1932 Bird of Paradise VO Streaming
Bird of Paradise is a 1951 drama film directed by Delmer Daves. It stars Debra Paget and Louis Jourdan.[3]
| Directed by | Delmer Daves |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Delmer Daves |
| Screenplay by | Delmer Daves |
| Based on | the play by Richard Walton Tully |
| Starring | Debra Paget Louis Jourdan Jeff Chandler |
| Music by | Daniele Amfitheatrof |
| Cinematography | Winton C. Hoch |
| Edited by | James B. Clark |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release dates
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Running time
|
100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,650,000 (US r |
Plot
Andre
Laurence (Jourdan) takes a trip to a Polynesian island with his college
roommate Tenga (Chandler). He assumes the native life and marries his
friend's sister, Kalua. An eruption of a volcano and the Kahuna, the
island's shaman, decides that the volcano can be appeased with the
sacrifice of Kalua.
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
O'ahu native Queenie Ventura (married name Dowsett), born 1930, half
pure Hawaiian and half Portuguese, joined the cast as a featured dancer
and the local lead actress.
Production
The movie was announced in May 1950.[4] It reunited several personnel from Broken Arrow
including Deborah Paget, Delmer Daves and Jeff Chandler. Chandler joked
that his character was 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 civilisation - 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.[5]
Sterling Hayden was mentioned as a possibility for the male lead.[6] Eventually Louis Jourdan was cast. Delmer Daves claims he wrote "a practically new story" from the play.[7] It was Maurice Schwartz's second movie role.[8]
The film was shot on location in Hawaii starting in August 1950.[9] Key locations were Hanalei Bay, Waikiki, Kona Coast and Volcano.[10]
Chandler had to be flown back every weekend to Los Angeles in order to fulfill his radio commitment to Our Miss Brooks.[5]
Reception
Critical response
When the film was released, The New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther
panned the film, writing, "There is certainly nothing original—or
particularly blissful, we would say—about 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."[11]
On the other hand, the staff at Variety
magazine gave the film a favorable review, 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."[12]
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