La (Tarzan)
Encyclopedia
La is a character in Edgar Rice Burroughs
's series of Tarzan
novels. She first appeared in the second Tarzan novel, The Return of Tarzan
(1913), and reappeared in the fifth, Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
(1916), the ninth, Tarzan and the Golden Lion
(1923), and the fourteenth, Tarzan the Invincible
(1930). She is also mentioned in the juvenile Tarzan story Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins, with Jad-Bal-Ja, the Golden Lion
(1936), the events of which occur between Tarzan and the Golden Lion and Tarzan the Invincible.
located deep in the jungles of Africa
. Opar is portrayed as a surviving colony of ancient Atlantis
in which incredible riches have been stockpiled down through the ages. The city's population exihibits extreme sexual dimorphism
caused by a combination of excessive inbreeding, cross-breeding with apes, and selective culling of offspring. Consequently, female Oparians are physically perfect, while male Oparians are beast-like brutes.
On her first encounter with Tarzan La falls in love with him, he being so much more physically perfect and attractive than the male Oparians. But Tarzan spurns her advances, as he is already committed to Jane Porter
. This endangers his own life, as the religion of Opar condones human sacrifice, and La comes close to dedicating him to her city's "Flaming God" on a number of occasions. The two encounter each other time and again, as Tarzan keeps returning to Opar to replenish his personal wealth from its hoarded treasure.
La first appeared on screen in The Adventures of Tarzan
(1921), an early black and white silent Tarzan film based on The Return of Tarzan
. She was portrayed by actress Lillian Worth
, who played opposite Elmo Lincoln
, the first screen Tarzan.
In the serial Tarzan the Tiger
(1929), based on Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
, La was played by Mademoiselle Kithnou, and Tarzan by Frank Merrill
.
La is also a recurring antagonist in Disney's The Legend of Tarzan
animated series, in which Opar is occupied by humanoid leopards created by La's magical staff to serve her. (This is a very loose reference to the Leopard Men cult from Burroughs' novel Tarzan and the Leopard Men
(1935), though in the books they have nothing to do with La.) She tries to make Tarzan fall in love with her, and since he is in love with Jane has the Leopardmen stage Jane's death; Jane survives and Tarzan discovers the ruse.
The next time Tarzan meets La, her head Leopardman takes her staff, which possesses Jane. Working together, they save Jane. Learning that the Leopardmen want to be free, Tarzan shatters the staff, which turns the Leopardmen back to leopards and La to dust as Opar crumbles to nothing.
La's spirit survives, and subsequently possesses the bodies of others. Taking over Jane, she finds and reassembles the pieces of her staff, restoring Opar. When Tarzan and a native interfere, La takes over his body but is attacked by one of her animated statues, forced into the body of a rat, and captured.
Since the Disney version of Tarzan is child oriented, its La is not nude, but wears a bikini-like loincloth and a top exposing her arms and midriff, both made of panther fur and decorated with animal teeth, as well as jewelry. She is the first boss of Disney's Tarzan: Return to the Jungle for the Game Boy Advance
.
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres.-Biography:...
's series of Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
novels. She first appeared in the second Tarzan novel, The Return of Tarzan
The Return of Tarzan
The Return of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the second in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published in the pulp magazine New Story Magazine in the issues for June through December 1913; the first book edition was published in 1915 by A. C....
(1913), and reappeared in the fifth, Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fifth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It first appeared in the November and December issues of All-Story Cavalier Weekly in 1916, and the first book publication was by McClurg in 1918.-Plot...
(1916), the ninth, Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Tarzan and the Golden Lion is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the ninth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published as a seven part serial in Argosy All-Story Weekly beginning in December 1922; and then as a complete novel by A.C. McClurg & Co...
(1923), and the fourteenth, Tarzan the Invincible
Tarzan the Invincible
Tarzan the Invincible is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourteenth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. The novel was originally serialized in the magazine Blue Book from October, 1930 through April, 1931 as "Tarzan, Guard of the Jungle."-Plot summary:Tarzan, his...
(1930). She is also mentioned in the juvenile Tarzan story Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins, with Jad-Bal-Ja, the Golden Lion
Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins
Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins is a collection of two Tarzan novellas written by Edgar Rice Burroughs for younger readers. It was originally published as two children's books, The Tarzan Twins by Voland in October 1927, and Tarzan and the Tarzan Twins, with Jad-bal-ja, the Golden Lion, by Whitman in...
(1936), the events of which occur between Tarzan and the Golden Lion and Tarzan the Invincible.
