FAIR WIND TO JAVA
US, 1952, 92 minutes, Colour.
Fred Mac Murray, Vera Hruba Ralston, Robert Douglas, Victor Mc Laglen.
Directed by Joseph Kane.
Fair Wind to Java is an enjoyable routine action adventure of the early '50s. It bears the mark and style of the Republic Studios and is directed by its veteran Joseph Kane. The film is based on a novel by Garland Roark, author of the novel for the John Wayne Republic vehicle The Wake of the Red Witch. The film has a Victor Young melodic score. Vera Ralston, wife of Herbert Yates, the head of Republic, is once again the star but she has an excellent and strong supporting cast.
1. Entertainment value of South Seas adventures? Popularity? A recreation of the 19th century? The meeting of East and West?
2. Colour photography, atmosphere of 19th century and locations? Special effects, especially for the East Indies and volcanic eruptions? The musical score and its atmosphere? Eastern dancing?
3. Audiences accepting the conventions of this kind of adventure? The hero of action, the exotic heroine, the double-dealing villain, the range of tough sailors on the ship? Buried treasure? Krakatoa? Sea action and battles? Sufficient for this kind of film?
4. The popularity of this kind of action adventure? The reality of 19th century sailing and exploring? The clash between East and West? Mutual exploitation?
5. Fred MacMurray? as Captain Boll? His ship, relationship with the crew? The diamonds? Kim Kim and her being on his ship, protecting her? The encounter with the pirate Pulo Besar and his western origins and disguise? The clashes with the pirates? Mutiny? The threat to kill Boll and Kim Kim revealing the secret? Boll and his men breaking free? The rescue of Kim Kim? The eruption of Krakatoa and the happy ending without the diamonds?
6. Kim Kim the exotic dancer, her being on board the ship, the secret of the treasure, the capture by the pirates, the threat and her revealing the secret, her being rescued and the happy ending? Conventional heroine?
7. Pulo Besar as matinee villain? His western style and bearing? His being hidden as the pirate and his revelation of himself? Dastardly deeds? And the fight against him and his destruction? The various henchmen and their fights. cruelty etc.?
8. The picture of the crew, O'Brien, Flint, Chess etc.? Loyalty to Boll? The diamonds? The possible mutiny? The greed for the treasure? Life aboard the ship? Boll and the men breaking free and the attack on the pirates?
9. Action adventure? The exotic locations of the East Indies? The cities, the streets, the attacks in the streets, secret chests, hidden jewels, strange princesses? The perennial appeal of this kind of exotic adventure?
