Song of the Islands (1942)

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Joseph Schrank (screenplay) &
Robert Pirosh (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 March 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

BETTY'S EVEN GOT THE PALM TREES SWAYING! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

With his sidekick Rusty, Jeff Harper sails to paradisiacal tropical isle Ahmi-Oni to bargain on behalf...

Plot Keywords:

Cattle | Island | Barbecue | Cousin Cousin Relationship | Harbor

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Eileen O'Brien
Victor Mature	...	Jefferson 'Jeff' Harper Jr.
Jack Oakie	...	Rusty Smith
Thomas Mitchell	...	Dennis O'Brien
George Barbier	...	Jefferson Harper Sr.
Billy Gilbert	...	Palola's father
Hilo Hattie	...	Palola
Harry Owens	...	Himself (as Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians)
Lillian Porter	...	Paulani (Palola's cousin)
Hal K. Dawson	...	John Rodney

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #7884) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Cut from the release print was a ballad called "Blue Shadows and White Gardenias" (music and lyrics by Mack Gordon and Harry Owens), sung by Betty Grable and Victor Mature (dubbed by Ben Gage). The melody remains in the background score. Bing Crosby, for Decca Records, waxed a version issued originally on a 78.

Quotes:

Jeff Harper Jr.: If you see me in the moonlight, you better yell aloha and start running.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Yanks (1979)

Soundtrack:

Cannibal Chant

Light fluffy war time comedy

I kinda liked this movie. The plot is not much to write off and is questionable if it will have any appeal to adults because it involves full grown men and women acting like ten year olds. Set on the Hawaii Islands it has something to do with some millionaire rancher's son who falls for a enjoy-life goodnik loafer on the Islands. Romance, fighting, with some will they or will they not get together? That is a typical Betty Grable picture. Gable who couldn't really act but was always charming with a nice smile and is always fun to watch because the woman approached all her roles with gusto. It didn't matter the role; she played as if it were Scarlett O'Hara. Poor Victor Mature suffered in being cast in light tripe like this where he practiced how to take pratfalls and sound dopey and goofy before better things and dramatic roles elevated out of this parts. The popular radio star Jack Oakie provides much needed support and has many scenes where his sub plot line dominates the movies. This I have to mention because this is sorely missing in Hollywood movies, today. Let's take a recent hit like "Hitch", Kevin James gets no scene without Will Smith on the phone and in the background and it's a credit to him that he still finds a way to steal the movie. Gable too was not a very good dancer but again you forgive because she lights into it with so much pep and determination and that can be said for the whole movie. It is poorly written, obvious with no surprises but everybody plays it to the utmost fullest that makes you enjoy the whole silly farce for what it's what.