La in the original Tarzan novels
La is the queen and high priestess of Opar, a lost cityLost city
A "Lost City" is a term that is generally considered to refer to a well-populated area which fell into terminal decline, became extensively or completely uninhabited, and whose location has been forgotten. Some lost cities whose locations have been rediscovered have been studied extensively by...
located deep in the jungles of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Opar is portrayed as a surviving colony of ancient Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
in which incredible riches have been stockpiled down through the ages. The city's population exihibits extreme sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
caused by a combination of excessive inbreeding, cross-breeding with apes, and selective culling of offspring. Consequently, female Oparians are physically perfect, while male Oparians are beast-like brutes.
On her first encounter with Tarzan La falls in love with him, he being so much more physically perfect and attractive than the male Oparians. But Tarzan spurns her advances, as he is already committed to Jane Porter
Jane Porter (Tarzan)
Jane Porter is a major character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels, and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly film.- In the novels :...
. This endangers his own life, as the religion of Opar condones human sacrifice, and La comes close to dedicating him to her city's "Flaming God" on a number of occasions. The two encounter each other time and again, as Tarzan keeps returning to Opar to replenish his personal wealth from its hoarded treasure.
La in other media
The Adventures of Tarzan
The Adventures of Tarzan is a 15 chapter movie serial which features the third and final appearance of Elmo Lincoln as Tarzan. The serial was produced by Louis Weiss, written by Robert F. Hill and Lillian Valentine , and directed by Robert F...
(1921), an early black and white silent Tarzan film based on The Return of Tarzan
The Return of Tarzan
The Return of Tarzan is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the second in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published in the pulp magazine New Story Magazine in the issues for June through December 1913; the first book edition was published in 1915 by A. C....
. She was portrayed by actress Lillian Worth
Lillian Worth
Lillian Worth was an American actress. She appeared in 32 films between 1919 and 1937.-External links:...
, who played opposite Elmo Lincoln
Elmo Lincoln
Elmo Lincoln was an American film actor.Born Otto Elmo Linkenhelt, the barrel-chested actor is best known in his silent movie role as the first Tarzan in 1918's Tarzan of the Apes as an adult --...
, the first screen Tarzan.
In the serial Tarzan the Tiger
Tarzan the Tiger
Tarzan the Tiger is a Universal movie serial based on the novel Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It stars Frank Merrill as Tarzan, Natalie Kingston as Jane, and Al Ferguson. It was written by Ian McClosky Heath and directed by Henry MacRae.It was considered lost at one time...
(1929), based on Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fifth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. It first appeared in the November and December issues of All-Story Cavalier Weekly in 1916, and the first book publication was by McClurg in 1918.-Plot...
, La was played by Mademoiselle Kithnou, and Tarzan by Frank Merrill
Frank Merrill (actor)
Frank Merrill was a Southern California and national title-winning gymnast , police officer, stuntman and actor, most famous for being the fifth actor to portray Tarzan on film.Merrill had doubled for the screen's first Tarzan, Elmo Lincoln, in the 1921 movie serial The...
.
La is also a recurring antagonist in Disney's The Legend of Tarzan
The Legend of Tarzan
The Legend of Tarzan is an animated television series created by The Walt Disney Company in 2001, based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs....
animated series, in which Opar is occupied by humanoid leopards created by La's magical staff to serve her. (This is a very loose reference to the Leopard Men cult from Burroughs' novel Tarzan and the Leopard Men
Tarzan and the Leopard Men
Tarzan and the Leopard Men is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the eighteenth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan...
(1935), though in the books they have nothing to do with La.) She tries to make Tarzan fall in love with her, and since he is in love with Jane has the Leopardmen stage Jane's death; Jane survives and Tarzan discovers the ruse.
The next time Tarzan meets La, her head Leopardman takes her staff, which possesses Jane. Working together, they save Jane. Learning that the Leopardmen want to be free, Tarzan shatters the staff, which turns the Leopardmen back to leopards and La to dust as Opar crumbles to nothing.
La's spirit survives, and subsequently possesses the bodies of others. Taking over Jane, she finds and reassembles the pieces of her staff, restoring Opar. When Tarzan and a native interfere, La takes over his body but is attacked by one of her animated statues, forced into the body of a rat, and captured.
Since the Disney version of Tarzan is child oriented, its La is not nude, but wears a bikini-like loincloth and a top exposing her arms and midriff, both made of panther fur and decorated with animal teeth, as well as jewelry. She is the first boss of Disney's Tarzan: Return to the Jungle for the Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
.