DOWN AMONG THE SHELTERING PALMS

US, 1953, 87 minutes, Colour.
William Lundigan, Jane Greer, Mitzi Gaynor, David Wayne, Gloria de Haven, Gene Lockhart, Jack Paar.
Directed by Edmund Goulding.

One of the many routine musicals made by 20th Century Fox in the early fifties with roughly the same cast. There is a bit of sparkle but not in comparison with, say, M.G.M. musicals.

William Lundigan who was in many of these films did not have the presence of other stars. Jane Greer in not exactly a musical star. However, Mitzi Gaynor does her best and David Wayne appears briefly. The film was made at the time of South Pacific's popularity on the stage and the similarities are more than coincidental. The film was referred to as a poor man's South Pacific. It was directed by Edmund Goulding who made such enjoyable films as Grand Hotel, Dark Victory.

1. An entertaining musical comedy of the fifties?

2. The conventions and tradition of the American musical comedy easy plot, light hero and heroine, conflicts and jealousies? The supporting cast? Songs and their role in the plot and exposition of character, choreography? The World War II background and the South Pacific?

3. Colour photography, the atmosphere of the South Pacific? The score? Songs, dances?

4. The background of the war stories with the comic touch? The occupation by American troops? The out of bounds for the troops? The friendly islanders? The prim heroine? The missionaries? Outside authority and confusion? The jealous lady journalist? The sorting out of everything and the happy ending? Sufficient credibility for this kind of musical comedy?

5. The delineation of the characters - stock characters and responses? The hero, popular, a man of honour, compromised by the islanders and the girl, in love with the heroine, the deceptions? The victim of the lady journalist's jealousy? The heroine and her place with the missionaries, her attraction towards the hero, criticism of him, sternness and strictness? Potential jealousy? The clash? The wince, advice of her uncle? The happy reconciliation?

6. The presentation of the islanders - the presuppositions about the South Pacific as paradise? The island Chief, his interpreter, the South Pacific as paradise? the girl and her presence in the hero's hut, her own boy friend and the happy ending?

7. The presentation of the journalist and her jealousy, her finishing up repentant with the second in charge?

8. The comedy of the American Services and the tradition - the men and their preoccupation with girls, comedy types amongst the troops for example, the typist, the men and their rebellion, sticking up for their leader at the end? The authority figures and their supervision?

9. Basic themes of right and wrong, the American spirit, true love, jealousy - all with the bland and pleasant fifties' touch?