Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966)

Rick Richards is a helicopter pilot who wants to set up a charter flying service in Hawaii -- along the way he makes some friends, including a young Hawaiian girl and her father, romances ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael D. Moore

Writers:

Allan Weiss (screenplay), Anthony Lawrence (screenplay),

Stars:

Elvis Presley, Suzanna Leigh, James Shigeta

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elvis Presley	...	Rick Richards
Suzanna Leigh	...	Judy Hudson
James Shigeta	...	Danny Kohana
Donna Butterworth	...	Jan Kohana
Marianna Hill	...	Lani Kaimana
Irene Tsu	...	Pua
Linda Wong	...	Lehua Kawena
Julie Parrish	...	Joanna
Jan Shepard	...	Betty Kohana
John Doucette	...	Mr. Belden
Grady Sutton	...	Mr. Cubberson
Doris Packer	...	Mrs. Barrington
Don Collier	...	Andy Lowell
Philip Ahn	...	Moki Kaimana
Mary Treen	...	Mrs. Belden

Storyline

Rick Richards is a helicopter pilot who wants to set up a charter flying service in Hawaii -- along the way he makes some friends, including a young Hawaiian girl and her father, romances Judy Hudson, and sings a few songs.

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Plot Keywords:

pilot | helicopter | hawaii | hawaiian | song | 

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Taglines:

His newest! His Biggest!

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Genres:

Musical | Comedy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Polynesian

Release Date:

15 June 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hawaii, USA

Filming Locations:

Hanalei Plantation Resort, Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$2,500,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Hal Wallis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

40th best grossing film in USA of 1966.

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Connections

Featured in This Is Elvis (1981)

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Soundtracks

"A Dog's Life"
Written by Sid Wayne & Ben Weisman
Performed by Elvis Presley

User Reviews

It's no wonder poor Elvis went over to the dark side

If you were Elvis and had to make this sort of film time and time again, you'd have been on drugs too. "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" can easily be confused with "Blue Hawaii" - both take place in Hawaii, both are about the travel business, both have women in them. But there are differences. Elvis was drop-dead gorgeous in "Blue Hawaii," there were some great songs, and it had Angela Lansbury in the cast.

By the time this movie was made, Elvis looked out of it and he was stuffed into a tapered shirt. Back in the old days, they used to teach actors to pull their stomachs in when standing in profile. No one told Elvis. In some scenes, he looks as if he doesn't know where he is.

There is no plot, just dazzling scenery. The songs are rotten. Donna Butterworth as the daughter of James Shigeta is excellent - what a voice. James Shigeta is good as well. There are a few good scenes - the one in the helicopter with the dogs is one. I'm sure I can think of more... The excuses for Elvis to burst into song are tragic.

It's amazing how such an important career was peppered with so many unimportant films, thanks to his management, i.e., Colonel Parker. Elvis could have dumped him and gone to anyone in the world, but he was a hillbilly with enormous gifts, belief in his own power not being one of them. He was confident with his music, but he was superstitious and felt he couldn't make without Colonel Parker. It's a shame - as brilliant a career as Elvis had, it could have been so much more. He could have toured Europe and Japan, for instance - if only Colonel Tom wasn't in the country illegally. And he could have made better movies. The offers were there, but Colonel Tom was afraid of losing control.

So Colonel Tom held a tight rein on Elvis. "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" is one example of his brilliant management of one of the greatest talents that ever existed. Proceed at the risk of being hulaed to death.