South of Tahiti

Last updated
South of Tahiti
South of Tahiti.jpg
Directed by George Waggner
Screenplay by Gerald Geraghty
Story byAinsworth Morgan
Produced byGeorge Waggner
Starring Brian Donlevy
Broderick Crawford
Andy Devine
Maria Montez
Cinematography Elwood Bredell
Edited by Frank Gross
Music by Frank Skinner
Color process Black and white
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • October 17, 1941 (1941-10-17)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

South of Tahiti is a 1941 American south seas adventure film directed by George Waggner and starring Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford and Andy Devine. [1] It helped launch fourth-billed Maria Montez as a pin-up star. [2] The response was such that Universal Pictures then cast her in Arabian Nights . [3]

Contents

Plot

Three pearl hunters wind up stranded on a South Pacific island. While one of them falls in love with the daughter of a tribal leader, his two companions are more concerned with robbing the tribe's golden treasure.

Cast

Production

The film was intended to be Montez's first starring vehicle. It was originally known as Captive Wild Woman and was to star Montez, Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford and Andy Devine. Then its name was changed to White Savage. Gerald Geraghty and Ainsworth Morgan were originally reported as working on the script. [4]

Henry Wilcoxon was then announced for the role of the main villain. [5] The script was rewritten so his character survived at the end. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broderick Crawford</span> American actor (1911–1986)

William Broderick Crawford was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Willie Stark in the film All the King's Men (1949), which earned him an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Often cast in tough-guy or slob roles, he later achieved recognition for his starring role as Dan Mathews in the crime television series Highway Patrol (1955–1959).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Devine</span> American actor (1905–1977)

Andrew Vabre Devine was an American character actor known for his distinctive raspy, crackly voice and roles in Western films, including his role as Cookie, the sidekick of Roy Rogers in 10 feature films. He also appeared alongside John Wayne in films such as Stagecoach (1939), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and How the West Was Won. He is also remembered as Jingles on the TV series The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok from 1951 to 1958, as Danny McGuire in A Star Is Born (1937), and as the voice of Friar Tuck in the Disney Animation Studio film Robin Hood (1973).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Montez</span> Dominican actress

María África Gracia Vidal, known professionally as Maria Montez, was a Dominican actress who gained fame and popularity in the 1940s starring in a series of filmed-in-Technicolor costume adventure films. Her screen image was that of a seductress, dressed in fanciful costumes and sparkling jewels. She became so identified with these adventure epics that she became known as The Queen of Technicolor. Over her career, Montez appeared in 26 films, 21 of which were made in North America, with the last five being made in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Donlevy</span> American actor (1901–1972)

Waldo Brian Donlevy was an American actor, who was noted for playing dangerous and tough characters. Usually appearing in supporting roles, among his best-known films are Beau Geste (1939), The Great McGinty (1940) and Wake Island (1942). For his role as the sadistic Sergeant Markoff in Beau Geste, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Hall (actor)</span> American actor (1915–1979)

Jon Hall was an American film actor known for playing a variety of adventurous roles, as in 1937's The Hurricane, and later when contracted to Universal Pictures, including Invisible Agent and The Invisible Man's Revenge and six films he made with Maria Montez. He was also known to 1950s fans as the creator and star of the Ramar of the Jungle television series which ran from 1952 to 1954. Hall directed and starred in two 1960s sci-fi films in his later years, The Beach Girls and the Monster (1965) and The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966).

<i>Two Years Before the Mast</i> (film) 1946 film by John Farrow

Two Years Before the Mast is a 1946 American historical adventure film directed by John Farrow and starring Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, and Barry Fitzgerald. It is based on Richard Henry Dana Jr.'s travel book of the same name and was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

<i>White Savage</i> 1943 film by Arthur Lubin

White Savage is a 1943 American Technicolor South Seas adventure film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Sabu. The film was re-released by Realart in 1948 on a double-feature with the same three stars in Cobra Woman (1944) and again in 1953, under the title White Savage Woman. It was choreographed by Lester Horton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Woodbury</span> American actress (1915–1989)

Joan Elmer Woodbury was an American actress beginning in the 1930s and continuing well into the 1960s.

When the Daltons Rode is a 1940 American Western film directed by George Marshall and starring Randolph Scott, Kay Francis and Brian Donlevy. Based on the 1931 book of the same name by Emmett Dalton, a member of the Dalton Gang, and Jack Jungmeyer Sr., the film also includes a fictional family friend who tries to dissuade the Dalton brothers from becoming outlaws.

<i>Tangier</i> (1946 film) 1946 film by George Waggner

Tangier is a 1946 American film noir mystery film directed by George Waggner and starring Maria Montez, Robert Paige and Sabu. It is set in the international city of Tangier, Morocco and was one of the last Universal Pictures films before the studio's reorganization as Universal-International in July 1946.

<i>Sudan</i> (film) 1945 film by John Rawlins

Sudan is a 1945 American Technicolor adventure film directed by John Rawlins and starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Turhan Bey.

<i>Wild Harvest</i> 1947 film by Tay Garnett

Wild Harvest is a 1947 American drama film directed by Tay Garnett and starring Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour and Robert Preston. It was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

<i>Bowery to Broadway</i> 1944 film by Charles Lamont

Bowery to Broadway is a 1944 American film starring Maria Montez, Jack Oakie, and Susanna Foster. Donald O'Connor and Peggy Ryan also had a small specialty act, and it was the only film they were in together where they did not have a name or character.

<i>Gypsy Wildcat</i> 1944 film by Roy William Neill

Gypsy Wildcat is a 1944 Technicolor adventure film directed by Roy William Neil starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Peter Coe. It was co-written by James M. Cain.

<i>Raiders of the Desert</i> 1941 film by John Rawlins

Raiders of the Desert is a 1941 American comedy adventure film directed by John Rawlins and starring Andy Devine, Richard Arlen and Linda Hayes. The film was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. It features an early appearance by Maria Montez. It was the first time she made a film set in the Orient.

<i>The Last Bandit</i> 1949 film by Joseph Kane

The Last Bandit is a 1949 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Bill Elliott, Lorna Gray and Forrest Tucker. It was a remake by Republic Pictures of the 1941 film The Great Train Robbery with a larger budget and using the studio's Trucolor process. The film was remade again in 1952 as South Pacific Trail.

Sin Town is a 1942 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Constance Bennett, Broderick Crawford and Patric Knowles. It is set during the Texas Oil Boom of the early 20th century. The trio of Director Enright, Crawford, and Gwynne collaborated on another film the same year, "Men of Texas," which also revolves, to some extent, around the newspaper industry.

<i>The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance</i> 1941 film directed by Sidney Salkow

The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance is a 1941 American mystery film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Warren William, June Storey and Henry Wilcoxon. Salkow also wrote the original screenplay, along with Earl Felton, and the film was released on March 6, 1941. It is the sixth Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures, and the fourth appearance of William as the title character Lone Wolf. His next film was Secrets of the Lone Wolf, released later that year.

"Aces of Action" was the informal nickname given to the movie teaming of Richard Arlen and Andy Devine. They made a number of low budget action films together for Universal.

<i>Men of the Timberland</i> 1941 film

Men of the Timberland is a 1941 American action film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Richard Arlen, Andy Devine and Linda Hayes. It was part of their Aces of Action series at Universal Pictures.

References

  1. Fetrow p.471
  2. South of Tahiti at Mariamontez.org
  3. "Maria Montez Puts Paprika in New Glamor Type: Sensational, but Proper, She Calls Herself". Chicago Daily Tribune. 15 November 1942. p. H10.
  4. DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (Aug 25, 1941). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Olivia de Havilland Gets Lead in 'The Male Animal,' Which is Set to Start Today SIX NEW FILMS DUE HERE ' Whistling in the Dark,' 'Dive Bomber' and 'Wild Geese Calling' to Arrive". New York Times. p. 18.
  5. Scheuer, Philip K. (Sep 5, 1941). "Jed Harris Finally Signs for Movie Duty: Barnes, Truex Paired Also Landis, Shepperd Columbia Gets 'Pal Joey' Juvenile Film Planned Wilcoxon Awarded Lead". Los Angeles Times. p. 12.
  6. "Tender-Hearted". Los Angeles Times. Sep 25, 1941. p. A10.

Bibliography