Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1953)

War-weary Captain Willoby and his men are the occupation force on an island of lovely women...and are forbidden to fraternize.

Director:

Edmund Goulding

Writers:

Edward Hope (story), Claude Binyon (screenplay),

Stars:

William Lundigan, Jane Greer, Mitzi Gaynor

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Lundigan	...	Capt. W.W. 'Bill' Willoby
Jane Greer	...	Diana Forrester
Mitzi Gaynor	...	Rozouila
David Wayne	...	Lt. Carl G. Schmidt
Gloria DeHaven	...	Angela Toland
Gene Lockhart	...	Rev. Paul Edgett
Jack Paar	...	Lt. Mike Sloan
Alvin Greenman	...	Cpl. Kolta
Billy Gilbert	...	King Jilouili
Henry Kulky	...	First Sergeant Jones

Storyline

World War II is over but Captain Willoby and his men must "occupy" remote Midi Island. The men are disgusted at not going home...until they meet the friendly island women. Unfortunately, Willoby has been ordered to prohibit his men from "fraternizing." This task, already frustrating, is made worse by the presence of missionary's niece Diana and the arrival of gorgeous journalist Angela. Meanwhile, the island king has presented Willoby with equally gorgeous Rozouila as "wife"...

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Plot Keywords:

island | captain | missionary | duty | military governor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Friendly Island

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed between February 19 and mid-March 1951, with additional scenes shot in April and October, this movie was held back until its wide release on March 1, 1953.

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Quotes

Angela Toland: Rugged men on an island of beautiful women, with a fence between them. An intriguing situation.
Capt. Bill Willoby: Delightful.

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Connections

Referenced in American Masters: Jack Paar: 'As I Was Saying...' (1997)

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Soundtracks

"ALL OF ME"
Written by Seymour Simons and Gerald Marks
Sung by Gloria DeHaven (with chorus on record)

User Reviews

Well Ain't That Too Damned Bad

Lots of behind the screen talent takes a whack at what seems to be an attempt to make something to compete with the success of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, struggling with some unfortunately odd casting choices to produce a fitfully interesting, silly musical. We have Billy Gilbert and Mitzi Gaynor as Polynesians, William Lundigan and Jane Greer singing songs written by Harold Arlen and Ralph Blaine, and smirking Jack Paar as an army officer.

It's all an attempt to keep soldiers on Rest and Recreation on a delightful Polynesian island from fraternizing with the native girls, and Edmund Goulding fighting with a script by Claude Binyon -- whose writing talents were best expended on Abbott and Costello programmers -- to produce something interesting. The photography is the only part of the movie that can't be faulted: it's typical of the Fox musical style. It looks like it was planned for a Betty Grable musical but whatever her intended role was, it was recast. If you must watch this, see if you can spot Lee Marvin in the ensemble.