Down Among the Sheltering Palms
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Edmund Goulding
William Lundigan
Jane Greer
Mitzi Gaynor
David Wayne
Gloria Dehaven
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
At the end of World War II, Capt. Bill Willoby is distraught to learn that rather than being sent home, he and his men are being deployed to tiny Midi Island, as part of the forces occupying the formerly Japanese-held Gilbert Islands. Bill and his lieutenant, Frank G. Schmidt, are relieved by the hearty welcome they receive from the native girls and King Jilouili and his British translator, Woolawei. The men's joy sours, however, when Bill receives orders that there is to be no fraternization between the U.S. forces and the natives. Bill tries to interest the bored and frustrated men in sports, but morale quickly plummets. The officers perk up upon the arrival of Reverend and Mrs. Paul Edgett and their lovely niece, Diana Forrester, but despite his own attraction to Diana, Bill instructs the officers that it would be hypocritical for them to pursue Diana when the enlisted men are without any female companionship. Soon after, Bill is notified that he has been made the military governor of the island, while Frank, fed up with his bumbling corporal, Kolta, persuades Diana to work in the office as a secretary. Diana, who had gotten off on the wrong foot with Bill, is impressed by his men's devotion to him when they fix up a bungalow for him. That night, Bill is thunderstruck when Jilouili gives him a beautiful native girl, Rozouila, as a gift, and is even more upset when Woolawei explains that she is now his wife. Bill goes to the reverend's house seeking advice but instead finds Diana, who flirts with him. The reverend interrupts the couple as they are about to kiss, and after Diana leaves, Bill asks him what to do about Rozouila. Edgett advises Bill to keep Rozouila in a native hut far enough away from his bungalow for propriety's sake, but close enough to avoid offending the king. Unfortunately for Bill, Rozouila has fallen in love with him and resents not being able to live with him. Bill's life becomes even more complicated by the arrival of public relations officer Maj. Gerald Curwin and Angela Toland, the writer of a naughty novel who now fancies herself a correspondent. The seductive Angela revels in the attention of the soldiers, although she is mostly attracted to Bill. In love with Diana, Bill shows his lack of interest in Angela, but she still tries to seduce him. Bill also continues to hide Rozouila, who, along with Diana, is jealous of Angela, especially after he is ordered by Curwin to spend more time with the writer and show her around the island. One evening, Diana and Rozouila hide in separate bushes to spy on Bill and Angela, and are delighted to see Bill reject Angela. The next night, Angela again throws herself at Bill, and he finally tells her that he is in love with another girl and orders her to leave the island. Furious, Angela returns to her bungalow, where she finds Rozouila rummaging through her things. When Rozouila proclaims that she is Bill's woman, Angela assumes that the native girl is the woman about whom Bill spoke, and she writes a scandalous article accusing Bill of breaking the non-fraternization rule. Although they had formerly stood by Bill through thick and thin, the soldiers believe the article and grumble about Bill's alleged betrayal. The charges also come to the attention of the inspector general's office, and Col. Thomas R. Richard is sent to investigate. While Bill prepares for the inquiry, the men decide to have a big party in the village, although Frank tells them that Bill has always been honest with them, and that if they fraternize now, Bill will be court-martialed. At the Edgetts' home, Diana, who has been blinded by Angela's accusations, is preparing to leave the island, but the reverend urges her to trust her heart. The reverend then goes to Bill's office, where he assures Richard that Bill has obeyed all the rules and has been a fine officer. Jilouili and Woolawei arrive, and when Woolawei explains that Bill can give Rozouila to her boyfriend Taomi, the misunderstanding is cleared up and Richard chews out Angela for not verifying her facts before publication. Angela then challenges Richard to visit the village, where the soldiers are partying, but upon their arrival, the astonished officers see that Jilouili, acting on advice from Diana, has declared the natives off limits. The situation is resolved when Bill then receives word that Midi has been declared a friendly island, thereby nullifying the non-fraternization orders. Soon after, the men board a ship for home, and while Rozoulia snuggles with Taomi, Angela and Frank, who are now a couple, sing their goodbyes to the natives along with Diana and Bill.
Director
Edmund Goulding
Cast
William Lundigan
Jane Greer
Mitzi Gaynor
David Wayne
Gloria Dehaven
Gene Lockhart
Jack Paar
Alvin Greenman
Billy Gilbert
Henry Kulky
Lyle Talbot
Ray Montgomery
George Nader
Charles Tannen
Claude Allister
Edith Evanson
Fay Roope
David Ahdar
Sialofi Jerry Talo
Clinton Bagwell
Steve Wayne
Richard Grayson
John Baer
Jean Charney
Ann Moore
Eden Hartford
Connie Castle
Vida Aldana
Jacqueline Park
Diana Dawson
Helene London
Hazel Shaw
Midge Ware
Jacqueline Wilson
Carol Varga
Jonni Paris
Eilean Howe
Barney Phillips
Lee Marvin
Henry Slate
Joe Turkel
David Wolfson
James Ogg
Ray Hyke
Roger Mcgee
Grady Galloway
Hal Baylor
Gregg Martell
Fred Datig Jr.
Tom Coffey
Robert H. Marr
Michael Lally
Frank Sully
James Magill
Jerry Miley
Joe Bailey
Ted Jordan
Bud Stark
Richard Monohan
Gloria De Werd
Jeffrey Sayre
George Sawaya
Birdie De Bolt
Tex Brodux
Jimmie Thompson
Ward Ellis
Don Hulbert
Perk Lazelle
Bob Crosby
Leon Alton
Luukia Luana
Irene K. Silva
Crew
Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen
Claude Binyon
Ralph Blane
Kent Brandow
James Brockman
Alfred Bruzlin
Jerry Bryan
George Marcel Archer Ceran
Ken Darby
Ken Darby
Leonard Doss
Eli Dunn
Seymour Felix
Leland Fuller
Gerald Garnier
Earle Hagen
Leigh Harline
Roger Heman
Fred Kohlmar
Charles Lemaire
Dr. William A. Lessa
Albert Lewin
Queen Liliuokalani
Thomas Little
Louis Loeffler
Gerald Marks
Luana Mu-annu
Lionel Newman
Ben Nye
Abe Olman
George J. Ott
Stuart Reiss
Fred Sersen
Leon Shamroy
Seymour Simons
Herbert Spencer
Robinson Ware Spotswood
Burt Styler
Helen Tamiris
Travilla
Lyle Wheeler
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were Paradise with Serpent, Sapphire Skies and Friendly Island. In April 1950, Los Angeles Times reported that Twentieth Century-Fox had purchased the rights to Edward Hope's story as a vehicle for Dan Dailey, and a November 1950 Los Angeles Examiner news item announced that June Haver would co-star with Gloria DeHaven. According to Hollywood Reporter news items, co-screenwriter Claude Binyon was originally set to direct the picture, Dailey dropped out of the project in order to take a three-month vacation and Haver was suspended by the studio for her refusal to take the role of "Diana Forrester."
A May 1950 Hollywood Reporter news item stated that Richard Allan was cast in the picture, but his appearance in the finished film has not been confirmed. June 1950 Hollywood Reporter news items reported that the picture would be filmed either on a Pacific island or on one of the "tropical islands off Lower CA," but it appears that, instead, the picture was shot at the studio. Although contemporary sources refer to David Wayne's character as "Lt. Carl G. Schmidt," he is called "Lt. Frank G. Schmidt" in the film. The Hollywood Reporter review erroneously lists the film's running time as 73 minutes.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Spring March 1953
Released in United States Spring March 1953
