While so doing makes me feel an utter heel I really have no alternative but to dissent from Mr Theakston's enthusiastic review of this movie .It struck me as banal and downright racist in many ways .
Maria Montez , a statuesque Latino ,is improbably cast as a South Sea islands Princess who rules over Temple Island .The floor of the temple is submerged and it contains a number of solid gold bricks .The significance of this is lost on the inhabitants of the island but not on the villainous Sam Miller (Thomas Gomez-giving the only halfway decent performance in the movie).He resolves that when the time is ripe he will seize the gold and marry the Princess too.He is not above murdering any who get in his way and he ensures the Princess' brother (Turhan Bey)is in his debt by cheating him at cards thus making sure the young man is perpetually in hock to him Enter the dashing Kahoe (Jon Hall) a shark hunter needing her permission to set up operations near Temple Island .He works out Miller's schemes and hindered rather than helped by sidekick Orano(Sabu) and the local factotum,part lawyer ,part policeman Dr Wong(Sidney Toler in Charlie Chan mode) sets out to thwart his plans and win the hand of the Princess The acting is generally woeful and the script trite .the ending is lively enough and there is some fun to be had at its sheer awfulness Some may revel in camp and I am capable of doing so but only when it is good camp -say The Doctor Phibes movies -but witless trash is not my scene .this is a waste of time
Maria Montez , a statuesque Latino ,is improbably cast as a South Sea islands Princess who rules over Temple Island .The floor of the temple is submerged and it contains a number of solid gold bricks .The significance of this is lost on the inhabitants of the island but not on the villainous Sam Miller (Thomas Gomez-giving the only halfway decent performance in the movie).He resolves that when the time is ripe he will seize the gold and marry the Princess too.He is not above murdering any who get in his way and he ensures the Princess' brother (Turhan Bey)is in his debt by cheating him at cards thus making sure the young man is perpetually in hock to him Enter the dashing Kahoe (Jon Hall) a shark hunter needing her permission to set up operations near Temple Island .He works out Miller's schemes and hindered rather than helped by sidekick Orano(Sabu) and the local factotum,part lawyer ,part policeman Dr Wong(Sidney Toler in Charlie Chan mode) sets out to thwart his plans and win the hand of the Princess The acting is generally woeful and the script trite .the ending is lively enough and there is some fun to be had at its sheer awfulness Some may revel in camp and I am capable of doing so but only when it is good camp -say The Doctor Phibes movies -but witless trash is not my scene .this is a waste of time