Dr. Kersaint (Thomas Mitchell) recounts the story of a South Sea island left desolate. He was the drunken advisor to the newly appointed French Governor Eugene De Laage (Raymond Massey) who doesn't know the native language or the local customs. Sailor Terangi (Jon Hall) marries island princess Marama (Dorothy Lamour). He gets into a fight in Tahiti and gets thrown into hard labor prison. De Laage refuses to show leniency despite appeals from Father Paul (C. Aubrey Smith) or even his wife (Mary Astor).
The two young leads are photogenic although they are not Polynesians. That would be asking too much for this time in Hollywood. Dorothy Lamour was a legendary beauty from New Orleans. She would often portray exotic ladies. The two of them are doing mostly silent era acting. The first three quarters of the movie is a long melodramatic affair. The prison scenes look brutal. It all boils down to the epic hurricane. It is impressive special effects. They definitely did not spare the wind machines and the water tanks. The pure power of the effects is impressive.
The two young leads are photogenic although they are not Polynesians. That would be asking too much for this time in Hollywood. Dorothy Lamour was a legendary beauty from New Orleans. She would often portray exotic ladies. The two of them are doing mostly silent era acting. The first three quarters of the movie is a long melodramatic affair. The prison scenes look brutal. It all boils down to the epic hurricane. It is impressive special effects. They definitely did not spare the wind machines and the water tanks. The pure power of the effects is impressive.