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IMDbPro

Tabu: A Story of the South Seas

  • 1931
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin.
Play trailer3:02
1 Video
80 Photos
AdventureDramaRomance

On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin.On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin.On the South Pacific island of Bora Bora, a young couple's love is threatened when the tribal chief declares the girl a sacred virgin.

  • Director
    • F.W. Murnau
  • Writers
    • F.W. Murnau
    • Robert J. Flaherty
    • Edgar G. Ulmer
  • Stars
    • Anne Chevalier
    • Matahi
    • Hitu
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    6.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • F.W. Murnau
    • Writers
      • F.W. Murnau
      • Robert J. Flaherty
      • Edgar G. Ulmer
    • Stars
      • Anne Chevalier
      • Matahi
      • Hitu
    • 39User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 4 wins & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:02
    Watch Trailer

    Photos80

    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)
    Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anne Chevalier
    • The Girl
    • (as Reri)
    Matahi
    • The Boy
    Hitu
    • The Old Warrior
    Bill Bambridge
    • The Policeman
    • (as Jean)
    Ah Fong
    • The Businessman
    • (uncredited)
    Jules
    • The Captain
    • (uncredited)
    Mehao
    • Boys Friend
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • F.W. Murnau
    • Writers
      • F.W. Murnau
      • Robert J. Flaherty
      • Edgar G. Ulmer(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Producer/director/co-writer F.W. Murnau died in a car accident a few days after starting work on the music for this film. It had its New York premiere a week later.
    • Quotes

      The Girl: [writing a goodbye letter] I must go. Hitu is here and waits for me. You will die if I do not obey. I will go so that you may live. The tabu is upon us. I have been so happy with you far more than I deserved. The love you have given me, I will keep to the last beat of my heart. Across the great waters, I will come to you in your dreams when the moon spreads its path on the sea. Farewell.

    • Connections
      Edited into Treibjagd in der Südsee (1940)
    • Soundtracks
      Nocturnes
      (1827-46) (uncredited)

      Written by Frédéric Chopin

    User reviews39

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    One of the last great silent era films
    Tabu might best be described as ethnographic-fiction which combines Robert J. Flaherty's documentary style with F.W. Murnau visual sensibilities. The result is one of the last great silent era films. The naturalistic setting is perfectly matched by the realistic acting of the non-traditional cast, the local Polynesian people. As a tragic love story, the plot is deceptively simple, yet it is unexpectedly engaging. Murnau's expressionist background continues to be expressed through his artful use of light and shadow. His decision not to use inter-titles to explain dialogue was perhaps the most fitting to the story and the setting, leaving the majority of the plot development to the actions of the characters and the work of the camera (Klaus Ming November 2008).
    helpful•8
    0
    • klausming
    • Mar 16, 2015

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tabu
    • Filming locations
      • Bora Bora, Leeward Islands, French Polynesia
    • Production company
      • Murnau-Flaherty Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $150,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Silent

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