Both familiar and foreign, easily understood and completely alien, the island cultures scattered across the Pacific Ocean have offered moviegoers a glimpse of how life might have been in a simpler time, how life could be in paradise and how even hibiscus-scented nights and the sound of surf breaking against soft sand can sometimes mask dangers.
For years, Hollywood has been making forays to the South Pacific. Whether it was to bring war to Bali Hai in South Pacific or adventure among the palms in The Swiss Family Robinson, the golden sand, verdant jungles and clear-blue waters of Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Guam and the other island retreats have held an attraction for filmmakers looking for gorgeous vistas as a backdrop for their drama or comedy. Here are a few favorites:
PAGAN LOVE SONG (1950): This Esther Williams aquatic wonder is light on plot and character, but it's a joy. Transporting Ms. Williams' patented underwater displays to Tahiti (where much of the film was shot) allows this silly love story to also function as a breathtaking travelog, shot in eye-popping Technicolor.
CAST AWAY (2000): The plight of survivors washed up on the shores of a tropical island has long been a favorite dramatic device. Most of these movies, however, concentrate on the physical challenges of survival. What makes Cast Away so successful is that it always acknowledges that maintaining sanity in a solitary paradise is the true battle. This Tom Hanks film continues to age very well.
FATHER GOOSE (1964): Because the Pacific theater saw so much action during World War II, moviemakers naturally have returned to replay those violent years in front of the camera's unblinking eye. Though many of these movies tend to be dark and violent, this Cary Grant-Audrey Hepburn vehicle about a drunken surveillance scout who finds himself sharing his atoll with a teacher and her female students is light, bright and one of Mr. Grant's finer performances.
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935): The true story of the HMS Bounty and the South Seas mutiny that made it famous has been filmed several times. Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard did it, as did Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. Still, there's something to be said for the 1935 version. It might err on the side of melodramatic, but when the scenery chewing is left in the hands of Clark Gable and Charles Laughton, well, the fun is in just sitting back and watching the sparks fly.
DONOVAN'S REEF (1963): The final collaboration between John Wayne and director John Ford, this film stars the Duke as a man all but hiding from society in the South Pacific. It mixes romantic comedy with a real anti-colonial message. An interesting swan song for one of Hollywood's more famous director-star pairings.
Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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