Johnny Lingo (1969)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Judge Whitaker

Writers:

Patricia McGerr (story)
Claire Whitaker (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Short

Plot:

Johnny Lingo, one of the sharpest traders in the south pacific islands decides to bargain for a wife...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Cow | Marriage | Self Worth | South Pacific

Cast

Makee K. Blaisdell	...	Johnny Lingo (as Blaizdel MaKee)
Naomi Kahoilua	...	Mahana
Francis L. Urry	...	Trader Harris
Joseph R. TeNgaio	...	Moki's Counselor
Joseph W. Ah Quin	...	Moki
Malofou Maumasi	...	Tulo
Kent Fonoimoana

Runtime:

USA:25 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Laie, O`ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Brigham Young University

Trivia:

At first the production was planned for distribution by the LDS Church "Deseret Sunday School Union[us]" after a general board member read the story in "Woman's Day" magazine and saw potential for a good film. However, because of the cost involved with the decision to transport equipment and a crew to Hawaii, it was found that neither the Sunday School nor the BYU film department's educational fund had the necessary amount necessary to wholly finance the project. The Sunday School gave permission for the film to also be released as a regular school educational film following their initial use of it. This allowed $15,000 from the BYU educational fund to be used as a supplement to the Sunday School budget. This decision not only allowed the film to be made, but also brought in considerable profit to BYU as the film became one of the studio's best selling shorts in the educational market, not only being used in colleges and schools but also by some corporations using it to motivate employees.

Quotes:

[Mr. Harris hands Tulo the mirror that Johnny has ordered as a gift for Mahana]
Trader Harris: How do you like that Tulo .
Tulo: Ah, it is beautiful, Mahana's face will crack the glass.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The R.M. (2003)

Self Esteem Makes The Difference

This movie was made by The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints(AKA: Mormons, LDS) in 1969. Though made for any type of regular viewing, other than religious, its purpose was just a teaching tool to show value in every person and that there is beauty in everything. And sometimes it takes a little encouragement to show others the beauty.

Set in the early 1900's on an island in Polynesia, the film starts out with a local trader who barters for a wife. The father of the young girl is surprised why anyone would want his daughter as she is not the islands prized beauty. The father, thinking he can barely get 1 cow for his daughter tries to start high and haggle down low to gain his own respect. The trader comes up with an outrageous high number of cows and shocks the town when he arrives with all healthy and the full number of cows he promised.

This is truly an inspiration to ones self esteem, showing that worth and beauty is always in the beholder. Excellent to have in any collection.