South of Pago Pago
Cast & Crew
Alfred E. Green
Victor Mclaglen
Jon Hall
Frances Farmer
Olympe Bradna
Gene Lockhart
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In the 1880s a schooner sails from Singapore under the command of its ruthless captain, Bucko Larson. Aboard are First Mate Williams, Peg Legged Foster, Grimes and Manuel Ferro, a Portuguese sailor who has been lured aboard by the fortune-hunting cafe hostess Ruby Taylor to lead them to the rich pearl beds off the shores of Manoa. After weeks at sea, Manoa is sighted and Bucko throws Ferro to the sharks. Soon after, the natives swarm aboard in welcome. Heading the reception is Kehane, the son of the island chief, accompanied by his sweetheart Malia and his friend Luna. Sensing that Kehane is enthralled by the exotic Ruby, Bucko sees a way to control the natives. That night, the crew meets Lindsay, a white man who has lived on the island for nine years and is wary of the newcomers. The next day, Larson finds the pearl beds in water so deep as to make diving dangerous. When one of the divers succumbs to the deep, Kehane places a tabu on diving. To divert Kehane, Ruby promises to marry him, and they paddle away to their honeymoon on the island of Tua Tua. In Kehane's absence, Larson gets the natives drunk and recruits a group of divers. As the divers fall victim to the deep, the chief protests and Larson shoots him, and then Lindsay. In the wild disorder that follows, the natives rebel. Returning from their honeymoon, Ruby and Kehane are greeted by the chief's funeral procession and Kehane vows revenge. The violence makes Ruby realize that she is bad for Kehane, and she makes him give her up. Kehane then orders his swimmers to follow Larson's boat and climb aboard. In the ensuing fight, Larson is about to shoot Kehane when Ruby throws herself in front of the blast and saves Kehane's life at the cost of her own. Kehane's men then massacre the crew and set the boat asail, thus reinstituting peace on the island as Kehane and his new bride Malia paddle off to ask the blessing of the god Pele on their marriage.
Director
Alfred E. Green
Cast
Victor Mclaglen
Jon Hall
Frances Farmer
Olympe Bradna
Gene Lockhart
Douglas Dumbrille
Francis Ford
Ben Welden
Abner Biberman
Pedro De Cordoba
Rudy Robles
Robert Stone
Nellie Duran
James Flavin
Nina Campana
James Leong
Harry Woods
Satini Pauola
Ray Mala
Bob Wiley
Julie Carter
Lela Vanti
Al Kikume
Crew
Howard A. Anderson
George Bruce
John Burch
Don Cash
Jack Cosgrove
Jack Crosby
Ray Curtiss
Fred Feitshans Jr.
Chet Forrest
Kenneth Gamet
Russell Harlan
Richard Heermance
Erle C. Kenton
Edward P. Lambert
John Mescall
Val Paul
Lew Pollack
John Ducasse Schulze
Earl Sitar
Edward Small
Edward Small
Edward Ward
Grant Whytock
Bob Wright
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to pre-production news items in Hollywood Reporter, in August 1939, Paramount refused to loan out Kurt Neumann to Edward Small to direct this picture. Later that Aug, Charles Vidor was signed to direct, but because the picture did not go into production until March 1940, he was forced to withdraw. Alfred Werker was then scheduled to direct, but withdrew over a disagreement about the story. Jon Hall was borrowed from Samuel Goldwyn to star in this film, which was partially shot on location at Balboa Island, CA. Another news item in Hollywood Reporter notes that Malcolm Stuart Boylan was slated to write the script polish, but he is not credited onscreen, in Screen Achievements Bulletin or in reviews.
