Song of the Islands
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Walter Lang
Betty Grable
Victor Mature
Jack Oakie
Thomas Mitchell
George Barbier
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
On the tiny Hawaiian island of Ahmi-Oni, Irish beachcomber Dennis O'Brien lives an idyllic life with the native Hawaiians on his beachfront property. Everyone is overjoyed by the return of O'Brien's daughter Eileen, who has been away at school for three years. Eileen, who was reared by the natives as one of their own, is equally happy to be home. The night of Eileen's welcome-home luau, the island also sees the arrival of Jefferson Harper, whose father owns the cattle ranch that occupies the majority of Ahmi-Oni. With Jeff is his Texan pal, Rusty Smith, who has a full-time job keeping Jeff from constantly pursuing pretty girls. Jeff instantly falls for Eileen, who temporarily misleads him into thinking that she is a native. Eileen escorts them to the Harper ranch, where they are greeted by foreman John Rodney. Rodney explains that they need O'Brien's land, which has the only deep-water harbor on the island, to build a pier for more productive shipping of their cattle. Harper, who has never visited Ahmi-Oni, has been trying to buy the land for years, but O'Brien wishes to keep it as a sanctuary for the natives, whom he believes Harper does not understand. Jeff and Rusty spend the next three weeks on the island, during which Jeff and Eileen fall in love, and Rusty tries to avoid the attention of native singer Palola, while pursuing her cousin Paulani. When Jeff declares his intention to stay and run the ranch, a disgruntled Rusty tells Rodney, who in turn calls Harper. Harper immediately flies out from Chicago to stop what he believes is his son's foolishness. Harper declares that the O'Briens are fortune hunters, but once Jeff makes him meet them, Harper likes them. He nonetheless spoils the party they give him by insisting that O'Brien sell him his land. Soon harsh words are exchanged, with even Jeff and Eileen joining in the argument. The Harpers try to return to their side of the island, but the only connecting bridge is washed out during a storm. Jeff and his father must stay with the O'Briens, and although Jeff is unable to reconcile with Eileen, Harper finally becomes friends with O'Brien. Soon after, Harper buys O'Brien's land, which is up for sale by the government due to nonpayment of taxes. Harper intends this as a gesture to reunite the children, but Rodney sends the O'Briens an eviction notice without consulting him. Everyone is furious with Harper, but he is able to explain the situation to O'Brien. During a luau that evening to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Rusty, Harper and O'Brien connive to convince Eileen that Jeff has left. Eileen rushes out to see the departing plane, but Jeff is on the beach waiting for her. The quarreling lovers are reunited, and everyone sings as the families are assured of a peaceful and prosperous future together.
Director
Walter Lang
Cast
Betty Grable
Victor Mature
Jack Oakie
Thomas Mitchell
George Barbier
Billy Gilbert
Hilo Hattie
Harry Owens
Lillian Porter
Hal K. Dawson
Amy Cordone
Bruce Wong
Bobby Stone
Rudy Robles
Alex Pollard
Harold Lishman
Kohala Bray
Mary Stewart
Virginia Hogen
Ruth Riley
Geraldine Fisette
Peggy Lou Neary
Marie Bodie
Sheila Rae
Edith Haskins
Valerie Traxler
Evelyne Eager
Dona La Barr
Alma Pappas
Eleanor Peterson
Louise Allen
Grace Davies
Penny Gill
Belle Richard
Vanita Wade
Tani Marsh
Pearlie May Norton
Virginia Davis
Dorothy Harris
Pet Meyer
Patsy Perrin
Crew
R. Alex Anderson
Michael William Balfe
Harry Brand
Otto Brower
Bernard Carr
Richard Day
Robert Ellis
Fred Fox
Ben Gage
Mack Gordon
Roger Heman
Dr. Brewster M. Higley
Hilo Hattie
Sol Hoopii
Eddie Jones
Natalie Kalmus
Nick Kaltenstatler
Daniel E. Kelly
Charles E. King
William Koenig
William Lebaron
Leleiohaku
Thomas Little
Helen Logan
Jimmy Lono
Alfred Newman
Johnny Noble
Harry Owens
Harry Owens
Morgan Padelford
Ernest Palmer
Hermes Pan
Guy Pearce
Robert Pirosh
Satini Puailoa
John Russell Reasin
Joseph Schrank
Robert Simpson
Al Stillman
Gwen Wakeling
E. Clayton Ward
Joseph C. Wright
Darryl F. Zanuck
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
If you see me in the moonlight, you better yell aloha and start running.- Jeff Harper Jr.
Trivia
Notes
According to Hollywood Reporter news items and the Twentieth Century-Fox Records of the Legal Department and the Produced Scripts Collection, both housed at the UCLA Arts-Special Collections Library, the studio had been trying since late 1937 to develop a screenplay for the title Song of the Islands. In late 1937, Joan Davis was intended as the star, while in early 1938, the story as then written, was to be a vehicle for the Ritz Brothers, Alice Faye and Don Ameche. Various subsequent versions were also written for Alice Faye. In January-February 1940, Gene Markey was to produce a picture entitled Song of the Islands, while by May 1940, Milton Sperling was to be the producer. Among the writers who worked on various treatments and screenplays entitled Song of the Islands, although they did not contribute to the finished film, were: Eleanor Harris, Edith Skouras, Howard Ellis Smith, Kenneth Earl, Alfred Cohn, Rian James, Hal Hudson, M. M. Musselman, Jack Andrews, Betty Hopkins, Edwin Blum, Jules Furthman and Don Ettlinger. Writers Milton Raison, Fidel LaBarba and Hilary Lynn also worked on treatments, but the extent of their contribution to the released picture has not been confirmed. According to a September 22, 1941 studio press release, John Payne was to have the lead opposite Betty Grable. A August 6, 1941 Los Angeles Examiner news item stated that producer William LeBaron wanted to cast Robert Cummings opposite Grable. Hollywood Reporter news items and studio records indicate that Otto Brower headed a location unit that obtained background shots in Honolulu and the Hawaiian islands. Studio records note that background scenes were also filmed on location at Catalina Island, CA. According to a January 16, 1942 Hollywood Reporter news item, the film's premiere, to be held on 5 February at Miami Beach, FL, was to benefit the Navy Relief Fund. The film marked the screen debut of popular performer Hilo Hattie
