Moana (1926)

Director:

Robert J. Flaherty

Writers:

Robert J. Flaherty (screenplay), Robert J. Flaherty (titles),

Stars:

Fa'amgase, Pe'a, T'ugaita

Cast

Credited cast:
Fa'amgase
Pe'a
T'ugaita
Ta'avale

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

south seas | native

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Taglines:

The love life of a South Seas siren!

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

7 January 1926 (USA)

Also Known As:

Moana: A Romance of the Golden Age

Filming Locations:

Samoa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After his success with Nanook of the North, director Robert J. Flaherty was asked by studio chief Jesse L. Lasky (who would soon head Paramount) to make the same kind of film he had in the Artic, except this time in the South Seas. Thus was this "sequel" conceived. The film was a commercial success in Europe, but not in the US.

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Connections

Referenced in Grierson (1973)

User Reviews

A typical Flaherty reconstruction of the past

Customs of Polynesian natives on a Samoan island, centered on the daily life and on the coming of age ceremony of the young man Moana. It reconstructs Polynesian culture before the coming of Western culture, though iron blades are used. Daily tasks like cooking, fishing, hunting and gathering are most of the picture.

Mainly interesting for the material settings. Flaherty treats the Samoan life as almost that of a paradise - the only discomforts being wild boar and the pain of tattooing.