circus comes to their rescue, Boris and Natasha escape, and the tribe realize who the real good and bad guys are, naming Rocky and Bullwinkle honorary chiefs of their tribe, and making peace with the circus (complete with a peace pipe).

* ''Series/FTroop'' treats us to an inversion, with Stand-Up Bull, an Indian comedian, and while he certainly doesn't really speak Broken English (neither does his tribe for that matter), he does misuse certain nouns (again, as does his tribe).
-->'''Stand-Up Bull:''' Seriously tribe, take my brother, him not lazy, him too light for heavy work, and him too heavy for light work! (Immitates a trumpet flourish)
-->'''Chief:''' Stand-Up Bull? No smoke-signal us, we smoke-signal you.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheChipmunkAdventure'', the Chipmunks are taken by an Amazonian tribe who wear grass skirts and big floppy headdresses. They make Theodore their Prince of Plenty and plan to [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod sacrifice to a volcano.]]

* The Pen Guans in ''WesternAnimation/SurfsUp'', who [[CannibalTribe try to cook Chicken Joe]] and occasionally attack the camera crew.

Contrast with NobleSavage, which glamorizes the locals instead of denigrating them.

Quite simply, this trope is the (hopefully) now-discredited stereotypical depiction of "natives" in a jungle, open prairie, tropical island, or other such unsettled wilderness. The locals will inevitably be portrayed as culturally "inferior" to the main characters -- typical depictions will show the natives as unkempt, dark-skinned, and scantily-clad, decorated with TribalFacePaint and SavagePiercings, and brandishing spears or bows. When they meet the protagonists, they will either be mesmerized by the MightyWhitey and [[GodGuise accept them as gods]], have the heroes [[CapturedByCannibals for lunch]], or invite them to be [[AppeaseTheVolcanoGod guests of the volcano god.]] If they can speak the protagonists' language, expect lots of TontoTalk or YouNoTakeCandle. Needless to say, when these folks appear, UnfortunateImplications will be quick to follow.

While this was a popular depiction in the past, it's largely a DeadHorseTrope now, due to the aforementioned UnfortunateImplications. If and when this trope appears in modern works, it's often [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] and [[RuleOfFunny played for laughs]]; straight depictions in mainstream Western culture are sure to raise eyebrows or risk quite a backlash.

NotToBeConfusedWith people growing up near the [[HollywoodCalifornia Southern California moviemaking capitol.]]

* ''[[WesternAnimation/IceAge Ice Age: The Meltdown]]'': As Sid sleeps, he's taken away by a tribe of mini-sloths, who claim Sid is their Fire King, since he previously "discovered" fire. The mini-sloths virtually mimic everything Sid does, which he then decides to use to his advantage by leading them into a devotion chant/song to him. Afterwards, the tribe attempt to toss him into a lava as a sacrifice, on the grounds that his discovery of fire is the reason behind all the ice melting and the impending flood. Only one mini-sloth (presumably the tribal chief, or some kind of head priestess) can speak fluent English.

** In the 1933 original film, they are as typical Hollywood Natives as possible.

* ''Film/TheIndianInTheCupboard'': Little Bear pretty much subverts this, however, when Omri brings to life a figurine of a WW1 medic named Tommy to tend to a wound of his, he greets Little Bear with, "How!", much to Little Bear's confusion.

* Used as a gag in the short lived series ''Black Tie Affair''. One of the main characters is a catalog magnate ''a la'' J. Peterman and is shooting the photos for his upcoming catalog. The shoot in this instance is of a (white, female) explorer [[StewedAlive trussed up in a pot surrounded by natives]]. The black male models playing the natives complain that it's racist, so they are dressed as lawyers instead - but [[EvilLawyerJoke they still have the girl trussed up in a big pot]].

* ''Series/HogansHeroes'': Both inverts, and surprisingly (given the period of which the show was on) averts it at the same time in the episode, "Drums Along the Dusseldorf", which reveals Carter is a member of the Sioux tribe (his tribal name is Little Deer Who Goes Swift And Sure Through Forest), despite being fair-skinned and fair-haired. Many of the others razz him throughout the episode with stereotypical war cries, and peppering him with silly questions - not only is Carter clearly annoyed by all of this, but also uncharacteristically slips into SarcasmMode. He ''does'', however, take the time to build a bow and arrow set, which he shows little skills with, despite claiming winning a lot of trophies for his archery skills back home.

* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' parodies this in, "The Cigar Store Indian", of which Jerry gives to Elaine as an apology gift, not realizing that her friend Wynona is a Native American (and clearly offended by not only Jerry's gift, but his apology card that says, "Let's bury the hatchet. We smoke-em peace pipe". Jerry and Wynona do eventually put it aside, only for Jerry to end up offending her again by implying she's an Indian giver, for wanting back a copy of ''TV Guide'' she had given him.

* The ''Franchise/CrashBandicoot'' series have the tribesmen of N. Sanity Island, who worship various monoliths and attempt to capture and/or eat anything that entered their territory. They are led by Papu Papu, an obese chieftan who wears a grass skirt and has his hair tied up in an elaborate tribal mask/headdress.

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures,'' Buster, Babs and Hamton are stuck on an island and chased by natives. AnimatedActors is invoked at one point, where Buster says "Look, there are some naivetes," and Babs points out that it's a typo in the script, at which point Buster screams and runs away.

** In "Boyhood Daze", MrImagination Ralph Philips has a fantasy of saving his parents for the Dakiris.
* ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle:'' Features such stereotypical Indians in the story arc, "Bumbling Bros. Circus"; the rain dancers capture Rocky and Bullwinkle and attempt to burn them at the stake to please Great Spirit, however, Bullwinkle's humming comb gives them dance fever, and they literally dance up a storm, putting out the flames. The circus comes to their rescue, Boris and Natasha escape, and the tribe realize who the real good and bad guys are, naming Rocky and Bullwinkle honorary chiefs of their tribe, and making peace with the circus (complete with a peace pipe).
* On ''WesternAnimation/TimonAndPumbaa'' there's a tribe of masked natives that kidnap Pumbaa and make him their king. Subverted when at the end they take off their masks, revealing them to be urbane yuppies with British accents on some sort of corporate retreat.