A Warner Bros Picture. New York opening at the Paramount: 4 February 1954. U.S. release: 16 January 1954. U.K. release: 26 July 1954. Australian release: 7 October 1954. 8,133 feet. 90 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: An American adventurer in the South Seas in the 19th century tries to corner the copra trade on the island of Yap. He faces three problems: (1) The natives are unwilling to work; (2) The German government claims trading rights over the island; (3) A notorious pirate and blackbirder, Bully Hayes, has his marauders attack the island.
Further complications for Captain O'Keefe are his inability to raise money to float the copra project and his involvement with a native girl whom he is forced (not unwillingly) to marry.
NOTES: The picture was filmed entirely in the South Seas, with the co-operation of the then Secretary of Fijian Affairs. Most of the film was lensed on the Fijian island of Viti Lemu.
VIEWERS' GUIDE: I thought it too violent for the kids, but both the contemporary British and Australian censors disagree. The film was granted a Universal or General Exhibition certificate in both England and Australia.
COMMENT: Bit of a mystery here. My guess is that there are three versions of the movie: British, American and the current (2010) composite DVD version. Doubtless the British version opened at the Sydney Mayfair on 7 October 1954. The American version was shown on Sydney TV, thirty years later. This has different credit titles, including Roth and McWhorter, who are both omitted from the British prints, Scheid who replaces Sid Wiles, and, most importantly, Tiomkin replacing Farnon and Levy. Just to confuse matters, the current TV print has British credit titles, but uses some or all of Tiomkin's score!
Fortunately the music is far from the movie's main attraction. In fact, few people will even notice it. The colorful scenery is far more attractive than the somewhat nondescript sound track.
It's a tribute to Lancaster's skill and charisma that he manages to hold his own both against often routine situations and exotically distracting backgrounds. The other players fare less happily, though Miss Rice makes a moderately pleasant if somewhat innocuous heroine, while a solid contingent of Australian actors vie for attention underneath native make-up or "character" costumes. Alexander Archdale is at least readily recognizable as the heroine's dad, but it is the heavily disguised Guy Doleman who makes the most impression as the supercilious Herr Weber.
Director Byron Haskin has staged it all with more than enough vigor to compensate for any shortcomings in the plot's familiarity or credibility.
OTHER VIEWS: Although it has all the usual vices of its genre — white actors cheerfully impersonating natives; a Boys' Own Paper approach to history; a simplistic attitude to vice and virtue, heroes and villains; a coy yet patronizing depiction of indigenous people — this is an entertaining enough romp through the picturesque South Seas, produced on a grandly adventuresome scale. It's a tale in which the location scenery and exotic backgrounds tend to dwarf the actors. But the ever-smiling Lancaster manages to hold his own, even against all the vividly Technicolored splendors — not to mention the copious incidental action of combat, rebellion and mutiny — of Yap. Aside from Andre Morell, the other players — including the well-publicized contingent of Australians — make little impression. Haskin's direction is efficient, but all the honors go to his Technicolor cameraman and his open check-booked producer. — G.A.
His Majesty O'Keefe has improved with age. Despite its exotic Fijian locations, we all thought it run-of-the-mill routine 55 years ago, even something of a bore or a chore to sit through. I was not looking forward to this re-appraisal. To my surprise, the photography not only still glows with all that remembered tropic lushness, but the film has pace, yes pace and action — lots of action. Talky-talky TV has made even what was regarded by all as a very routine actioner, now full of excitement. Beautifully photographed and colored, pleasantly and capably played, tensely scripted with an engrossing plot and believable characters and very capably directed, HMO'K is a well-mounted, handsome production that doesn't pinch any pennies but delivers a full quota of action and excitement (with Mr L doing his own fighting and stunting) in a romantic and exotic setting. Joan Rice looks quite attractive and never appeared to greater advantage. Lancaster is his usual smiling self, while the support players are led by Andre Morell (a convincing though kindly German). His confrontation scene is very effectively staged drama.
SYNOPSIS: An American adventurer in the South Seas in the 19th century tries to corner the copra trade on the island of Yap. He faces three problems: (1) The natives are unwilling to work; (2) The German government claims trading rights over the island; (3) A notorious pirate and blackbirder, Bully Hayes, has his marauders attack the island.
Further complications for Captain O'Keefe are his inability to raise money to float the copra project and his involvement with a native girl whom he is forced (not unwillingly) to marry.
NOTES: The picture was filmed entirely in the South Seas, with the co-operation of the then Secretary of Fijian Affairs. Most of the film was lensed on the Fijian island of Viti Lemu.
VIEWERS' GUIDE: I thought it too violent for the kids, but both the contemporary British and Australian censors disagree. The film was granted a Universal or General Exhibition certificate in both England and Australia.
COMMENT: Bit of a mystery here. My guess is that there are three versions of the movie: British, American and the current (2010) composite DVD version. Doubtless the British version opened at the Sydney Mayfair on 7 October 1954. The American version was shown on Sydney TV, thirty years later. This has different credit titles, including Roth and McWhorter, who are both omitted from the British prints, Scheid who replaces Sid Wiles, and, most importantly, Tiomkin replacing Farnon and Levy. Just to confuse matters, the current TV print has British credit titles, but uses some or all of Tiomkin's score!
Fortunately the music is far from the movie's main attraction. In fact, few people will even notice it. The colorful scenery is far more attractive than the somewhat nondescript sound track.
It's a tribute to Lancaster's skill and charisma that he manages to hold his own both against often routine situations and exotically distracting backgrounds. The other players fare less happily, though Miss Rice makes a moderately pleasant if somewhat innocuous heroine, while a solid contingent of Australian actors vie for attention underneath native make-up or "character" costumes. Alexander Archdale is at least readily recognizable as the heroine's dad, but it is the heavily disguised Guy Doleman who makes the most impression as the supercilious Herr Weber.
Director Byron Haskin has staged it all with more than enough vigor to compensate for any shortcomings in the plot's familiarity or credibility.
OTHER VIEWS: Although it has all the usual vices of its genre — white actors cheerfully impersonating natives; a Boys' Own Paper approach to history; a simplistic attitude to vice and virtue, heroes and villains; a coy yet patronizing depiction of indigenous people — this is an entertaining enough romp through the picturesque South Seas, produced on a grandly adventuresome scale. It's a tale in which the location scenery and exotic backgrounds tend to dwarf the actors. But the ever-smiling Lancaster manages to hold his own, even against all the vividly Technicolored splendors — not to mention the copious incidental action of combat, rebellion and mutiny — of Yap. Aside from Andre Morell, the other players — including the well-publicized contingent of Australians — make little impression. Haskin's direction is efficient, but all the honors go to his Technicolor cameraman and his open check-booked producer. — G.A.
His Majesty O'Keefe has improved with age. Despite its exotic Fijian locations, we all thought it run-of-the-mill routine 55 years ago, even something of a bore or a chore to sit through. I was not looking forward to this re-appraisal. To my surprise, the photography not only still glows with all that remembered tropic lushness, but the film has pace, yes pace and action — lots of action. Talky-talky TV has made even what was regarded by all as a very routine actioner, now full of excitement. Beautifully photographed and colored, pleasantly and capably played, tensely scripted with an engrossing plot and believable characters and very capably directed, HMO'K is a well-mounted, handsome production that doesn't pinch any pennies but delivers a full quota of action and excitement (with Mr L doing his own fighting and stunting) in a romantic and exotic setting. Joan Rice looks quite attractive and never appeared to greater advantage. Lancaster is his usual smiling self, while the support players are led by Andre Morell (a convincing though kindly German). His confrontation scene is very effectively staged drama.