"Bird of Paradise" is a remake of a 1932 film and both the original and this 1951 remake have something in common....the film is about a Polynesian island but the leads were played by non-Polynesians! This sort of thing was very common until well into the 1960s and I hate it less because I am Mr. Political Correctness but because it just made for some bad performances. And, in the 1951 remake, Jeff Chandler and Debra Paget play Polynesians...and it's pretty obvious they are not the least bit Polynesian. It is sad, as the rest of the cast of Polynesians really are native Hawaiians...and I think both films would have worked better using an all-native cast (except for parts calling for Western actors).
One way the two films are VERY different is that the 1932 version was made during the so-called 'Pre-Code Era'...a time when Hollywood's production code monitoring decency and nudity was not being enforced consistently. During the early 30s, nudity, cursing and much other adult content was pretty common in movies...and the 1932 film was deliberately made to push the envelope. Delores Del Rio (who played the Polynesian girl) swam naked and many natives walked about topless...and viewers likely stared intently hoping to catch some skin. But in the 1951 version, the film is VERY chaste...to the point of actually being ridiculous due to the Produciton Code of 1934. The natives all wear a TON of clothes...something not typical of such islands at all. Realism was sacrificed in order for the film to gain approval for release...something absolutely necessary in 1951. In 1932, in contrast, all sorts of amazingly family-unfriendly things were released. I think both extremes hurt films to a certain extent.
The story begins with a native returning to his island after spending years in America. Tenga (Chandler) is returning with a friend, the Frenchman Andre (Louis Jourdan). Andre is planning on staying several months on a prolonged vacation. But soon after his arrival, the holy man announces that Andre's arrival is NOT a good thing and he must go as soon as possible. Why? He isn't certain...but some sort of evil accompanies him. Soon you learn what this evil is...when Andre falls in love with Tenga's sister (Paget)...and the holy man is sure this romance will result in tragedy. What is this evil and what will happen to their love? See the film to find out for yourself.
I think this remake is superior to the original film...something I rarely find myself saying in reviews. I nearly always prefer the originals. One big reason is that the original only had a few scenes (by the second unit...so it did not involve the stars of the story) filmed in Hawaii...most was filmed on Catalina Island and in sound studios. Catalina Island isn't very Polynesian looking....and the look of the 1951 film is much better since it was made only in Hawaii. I also think the acting was a bit better in this color remake. But the story still suffers from the odd casting decisions and could have been better. Some of this is because the story becomes a bit silly towards the end...with the 'blood river', booming volcano and more! Still, it is modestly entertaining and worth seeing.
One way the two films are VERY different is that the 1932 version was made during the so-called 'Pre-Code Era'...a time when Hollywood's production code monitoring decency and nudity was not being enforced consistently. During the early 30s, nudity, cursing and much other adult content was pretty common in movies...and the 1932 film was deliberately made to push the envelope. Delores Del Rio (who played the Polynesian girl) swam naked and many natives walked about topless...and viewers likely stared intently hoping to catch some skin. But in the 1951 version, the film is VERY chaste...to the point of actually being ridiculous due to the Produciton Code of 1934. The natives all wear a TON of clothes...something not typical of such islands at all. Realism was sacrificed in order for the film to gain approval for release...something absolutely necessary in 1951. In 1932, in contrast, all sorts of amazingly family-unfriendly things were released. I think both extremes hurt films to a certain extent.
The story begins with a native returning to his island after spending years in America. Tenga (Chandler) is returning with a friend, the Frenchman Andre (Louis Jourdan). Andre is planning on staying several months on a prolonged vacation. But soon after his arrival, the holy man announces that Andre's arrival is NOT a good thing and he must go as soon as possible. Why? He isn't certain...but some sort of evil accompanies him. Soon you learn what this evil is...when Andre falls in love with Tenga's sister (Paget)...and the holy man is sure this romance will result in tragedy. What is this evil and what will happen to their love? See the film to find out for yourself.
I think this remake is superior to the original film...something I rarely find myself saying in reviews. I nearly always prefer the originals. One big reason is that the original only had a few scenes (by the second unit...so it did not involve the stars of the story) filmed in Hawaii...most was filmed on Catalina Island and in sound studios. Catalina Island isn't very Polynesian looking....and the look of the 1951 film is much better since it was made only in Hawaii. I also think the acting was a bit better in this color remake. But the story still suffers from the odd casting decisions and could have been better. Some of this is because the story becomes a bit silly towards the end...with the 'blood river', booming volcano and more! Still, it is modestly entertaining and worth seeing.