HAWAII

US, 1966, 186 minutes, Colour. Panavision.
Max von Sydow, Julie Andrews, Richard Harris, Carroll O'Connor, Elizabeth Cole, Gene Hackman.
Directed by George Roy Hill.

Hawaii was a very popular film in its time. Four years later a sequel, The Hawaians, was released. However there is a scope about Hawaii that makes it impressive, even though critics are not always impressed. Max Von Sydow is convincing as the puritanical missionary whose career we follow from Boston and his years of training, through his marriage, to his evangelising in Hawaii. The early years of the history of the island and its influence by America is traced throughout its missionary period. The atmosphere of Hawaii is beautifully communicated both visually and via the people. Julie Andrews in a non-singing role played the part of the missionary's wife. Richard Harris has an ambiguous role as a villain. Gene Hackman can be seen in one of his earliest roles. The film was directed by George Roy Hill who was later to be famous for his direction of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting.

1. How impressive was this film? How enjoyable? Why? Comment on the vastness of its style? Colour, locations, wide-screen etc. Was it an epic film? How much of it was geared to box-office? The quality of the photography? The length of the film? The impact of the stars? The intrinsic interest of the themes?

2. What was the main theme of the film, religion, race, human relationships, the history of a country? How valuable was the film in giving insight into the nineteenth century way of life, in America, in religious circles, in Boston, in family relationships? In Hawaii?

3. The importance of the introductory narrative, the myths of Hawaii, the humane religion, the matriarchal traditions the way of life. the impact of the Americans and the changes?

4. How important for the film was Hawaii as a place? The narrative at the start and the visualising? The fact that Keoki spoke? The impact of the Hawaiian people? Their legends and their gods? The history of change? The quality of their civilisation? Its impact on white men? The white men's despising of Hawaiians? Hawaiians being ruined by white men?

5. How did the film show Americans as colonial in their attitudes and behaviour? Hale as a racist and colonial? His despising of the people? The sense of superiority especially by religion? Which sequences best illustrated this?

6. What was audience reaction to the Calvinism of the religion of the missionaries? The theological school, the theology of damnation and predestination? The frightening grace before meals and human corruption? The puritanical attitude towards marriage? Reverend Hale preaching on the ship? The sailors' reactions to him? His belief in the intrinsic evil of man? And of the anger and justice of God? How is this Calvinism explored in the film? Especially in Hale's curse of the people and its seeming fulfilment?

7. How impressive was Max von Sydow's performance? How well did he embody the character of Abner Hale? The way that he was photographed, his stature, close-ups, dominating angles? His attitude towards his mission. how much pride? His relationship with God? His attitude toward Hawaii and Hawaiians? His arrogant domination? His love for Jerusha and his fear of it? His relationship to Queen Malama and his admiration for her? His domination of Keoki and his destroying of him? His relationship with his fellow men? His harshness about Whipple and the other ministers?

8. How did the character of Jerusha balance Reverend Hale? How convincing was Julie Andrews' performance? Her choice of marrying him? The contrast with Hoxworth? Her support of him? (the irony of the minister keeping the letters from Hoxworth so that she would marry Hale). Her suffering, her humanity. her relationship with Malama? With the others on the island? The temptation of finding Hoxworth on Hawaii? Her continuing to support Hale? How well was this illustrated e.g. at the Church burnt by the sailors? Her bearing children, her growing old, the importance of her final talk to Hale? The significance of her death (and the reticence with which it was filmed?) The revelation when Abner runs into the house thinking that she is still there?

9. The impact of Malama - the matriarchal system on Hawaii, the reverence for the queen, her good humour, her imperious nature, her wisdom as regards Jerusha and Abner, her relationship with her husband, puzzling over Christianity, accepting it and yet keeping her paganism? Her importance for audience response to the film?

10. The tragedy of Keoki? His earnestness in Boston, the significance of his return and his changing to Hawaiian ways, the relationship with his sister, Reverend Hale's not promoting him, asking him to spy, his reverting to pagan ways, his marriage, the suffering with the measles, the harshness of his death? How important was this for the themes of the film and the revelation of character?

11. How important was the character of Hoxworth for the film? As a contrast with Hale? For the emotional response of Jerusha? As a whaler? His arrogance towards the Hawaiians, the spread of disease via Hoxworth and the sailors, his building up of business over the years?

12. The significance of people like Reverend Whipple? Their enthusiasm at the start their being overcome by Hawaii.. the harsh treatment by the congregation and the elders? Whipple's good work as a doctor? His going into business and his resentment against the Church? How convincing was this? As a comment on the colonial sing of Hawaii?

13. The significance of the girl convert? Her relationship to Jerusha? Her being able to be tempted by Hoxworth? Again a comment on the missionary endeavour?

14. Did the film overstress the religious theme? How accurate was its exploration of religion? Of the role of the Christian God and of the Hawaiian God? Its exploration of the influence of religion on customs etc."

15. What insight into the racist theme did the film give?

16. How well did the film explore the themes of cultures? The clash of cultures?

17. What major moral issues did the film explore? In terms of relationship, marriage,, Hawaiian marriages, American marriages, love, lust and the sailors etc.? People acting according to their likes and customs and the right of Christian missionaries to deny them? Queen Malama and relating to her brother? The definition of incest, for instance?

18. What did the film say true civilization was?

19. The film's comments on law? The influence of law, Queen Malama's attitude, the significance of her Christian proclamations?

20. The significance of the sequences on disease and the ruining of Hawaii as an island paradise and the health of the natives? (its relationship to Hale's curse?)

21. Comment on the technical effects of the film? The reconstruction of Hawaiian life, Hawaiian customs, religion, storms, ship-life etc.