Bird of Paradise (1951)

Overrated and overhyped

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Having visited Hawaii once I've maintained that it's such a beautiful place it's impossible not to make a beautiful looking film on location there. This remake of Bird Of Paradise has both color cinematography and great Hawaiian locations.When I reviewed the 1932 version of Bird Of Paradise with Joel McCrea and Dolores DelRio I said it was dated but entertaining. Well it's now even more dated and less entertaining. The story originally started as a Broadway play by Richard Walton Tully and starred the legendary Laurette Taylor and the one thing that Taylor, DelRio, and Debra Paget in this film have in common is the fiery death by volcano that all these women. Otherwise we have three separate plots.Here Jeff Chandler, native prince of the island is returning to the South Seas accompanied here by Louis Jourdan who is there for a visit, the two of them having gone to school together. Chandler has a sister in Debra Paget and she and Jourdan get to kanoodling hot and heavy.But it seems that fate is against these two having a life together as all the signs of their animist tradition are against them. In the end that's what defeats them.As in the 1932 version there is a healthy respect for those native traditions shown in this, less unusual than for the time of the first film. But I have to say it all makes less sense now.I doubt we'll see another version of this story made.

After studying in the States, the son of a Polynesian Chief (with white in his blood) returns home to the superstition-laden islands along with a vacationing Frenchman he met at the University; despite dire warnings from the soothsaying Kahuna, the white stranger--who represents a portent of turbulence to come--falls in love with his friend's blue-eyed sister and decides he wants to stay. Corny, daft, but enjoyable tropical star-crossed lovers tale, a loose remake of King Vidor's same-titled film from 1932. Adapted and directed by Delmer Daves, the splendor of native life is given a frisky, romantic allure--until the last act when an angry volcano erupts (mostly via stock footage). What might have become a heavy mix of soap and masochism is brought off well by Daves, who mounts the proceedings with grand melodramatic style. Stars Jeff Chandler and Debra Paget (playing brother and sister, fittingly since they both share a dimpled chin) and Louis Jourdan approach the material with dreamy seriousness, avoiding camp and actually creating two-dimensional characters. Some may argue this production lacks a high-level of gloss or strong special effects, though I believe Daves was focused far more on the customs and beliefs of these people--and also on the love story--than he was on the technical aspects. As such, it's a better, more emotional picture than its predecessor, and certainly the music by Daniele Amfitheatrof and Ken Darby is a wonderful asset. **1/2 from ****

I saw this movie in the early 1960s when it was played in black and white on television on "Saturday Night at the Movies." I was in my early teens and very impressionable. I wept at the sacrifice of the heroine at the ending. I had nightmares about volcanic eruptions. I fell in love with the Polynesian island settings and culture. When I can squeeze in vacation time, I always want to head to Hawaii. More than 40 years later, despite the fact I've never seen this movie again, it still lives vividly in my memory. It would probably seem "cheesy" and outdated today, but I'd love to see it again. If it's still showing next time I travel to Hilo, I'll try to see it.

I'm an anthropologist and have been one for over 30 years. One of the reasons I decided to study this field, believe it or not, were the island films. They fascinated me as a kid. This one is no exception. I saw it in '51 at least a dozen times. I ate it up and craved more. Also, I lapped up the Dottie Lamour and Jon Hall films as well as Burt Lancaster's His Majesty O'Keefe. Well, truth is I never got to the islands during all of my professional career. The closest was a port of call at Pearl Harbor on the way to Japan when I was in the Navy. But, the portrayal of these people, however flawed in detail it was, started me on the road to finding out about how we humans differ and yet, are really the same. I loved this film. It has much to offer. No, it's not perfect and I concur with the reviewer from Spain on Chandler's wooden dancing, but with that iron-grey hair and dark Jewish face, he did make a convincing Polynesian. Too, let's not overlook the hamboning of old Maurice Schwartz, some good villainous moments by Jack Elam and a dark, mysterious presentation by the veteran actor, Everett Sloane. Jourdan was French and charming and Debra Paget was beautiful. That alone was worth the price of admission.