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]
| South of Tahiti | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | George Waggner |
| Screenplay by | Gerald Geraghty |
| Story by | Ainsworth Morgan |
| Produced by | George 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 by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editThree 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
edit- Brian Donlevy as Bob
- Broderick Crawford as Chuck
- Andy Devine as Moose
- Maria Montez as Melahi
- Henry Wilcoxon as Captain Larkin
- H. B. Warner as High Chief Kawalima
- Armida as Tutara
- Abner Biberman as Tahawa
- Ignacio Sáenz as Kuala
- Frank Lackteen as Besar
- Barbara Pepper as Julie
- Belle Mitchell as Taupa
- Frank Brownlee as Harbor Master
- Tom Steele as Brawling Sailor
Production
editThe 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Fetrow p.471
- ^ South of Tahiti at Mariamontez.org
- ^ "Maria Montez Puts Paprika in New Glamor Type: Sensational, but Proper, She Calls Herself". Chicago Daily Tribune. 15 November 1942. p. H10.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Tender-Hearted". Los Angeles Times. Sep 25, 1941. p. A10.
Bibliography
edit- Fetrow, Alan G. Feature Films, 1940-1949: a United States Filmography. McFarland, 1994.
External links
edit- South of Tahiti at IMDb
- South of Tahiti at the TCM Movie Database
- Review of film at Variety
- South Seas Cinema
 | This article about an adventure film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |