South of Tahiti is a 1941 American south seas adventure film directed by George Waggner and starring Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford and Andy Devine.[1] It helped launch fourth-billed Maria Montez as a pin-up star.[2] The response was such that Universal Pictures then cast her in Arabian Nights.[3]

South of Tahiti
Directed byGeorge Waggner
Screenplay byGerald Geraghty
Story byAinsworth Morgan
Produced byGeorge Waggner
StarringBrian Donlevy
Broderick Crawford
Andy Devine
Maria Montez
CinematographyElwood Bredell
Edited byFrank Gross
Music byFrank Skinner
Color processBlack and white
Production
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Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • October 17, 1941 (1941-10-17)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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Three pearl hunters wind up stranded on a South Pacific island. While one of them falls in love with the daughter of a tribal leader, his two companions are more concerned with robbing the tribe's golden treasure.

Cast

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Production

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The film was intended to be Montez's first starring vehicle. It was originally known as Captive Wild Woman and was to star Montez, Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford and Andy Devine. Then its name was changed to White Savage. Gerald Geraghty and Ainsworth Morgan were originally reported as working on the script.[4]

Henry Wilcoxon was then announced for the role of the main villain.[5] The script was rewritten so his character survived at the end.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Fetrow p.471
  2. ^ South of Tahiti at Mariamontez.org
  3. ^ "Maria Montez Puts Paprika in New Glamor Type: Sensational, but Proper, She Calls Herself". Chicago Daily Tribune. 15 November 1942. p. H10.
  4. ^ DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL (Aug 25, 1941). "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Olivia de Havilland Gets Lead in 'The Male Animal,' Which is Set to Start Today SIX NEW FILMS DUE HERE ' Whistling in the Dark,' 'Dive Bomber' and 'Wild Geese Calling' to Arrive". New York Times. p. 18.
  5. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (Sep 5, 1941). "Jed Harris Finally Signs for Movie Duty: Barnes, Truex Paired Also Landis, Shepperd Columbia Gets 'Pal Joey' Juvenile Film Planned Wilcoxon Awarded Lead". Los Angeles Times. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Tender-Hearted". Los Angeles Times. Sep 25, 1941. p. A10.

Bibliography

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  • Fetrow, Alan G. Feature Films, 1940-1949: a United States Filmography. McFarland, 1994.
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