A carefree South Seas native falls for the half-caste ward of a religious white man who desires her for himself.A carefree South Seas native falls for the half-caste ward of a religious white man who desires her for himself.A carefree South Seas native falls for the half-caste ward of a religious white man who desires her for himself.
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia"Produced and photographed in the Paumotu Islands of the South Seas."
- Quotes
Madge: Gee, Henry... I wish I was like you. You just laugh an' lie back in the sunshine.
Henry Shoesmith, Jr.: Sometime the sun too hot... then I lay in shade.
- Crazy creditsTitle card at the beginning states: Produced and photographed in the Paumotu Islands of the South Seas.
- SoundtracksPagan Love Song
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung by an offscreen chorus at he beginning, Ramon Novarro and Dorothy Janis
Variations played in the score often
Featured review
Ramon Novarro's Final Silent Film
Henry Shoesmith is THE PAGAN, a happy, handsome half-caste, perfectly attune with his South Seas home. Henry is also the owner of the largest cocoanut plantation on the island, which arouses the greed of an unscrupulous white trader with a beautiful native 'ward'...
Ramon Novarro is charming in this, his final silent film. Once again, MGM has their Mexican star playing another in his wide range of ethnic roles. Here he is a Polynesian, but he plays his part so well, and is obviously having such a good time, that he gives one of his most entertaining of performances.
He is served well by his excellent supporting cast. Dorothy Janis is Novarro's beautiful love interest - innocent, vulnerable & passionately in love. Donald Crisp is superb as the villainous white trader, consumed with lust for the girl he calls his 'Christian duty' and embittered with hatred for Novarro. His final fate is most proper & welcome. Renée Adorée scores as the island harlot, a staunch friend to both Novarro & Janis.
Directed by peripatetic W. S. Van Dyke, the location filming in & around Papeete, Tahiti enhances the story greatly.
Coming as it did at the very cusp of the new talkie era, this is essentially a silent film with an effective soundtrack that includes musical interludes & background dialogue. Novarro croons 'Pagan Love Song' (by Nacio Herb Brown & Arthur Freed) to good effect - giving Hollywood one of its first hit tunes - and his fine singing voice would be heard again in forthcoming films.
Ramon Novarro is charming in this, his final silent film. Once again, MGM has their Mexican star playing another in his wide range of ethnic roles. Here he is a Polynesian, but he plays his part so well, and is obviously having such a good time, that he gives one of his most entertaining of performances.
He is served well by his excellent supporting cast. Dorothy Janis is Novarro's beautiful love interest - innocent, vulnerable & passionately in love. Donald Crisp is superb as the villainous white trader, consumed with lust for the girl he calls his 'Christian duty' and embittered with hatred for Novarro. His final fate is most proper & welcome. Renée Adorée scores as the island harlot, a staunch friend to both Novarro & Janis.
Directed by peripatetic W. S. Van Dyke, the location filming in & around Papeete, Tahiti enhances the story greatly.
Coming as it did at the very cusp of the new talkie era, this is essentially a silent film with an effective soundtrack that includes musical interludes & background dialogue. Novarro croons 'Pagan Love Song' (by Nacio Herb Brown & Arthur Freed) to good effect - giving Hollywood one of its first hit tunes - and his fine singing voice would be heard again in forthcoming films.
helpful•263
- Ron Oliver
- Aug 5, 2000
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $293,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.20 : 1
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