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Rhythm of the Islands
Universal Pictures
Released: March 1943
Runtime: 60 minutes
Set on “Paradise Island,” this film has a silly plot but provides lots of fun with native dance numbers, songs, romance, and, of course, pretty girls in leis and sarongs.
The film opens with a montage of the joys of tropical islands: surfing, pretty girls, swimming, and swaying cocoanut trees. We come to Paradise Island, welcomed with native music, the Horton Dancers and the faux Chief Hatamo singing “Isle of Romance.” Eddie Dolan, the tourist guide and translator of the natives’ language, leads a group of socialite ladies to the scene. They are simply thrilled with the romantic island, but unknown to them, everything is not what it seems…
Tommy, Eddie, and Abercrombie are three guys who work on Paradise Island; a tourist site where people can be served by natives and enjoy the pleasures of a tropical getaway. Tommy’s job is to play the handsome Chief Hatamo, all dressed up in a sarong, flower crown, and plenty of leis. While he greets tourists in his “native tongue,” Eddie “translates.” At the end of the tourist shift, the three go home. Tommy is tired of working on the island, and they all agree that they should quit their jobs and leave. Eddie especially would like to return to Brooklyn so he can see his girlfriend, Susie Dugan. They are already in debt to their boss, Martin, so they try to think of a way to sell out the island.
It just so happens that a wealthy family, the Holtons, comes to the island. Mrs. Holton begs her husband to buy her the island. The couple and their young, pretty daughter, Joan meet up with Eddie and all the natives one evening. Attracted to Joan at first site, “Chief Hatamo” asks her if she would like a tour of the island. Eddie translates, Joan believes Tommy’s whole get-up, and the two walk together by the moonlight. They stop to enjoy the view of the ocean. Here, Tommy sings to her “Tropic Lullaby.” Sensing that he is getting romantic, she suggests that they get going back.
The next day or so, Eddie and Tommy lead the Holtons on a tour and come to a drum dance number performed by the Four Step Brothers. Then, all of the sudden, a fierce looking tribe surrounds them. Assuming that they are the paid natives, Eddie whispers to them, trying to clear the situation. But, it turns out that they are a real native tribe of the island. Their leader, Chief Nataro, explains that their ancestors lived on the island for many years, and they are ready to kill anyone who tries to drive them out. When one of the natives threatens to use a spear on Eddie, he takes it, and shows them how to use it properly. He throws it and it comes back around like a boomerang. The natives are so impressed they say he is a brave man and offer them a feast that night. During the feast, the Horton Dancers and chorus perform “Hura Hura.” By this point, the Mr. Holton agrees to buy the island.
Comic relief is provided when Eddie meets Luani, a pretty native girl of the tribe. Although he keeps telling her to go away, she follows him everywhere. Just to his luck, Susie Dugan is on her way to the island, and very mad that he hasn’t talked to her. On the other hand, Tommy and Joan are having a swell time, while she still thinks he’s a native chief. They go swimming in the ocean, and come out for a break. As they settle down, Joan turns up a radio she brought. “I’ve Set My Mind on You” begins to play, and Joan sings it for Tommy. When she is done, he takes his turn. Tommy and Eddie go back home and start talking again about selling the island. This time, just to Tommy’s luck, Joan is walking right outside the door to meet them and hears everything. She comes in and tells Eddie that they are holding the check. She turns to Tommy, tells him he’s a fool, and leaves. Next, Susie arrives and throws a fit, and things at Eddie; providing a humorous scene as he tries to dodge her good aim. Just as this is happening, the Holtons are kidnapped by the real native tribe and taken prisoner. Then, Martin and his men come storming into the room, demanding pay from Eddie and Tommy. He also tells them that the Holtons have been captured by the real tribe. Seeing that they need to get past Martin to save the Holtons, Susie walks over to Martin, flips him over, and does the same to the rest of the men. She, Eddy, and Tommy race to the tribal site to rescue the Holtons.
It turns out that the three are not victorious in the beginning. The next scene shows them, along with Holtons, held prisoner in a grass hut. Joan still won’t speak to Tommy, who feels like an idiot for the whole mess. Chief Nataro asks to speak to him. After some explaining on Tommy’s part about the whole mishap, they work the whole matter out. Both agree that Martin has been causing them a lot of trouble; he wouldn’t let Eddie and Tommy leave the island, and he has been pushing the Chief’s tribe out of their homeland for a long time. So, Chief Nataro agrees to work with them on Paradise Island; he and his tribe will make it the ultimate tropical dream for the Holtons. From here, all problems are solved and the happy ending begins. The tribe drives Martin and his men out of the island, they throw a big celebration feast for everybody, and the guys and the girls make up. The Horton Dancers, Four Step Brothers and chorus reprise “Hura Hura.” Luani finally leaves Eddie, and he and Susie are together again. Joan and Tommy join the tribal dance number, and, without their knowing it, perform the ritual for getting engaged. When they find out, they don’t mind at all; they are in love. They go back to the dance, and Tommy sings, “Savage Serenade,” with Joan joining him for the finale.
Credits
Director…Roy William Neill
Producer…Bernard W. Burton
Cinematrograhy…George Robinson
Writers…Oscar Brodney, M.M. Musselman
Film Editing…Paul Landres
Art Direction…John B. Goodman, Martin Obzina
Costumes…Vera West
Sound Department…Bernard B. Brown, Edwin Wetzel
Musical Director…Charles Previn
Assistant Director…Melville Shyer
Original Music…Charles Previn
Cast
Allan Jones…Tommy
Jane Frazee…Joan Holton
Andy Devine…Eddie Dolan
Ernest Truex…Mr. Holton
Marjorie Gateson…Mrs. Holton
Mary Wickes…Susie Dugan
Acquanetta…Luani
Nestor Paiva…Chief Nataro
John Maxwell…Martin
Maceo Anderson…Abercrombie
and… The Lester Horton Dancers
The Four Step Brothers
Soundtrack
Credited Composers:
Music: Lou Herscher, Buddy Pepper, Frank Skinner
Lyrics: Inez James, Andy Iona, Dave Franklin
• “I’ve Set My Mind On You”
o Sung by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee
• “Isle of Romance”
o Sung by Allan Jones
• “Tropic Lullaby”
o Sung by Allan Jones
• “Blue Mist”
o Possibly in film
• “Savage Serenade”
o Sung by Allan Jones, Jane Frazee, danced by The Lester Horton Dancers and Four Step Brothers
• “Hura Hura”
o Danced by The Lester Horton Dancers
• “Chant of the Tom Tom”
o Possibly in film
• “Manhattan Isle”
o Possibly in film