| Bird of Paradise | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Delmer Daves |
| Produced by | Delmer Daves |
| Screenplay by | Delmer Daves |
| Story by | Richard Walton Tully |
| Starring | Debra Paget Louis Jourdan Jeff Chandler |
| Music by | Daniele Amfitheatrof |
| Cinematography | Winton C. Hoch |
| Editing by | James B. Clark |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | March 14, 1951 (United States) |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Bird of Paradise is a 1951 drama film directed by Delmer Daves. It stars Debra Paget and Louis Jourdan.[1]
Contents |
Andre Laurence (Jourdan) takes a trip to a Polynesian island with his college roommate Tenga (Chandler). He assumes the native life and marries his friend's sister, Kalua. An eruption of a volcano and the Kahuna, the island's shaman, decides that the volcano can be appeased with the sacrifice of Kalua.
When the film was released, The New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther, panned the film, writing, "There is certainly nothing original—or particularly blissful, we would say—about the romantic tumble here taken by a visiting white man for a beauteous native maid...Unfortunately, Delmer Daves, who directed and wrote the script, either didn't or wasn't permitted to pitch the whole film in this slyly kidding vein. And the consequence is a rambling mishmosh of South Sea romance and travesty, of solemn high-priesting and low clowning, of never-never spectacle and sport."[2]
On the other hand, the staff at Variety magazine gave the film a favorable review, writing, "Richard Walton Tully's old legit piece, Bird of Paradise, makes another trip to the screen in a refurbished version. Previous filming of the play was in 1932 and, while Delmer Daves' version deviates from the Tully form, the essentials of the drama are still there, plus a beautiful Technicolor camera job, haunting island music and the use of actual locales...Paget hits a high level in her performance as the Princess Kalua. She, as well as the other players give their characters considerable sincerity. Jourdan is an excellent choice as the island visitor, as is Chandler as the prince."[3]
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