Audiences lapped up Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Sabu in Arabian Nights so Universal whisked them over another location ideal of technicolour escapism, the South Seas. This was the region that made Hall famous, back in 1937’s Hurricane, and was enjoying a resurgence of popularity around this time – Dorothy Lamour being the most notable star.
Maria Montez was an awkward actor but she’s very pretty and has fun as an imperious island princess. Her island contains some valuable natural resources – some jewels and sharks. Nasty Thomas Gomez wants the former, fisherman Jon Hall is only interested in hunting the latter (so he says).
Montez and Hall have better chemistry here than they did in Arabian Nights and Ali Baba – partly because their relationship doesn’t have the suspicion hanging over it in the other two films that Montez wants to marry Hall because he’s royalty; here he’s just a fisherman, so she genuinely likes him. It also helps that they joke around a bit and go for a swim together – both seem to be into each other.
Turhan Bey is very good in a role for which he is excellently suited, as Montez’s wastrel brother. Sidney Toler’s oriental lawyer suffers under too much make up but Sabu adds youth, energy and charm in his side kick part. Gorgeous technicolour photography and great sets – Universal didn’t stint on the budget for this one.
Richard Brooks is given sole credit for the screenplay (someone else is credited for the story) and he has nothing to be ashamed about; the card playing sequence involving Hall, Bey and Thomas Gomez feels a bit rougher-edged than many in these sort of movies – perhaps this was Brooks’ influence.
There are some spectacular special effects during the volcano climax, even if it does mean our heroes mostly stand around trying to avoid having things fall on them instead of doing something really heroic. Good fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment