Honolulu (1939)

Wanting a break from his overzealous fans, a famous movie star hires a Hawaiian plantation owner to switch places with him for a few weeks.

Director:

Edward Buzzell

Writers:

Herbert Fields (original story and screen play), Frank Partos (original story and screen play)

Stars:

Eleanor Powell, Robert Young, George Burns

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eleanor Powell	...	Dorothy March
Robert Young	...	Brooks Mason / George Smith
George Burns	...	Joe Duffy
Gracie Allen	...	Millie De Grasse
Rita Johnson	...	Cecelia Grayson
Clarence Kolb	...	Mr. Horace Grayson
Jo Ann Sayers	...	Nurse
Ann Morriss	...	Gale Brewster
Willie Fung	...	Wong
Cliff Clark	...	1st Detective
Edward Gargan	...	2nd Detective
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson	...	Washington (as Eddie Anderson)
Sig Ruman	...	Psychiatrist (as Sig Rumann)
Ruth Hussey	...	Eve
Kealohu Holt	...	Native Dancing Girl (as Kealoha Holt)

Storyline

Movie star Brooks Mason tries to avoid his fans and spend some weeks on vacation. When Hawaiian plantation owner George Smith is mistaken by Mason's fans for Mason and brought to Mason's house. They decide to exchange their identities for a few weeks. But George Smith is mobbed by Mason's fans again on a personal appearance tour in New York City, Mason falls in love with dancer Dorothy March, who also is on her way to Hawaii. Problems for Mason arise, due to the fact that Smith is engaged to Cecilia Grayson and her wealthy father believes that Smith has double-crossed him. Mason isn't able to establish a connection with Smith in New York City due to his agent's orders.

---

Plot Keywords:

tap dancing | pearl necklace | rum | vacation | hawaii | 

---

Taglines:

Romance! Love! Songs! Laughter! Girls! Moonlight on the beach at Waikiki!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sammy Lee took over as dance director when Bobby Connolly got involved as dance director in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

---

Quotes

[Millie has just spotted movie star Brooks Mason on the deck of a cruise ship]
Millie De Grasse: My dream man! I'm gonna meet him in person. And I warn you, if he makes one false move, I'm his!
Dorothy March: I suppose you think it'll do you a lot of good to throw yourself at him.
Millie De Grasse: Throw myself at him? If I thought it would do any good, I'd have myself shot at him out of a cannon!

---

Connections

References The Firefly (1937)

---

Soundtracks

Listen to the Mockingbird
(1855) (uncredited)
Music by Richard Milburn
Danced by Eleanor Powell in her blackface Bill Robinson medley

User Reviews

Worth watching for the dance number.

I've read film buffs quoted as saying that Eleanor Powell's Hawaiian dance number in the movie "Honolulu" was the sexist dance ever filmed. Well, I've watched many musicals over the years, and I can't think of one that smoked like that one did. To the driving beat of drums, Miss Powell, barefoot and wearing a grass skirt, overpowered the stage with her athleticism and seductive movements. You gotta see it -- I can't describe it and do it justice!

All and all, it was an enjoyable film simply because of a good cast that was able to overcome a rather threadbare script. Robert Young delivered his usual fine performance playing two characters impersonating one another. The radio comedians George Burns and Gracie Allen were along for the ride: with Geacie fairly enjoyable in her usual role of the slightly daffy friend to Miss. Powell. As another poster here said, Eleanor Powell was best when dancing alone; however, that was enough.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Liebe auf Hawaii

Filming Locations:

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1