An adventurer is promised $1 million if he can recover a fortune in pearls, but they are guarded by a tribe of fierce natives.1h 5min || 1 April 1945
Director: Harold Young
Stars: Nancy Kelly, William Gargan, Eddie Quillan, Fuzzy Knight, George Dolenz, George Cleveland
Carlos Romero ... dance director
Genres: Action | Adventure | Comedy | Music | Romance
Watched online, poor print.
To continue the plot synopsis: the fierce natives are lead by a beautiful non-native princess (NK) who was raised on the island since infancy by the non-native former-partner (GC) of the man financing the adventure. The princess is engaged to a native (GD) educated abroad who would have been ruler of the island if she hadn't been around. The adventurer (WG) and his stowaway sidekicks (EQ & FK) are detained on the island, they charm the natives with their harmonizing (they also brought ukulele, harmonica and flute.) WG romances NK. Eventually WG & sidekicks get to the "church" where the tears of the goddess (the pearls, which forms the basis of the island's religion) are stored, helped by GD so he can capture them in the act and execute them, eliminating his marriage competition for NK. During preparations for the burning at the stake of WG, NK seeks GC's help, and he finally reveals that there is a bigger god than the local goddess, bringing out the bible that was attached to the princess as an infant when she was adrift at sea. (The princess is an adult now, and he hasn't taught her any Christianity.) GC gets down on his knees to pray, and NK goes back to the execution site. The fire is lit, and WG squirms. The sky darkens, and a downpour douses the fire. The End.
Along the way, WG, EQ and FK sing at least twice as a trio with nice harmony (once in the airplane on the way to the island, once while imprisoned), NK sings a couple of times (Soundtracks says it's dubbed), and we get some "native" dancing.
The Connections page says the hula sequence was edited from the Abbott & Costello movie Pardon My Sarong ('42), but the choreographers are different (?), and I don't remember other dancing here. The 2 songs the films share are sung by principals.
The music was not so much nor so good that I'd advocate for or against the Music label. And hopefully my plot description gives the impression I'm left with: yuck.
Yes, George Dolenz is father of Monkee Micky Dolenz. Dad is far more handsome; his part had a very flat, stern personality here, doubly contrasting him with his son.
Universal, dir. Young; 5
