WAIKIKI WEDDING

US, 1937, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Bing Crosby, Shirley Ross, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, George Barbier, Leif Erickson, Grady Sutton, Granville Bates, Anthony Quinn.
Directed by Frank Tuttle.

Waikiki Wedding is one of the many Bing Crosby musicals made during the mid and late '30s at Paramount. It is conventional material - but Bing appears to advantage. The musical score has 'Blue Hawaii' (repeated many, many times) and the Oscar-winning 'Sweet Leilani' as well as a number of other songs.

The supporting cast includes Shirley Ross as the heroine, Robert Burns as the corny sidekick, Martha Raye as a big-mouthed eccentric secretary, Grady Sutton as the boss's ineffectual son and Anthony Quinn as a Hawaiian (anticipating so many later roles).

The plot concerns a company promotion and Shirley Ross as Miss Pineapple, writing her story about how wonderful Hawaii is. However, she is less than charmed until she meets Bing Crosby (who ironically thought up the plan) and is involved in the robbery of a pearl, having to go to an island to offer the pearl to the high priest and the god. There are Hawaiian weddings, tribal ceremonies as well as lazing around the lagoons.

The film is very reminiscent of later Elvis Presley films with the song, 'Blue Hawaii'. However, Bing Crosby reminds audiences of Elvis and it is quite thinkable that it be remade to be an Elvis-style musical. Direction is by veteran Frank Tuttle. Popular themes, expected plot, some humour, some songs - and the popularity of Hawaii and the South Seas in this period of Hollywood's history.