1h 27min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 1 March 1953
Director: Edmund Goulding
Stars: William Lundigan, Jane Greer, Mitzi Gaynor, David Wayne, Gloria DeHaven.
Seymour Felix ... choreographer
Helen Tamiris ... dance director (uncredited)
Watched online, blurry.
Synopsis make it sound like island has no native men; untrue.
8 songs performed per Soundtracks: 2 by GD, 1 by JG, 1 by WL (dubbed) & DW, 2 by MG (1 danced), 2 by chorus.
Very happy not to have spent $$ on this one. This is a pale imitation of South Pacific (B'way; film is '58), without the prejudice issues.
GD plays a bratty "reporter" (daughter of a newspaper owner) who romances WL. JG is the missionary's daughter/niece/whatever, also has eyes for WL. MG plays native girl, limited English, given to WL by chief/king/whatever, and tries to please him, seems to want him, but revealed otherwise at end (tidy).
The only dance I recall is MG doing a native thing with a bunch of guys on drums. Kinda dull, and very unlike the 2 films that made me notice Helen Tamiris (big beautiful ensembles).
MG is an unconvincing native, even with Billy Gilbert as chief. Her broken English ain't cute.
Fox, dir. Goulding; 6
