Hawaii (1966)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writers:

James Michener (novel)
Dalton Trumbo (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 October 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

James Michener's novel reaches the screen.

Plot:

Abner Hale, a rigid and humorless New England missionary, marries the beautiful Jerusha Bromley and takes her to the exotic island kingdom of Hawaii...

Plot Keywords:

Missionary | Hawaii | Wedding | Connecticut | Eye Gouging

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Julie Andrews	...	Jerusha Bromley
Max von Sydow	...	Rev. Abner Hale
Richard Harris	...	Capt. Rafer Hoxworth
Gene Hackman	...	Dr. John Whipple
Carroll O'Connor	...	Charles Bromley
Jocelyne LaGarde	...	Queen Malama
Manu Tupou	...	Keoki
Ted Nobriga	...	Kelolo
Elizabeth Logue	...	Noelani
John Cullum	...	Rev. Immanuel Quigley
George Rose	...	Capt. Janders
Lou Antonio	...	Rev. Abraham Hewlett
Torin Thatcher	...	Rev. Dr. Thorn
Michael Constantine	...	Mason, sailor
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Gideon Hale

Runtime:

189 min | USA:162 min (TCM Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hawaiian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (original roadshow release) | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:Approved | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

Fred Zinnemann was originally slated to direct and Audrey Hepburn and Alec Guinness were set to star. Unfortunately, conflicts with producer Walter Mirisch and co-screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, as well as numerous delays caused by the weather, caused him to walk off the project shortly before filming started. George Roy Hill was brought in to direct.

Goofs:

Continuity: Late in the film, when Hoxworth confronts Reverend Hale outside the church, while the shot is on the Reverend, from behind Hoxworth, there is a bright sun shining on both men; in the reverse shots of Hoxworth, there is no sunshine and the weather is overcast.

Quotes:

Charles Bromley: And this is my daughter, Miss Jerusha.
Jerusha Bromley Hale: I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Reverend Hale.
[She extends her hand to greet him; he sneezes violently]
Abner Hale: Oh dear. Did I spray?
Charles Bromley: No, no, no, not at all.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Bette Midler" (2004)

Soundtrack:

MY WISHING DOLL

Epic-scale adventure drama or history lesson?

Bumpy, overlong drama does have magnetic sequences that stay with you. New England reverend (Max von Sydow, who never elicits our interest or compassion) sails to the Hawaiian islands with his wife in 1820 to introduce the natives to Christianity. Soapy plot taken from James A. Michener's book tries to cram too many years into 170 minutes of screen-time. The task of adapting the mammoth bestseller was probably a bad idea right from the start, and the picture is certainly a botch, but I did enjoy Julie Andrews as von Sydow's wife and the early scenes have atmosphere and tension. But Max von Sydow is a real problem: he's so overly-pious he's pathetic, which is probably not the effect hoped for. Look fast for real-life Hawaiian resident Bette Midler on the Eastern ship as it arrives to the island. **1/2 from ****