Ave del paraíso

After studying in the US, the son of a Polynesian Chief (with white in his blood) returns home to the superstition-laden islands along with a vacationing Frenchman he met at the University; despite dire warnings from the soothsaying Kahuna, the white stranger--who represents a portent of turbulence to come--falls in love with his friend's blue-eyed sister and decides he wants to stay. Corny, daft, but enjoyable tropical star-crossed lovers tale--a loose remake of King Vidor's same-titled film from 1932 via Richard Walton Tully's play--has been adapted and directed by Delmer Daves, who gives the splendor of native life a frisky, romantic allure. What might have become a heavy mix of soap and masochism is brought off well by the filmmaker, who mounts the proceedings with grand, melodramatic style (even if the angry volcano at the end looks tacked on). Jeff Chandler and Debra Paget (playing brother and sister, fittingly, since they both share a dimpled chin) and Louis Jourdan approach the material with dreamy seriousness, avoiding camp and actually creating two-dimensional characters. Some may argue the production lacks a high-level of gloss or strong special effects, though I believe Daves was focused far more on the customs and beliefs of these people--and also on the love story--rather than on the technical aspects. As such, it's a more emotional picture than its predecessor, and certainly the music by Daniele Amfitheatrof and Ken Darby is a wonderful asset. **1/2 from ****