Tamahine (1963)

Director:

Philip Leacock

Writers:

Denis Cannan (writer)
Thelma Nicklaus (novel)

Release Date:

3 May 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

She loved the whole student body...and they sure loved hers!!!

Plot Keywords:

Polynesian | England | Beautiful Woman | Independent Film | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Nancy Kwan	...	Tamahine
John Fraser	...	Richard Poole
Dennis Price	...	Charles Poole
Coral Browne	...	Mme. Becque
Dick Bentley	...	Storekeeper
Derek Nimmo	...	Clove
Justine Lord	...	Diana
James Fox	...	Oliver
Michael Gough	...	Cartwright
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Housemaster
Howard Marion-Crawford	...	Housemaster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joan Benham	...	Mrs. O'Shaugnessy
Lally Bowers	...	Mrs. Cartwright
Barbara Cavan	...	Nun
Bee Duffell	...	Nun
Ian Fleming	...	Manservant
Derek Fowlds	...	Bash
Noel Hood	...	Mrs. MacFarlane
Viola Keats	...	Mrs. Spruce
Max Kirby	...	Mr. O'Shaugnessy
William Mervyn	...	Lord Birchester
Robin Stewart	...	Fiend

Also Known As:

The Natives Are Restless Tonight (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Bora-Bora, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Company:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Trivia:

Adrienne Corri was offered the Justine Lord role

A physical tour de force for Nancy Kwan in style of Carry On films

Nancy Kwan was at the height of her American fame when this film came out. However it was a distinct step down in most regards from her previous films. Very little acting ability and even less plot development was required. If you are a fan of the "veddy" British "Carry On" type films you will enjoy this cute romp with Nancy carrying the film on her lovely and perfectly shaped shoulders. You will see Nancy swimming underwater, posing nude for a campus painter (for his eyes only, not ours!), climbing campus towers in her knickers, drenched to the skin in a formal gown and sailing above a track and field obstacle course. Surely the camera crew for this film was a very happy lot. Nancy Kwan, Tamahine, is as perfect a physical specimen as God has ever created.

The plot of the film is simple enough: Polynesian girl Nancy is sent away from her simple, primitive island life to live with her deceased

father's brother who runs a "veddy" proper British men's academy in England. Being the free-spirited soul that she is, Nancy-Tamahine, finds the restrictions placed on her innocent actions confusing. Her naivete infatuates the entire student body and causes her 40-something guardian, John Fraser, to vacillate between righteous indignation and succumbing to the waif's warm and childish charms. Some wonderful closeups of Mr. Fraser's dilemma are the dramatic highlight of the film.

Overall if you enjoy comedy based upon the old-fashioned morality which caused young men to cover their eyes when in the presence of nude females -- standard reaction in the "Carry On" films -- you will enjoy this film. It combines that sort of humor with the very vigorous, physical activities of Tamahine which predominate almost every scene.

If however you are are of the current school which recognizes nothing save anatomy as the difference between the sexes, if you are not comfortable with the idea that men instinctively want to protect as well as possess women, then avoid this film. It is a throwback to an earlier era when the roles of men and women were better defined if somewhat less democratic. Whether it's Hamlet, Peter Pan or some other tale, this reviewer is able to empathize with the characters and enjoy their situations without fear of destroying social values.