Hawaii (1966)

An American missionary and his wife travel to the exotic island kingdom of Hawaii, intent on converting the natives. But the clash between the two cultures is too great and instead of understanding there comes tragedy.

Director:

George Roy Hill

Writers:

James A. Michener (novel), Dalton Trumbo (screenplay)

Stars:

Julie Andrews, Max von Sydow, Richard Harris

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Andrews	...	Jerusha Bromley
Max von Sydow	...	Rev. Abner Hale
Richard Harris	...	Capt. Rafer Hoxworth
Gene Hackman	...	Dr. John Whipple
Carroll O'Connor	...	Charles Bromley
Jocelyne LaGarde	...	Malama Kanakoa - the Ali'i Nui
Manu Tupou	...	Keoki
Ted Nobriga	...	Kelolo
Elizabeth Logue	...	Noelani
John Cullum	...	Rev. Immanuel Quigley
George Rose	...	Capt. Janders
Lou Antonio	...	Rev. Abraham Hewlett
Torin Thatcher	...	Rev. Dr. Thorn
Michael Constantine	...	Mason, sailor
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Gideon Hale

Storyline

Abner Hale, a rigid and humorless New England missionary, marries the beautiful Jerusha Bromley and takes her to the exotic island kingdom of Hawaii, intent on converting the natives. But the clash between the two cultures is too great and instead of understanding there comes tragedy.

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Plot Keywords:

missionary | hawaii | american | epic | leaving home for school | 

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Taglines:

James Michener's novel reaches the screen.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Hawaiian

Release Date:

10 October 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hawai

Filming Locations:

Makua Valley, Leeward Oahu, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mirisch Corporation, The, Pan Arts

Technical Specs

Runtime:

189 min 162 min (TCM Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Walter Mirisch hired veteran Fred Zinnemann to produce and direct the movie in 1960. Zinnemann brought with him screenwriter Daniel Taradash, as they had already successfully partnered in bringing From Here to Eternity (1953) to the screen. But Taradash was not able to condense the epic book by James A. Michener, into a workable story. When Mirisch hired Dalton Trumbo to take over the script, Zinnemann - after two more years of development - left the project when United Artists rejected his concept of a 4-hour movie to be shown in two parts.

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Goofs

During the initial journey from New England to Hawaii there is a heavy rainstorm but the skies are bright blue - no rain clouds.

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Quotes

Abner Hale: We are taking the land of the people whose souls we came to save, while they are dying... The whole race is dying before our eyes!
Rev. Immanuel Quigley: I'm afraid that is true. But the Lord's ways are not our ways. And the only answer that I can find is that perhaps, the Lord intends for these islands gradually to pass into other hands.
Abner Hale: May God forgive you.

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Connections

Referenced in Filmed in Supermarionation (2014)

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Soundtracks

MY WISHING DOLL
Lyrics by Mack David
Music by Elmer Bernstein

User Reviews

Splendor in the Grace

"Hawaii," based on about one-third of the Michener novel, is one of those big, old-fashioned epics, full of wistful vistas, compelling performances, and casts of thousands.

Julie Andrews' acting abilities shine as bright as the tropical sun in this story of a New England woman who accompanies her stodgy husband to the islands on a mission to convert the heathens. Andrews' buoyant on-screen persona is held in check here (as it is in the overly criticized "Darling Lili"), making her Jerusha a quiet heroine. Her childbirth scene is effective for the visceral reaction it creates, and she's got one whopping good speech toward the end, where she finally gives her stick-in-the-mud hubby what-for.

Von Sydow, who would work with Andrews again later in "Duet for One," is all bluster and bellowing, condemning just about everyone he comes in contact with. I find the performance rather one-note; however, the opening scenes in which Hale tries to woo the lovely Jerusha are sweetly awkward.

Richard Harris shows up as a long-lost sea captain in one of moviedom's most impossible coincidences. Harris is all fire and passion, exactly the kind of third-party that a juicy love triangle needs.

George Roy Hill's direction keeps things moving at a brisk pace, despite the lengthy running time. He had a gorgeous palette to paint with, and he takes full advantage. The sea trek--complete with storms--suffers from some very obvious blue-screening, but Hill manages to build an appropriate sense of excitement.

I'm also going to carp with costumer Dorothy Jeakins. Andrews costumes are lovely (but consider what Jeakins had to work with), but Von Sydow goes running throughout the movie with his stove-pipe hat cemented onto his head. Works okay for the New England settings, but once the cast hits the beach, he ends up looking like some kind of absurd Dr. Doolittle (Hugh Lofting's, creation, not Eddie Murphy's).

Jeakins also makes a very brief appearance (her role was trimmed mightily) as Hale's mother.

While on the subject of the supporting players, LaGarde had no acting experience whatsoever (and, hence, drove the production schedule and budget way off base), but she's utterly charming. She more than earned her Oscar nomination.

Funny to see a pre-Archie Carroll O'Connor in the New England sequences. Also watch for Heather Menzies as one of Jerusha's younger sisters. Two years earlier, she had played Louisa von Trapp to Andrews' Maria. Gene Hackman's here, too, as a put-upon doctor.

One last note: If you're going to seek out this treasure, please, please, please opt for the widescreen version. The rocking of the boat sickened many of the passengers on their way to paradise, and likewise, the pan-and-scan version will sicken viewers of this terrific epic.