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Bird of Paradise

1932·US
Director: King Vidor
AdventureDramaRomance

When a young South Seas sailor falls overboard, the beautiful daughter of a Polynesian king dives in and saves his life. Thus begins the romance of Johnny and Luana. Though Luana is promised to another man, Johnny whisks her away, and for a brief time the lovers live very happily together. But, when a local volcano threatens their lives, Luana knows that she must sacrifice herself to the volcanic gods in order to save her island.

When a young South Seas sailor falls overboard, the beautiful daughter of a Polynesian king dives in and saves his life. Thus begins the romance of Johnny and Luana. Though Luana is promised to another man, Johnny whisks her away, and for a brief time the lovers live very happily together. But, when a local volcano threatens their lives, Luana knows that she must sacrifice herself to the volcanic gods in order to save her island.

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Explore Further

Bird of Paradise (1932): King Vidor's Exotic Adventure, Starring Dolores del Río and Joel McCrea — Emanuel Levy

Critical analysis of Vidor's exploration of forbidden desires around race and sexuality in pre-Code Hawaii.

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Cast

Dolores del Río

Dolores del Río

Luana

Joel McCrea

Joel McCrea

Johnny Baker

John Halliday

John Halliday

Mac

Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher

Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher

Chester

Bert Roach

Bert Roach

Hector

Lon Chaney Jr.

Lon Chaney Jr.

Thornton

Wade Boteler

Wade Boteler

Capitaine Johnson

Arnold Gray

Arnold Gray

Walker

Reginald Simpson

Reginald Simpson

O'Fallon

N

Napoleon Pukui

The King

A

Agostino Borgato

Medicine Man

S

Sofia Ortega

Mahumahu

Crew

Max Steiner

composer

Clyde De Vinna

cinematographer

Wells Root

writer

Wanda Tuchock

writer

Lucien N. Andriot

cinematographer

Leonard Praskins

writer

Edward Cronjager

cinematographer

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