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Bird of Paradise (1951 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Bird of Paradise' is a 1951 American adventure drama romance film produced and directed by Delmer Daves and starring Debra Paget, Louis Jourdan and Jeff Chandler. The screenplay was also written by Daves based on the 1912 play by Richard Walton Tully. The film was distributed by 20th Century-Fox.
Plot
A Frenchman, Andre Laurence (Louis Jourdan), accompanies his college roommate Tenga (Jeff Chandler) home to Polynesia. There, he learns how to surf and how to keep his sarong from falling off. He also marries Tenga's sister, Kalua (Debra Paget). All is paradise until Andre falls under the disapproving glare of a witch doctor. He is called the Kahuna (Maurice Schwartz), and he warns his native flock that Andre will poison paradise with his evil White ways. Sure enough, when the island's mountain erupts in endless lava flow, the Kahuna decrees that the volcano gods can be appeased only by human sacrifice. And which human shall go to the gods? None other than Andre's wife, Kalua.
The island's population gather to witness the sacrificethat is, all except the infidel Andre, who is ordered to remain in his hut. As the villagers watch, Kalua walks up the peak and leaps feet-first into the hellish maelstrom. The mountain responds with a long, satisfied belch, and the island is saved. The next day, his wife having become volcano ash, Andre bids goodbye to paradise and returns to civilization.
Cast
* Debra Paget as Kalua
* Louis Jourdan as Andre Lawrence
* Jeff Chandler as Tenga
* Everett Sloane as The Akua
* Maurice Schwartz as The Kahuna
* Jack Elam as The Trader
* Prince Leilani as Chief
* Otto Waldis as Skipper
* Alfred Zeisler as Van Hook
Sterling Hayden had been mentioned as a possibility for the male lead.
This was Schwartz's second film role.
Production
Twentieth Century Fox announced the film in May 1950. It reunited several personnel from 'Broken Arrow' including Debra Paget, Delmer Daves and Jeff Chandler. Chandler joked that his character was just a variation on his performance as Cochise in 'Broken Arrow'.
The story is really about a conflict of worlds in 1850: a primitive people who live by their beliefs and the civilization in quotes brought by the white man. The problem is never resolved; even marriage can't do it but... we used some wonderful locations and the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful.
Daves claims that he wrote "a practically new story" from the play.
The film was shot on location in Hawaii beginning in August 1950. Key locations were Hanalei Bay, Waikiki, Kona Coast and Volcano.
Chandler flew back Los Angeles every weekend in order to fulfill his radio commitment to 'Our Miss Brooks'.
O'ahu native Queenie Ventura (ne Dowsett), who was half pure Hawaiian and half Portuguese, joined the cast as a featured dancer and the local lead actress.
Reception
'New York Times' film critic Bosley Crowther panned the film, writing: "There is certainly nothing originalor particularly blissful, we would sayabout the romantic tumble here taken by a visiting white man for a beauteous native maid...Unfortunately, Delmer Daves, who directed and wrote the script, either didn't or wasn't permitted to pitch the whole film in this slyly kidding vein. And the consequence is a rambling mishmosh of South Sea romance and travesty, of solemn high-priesting and low clowning, of never-never spectacle and sport."[https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9501E3D91E30E03BBC4D52DFB566838A649EDE Crowther, Bosley]. 'The New York Times', film review, March 15, 1951. Last accessed: February 10, 2011.
'Variety' reviewed the film favorably, writing: "Richard Walton Tully's old legit piece, 'Bird of Paradise', makes another trip to the screen in a refurbished version. Previous filming of the play was in 1932 and, while Delmer Daves' version deviates from the Tully form, the essentials of the drama are still there, plus a beautiful Technicolor camera job, haunting island music and the use of actual locales...Paget hits a high level in her performance as the Princess Kalua. She, as well as the other players give their characters considerable sincerity. Jourdan is an excellent choice as the island visitor, as is Chandler as the prince."[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117789281?refcatid=31 'Variety']. Film review, March 14, 1951. Last accessed: February 13, 2011.
References
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