Paradise, Hawaiian Style
- Allan Weiss
- Anthony Lawrence
- Elvis Presley
- Suzanna Leigh
- James Shigeta
- Donna Butterworth
companies
- Paramount Pictures
- Hal Wallis Productions
- June 9, 1966 (1966-06-09) (USA)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style is a 1966 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley. It was the third and final motion picture that Presley filmed in Hawaii. The film reached #40 on the Variety weekly box office chart, earning $2.5 million in theaters. In agreeing to do this film, Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was hoping to replicate the success of Presley's 1961 film, Blue Hawaii.
Plot
Rick Richards (Presley) returns to his home in Hawaii after being fired from his job as an airline pilot. He and his buddy Danny Kohana (James Shigeta) go into the helicopter charter business together. But Rick's reckless flying and his careless flirting with local women may cost Rick the business and Danny his home. This tendency seems to get in the way of their secretary, Judy "Friday" Hudson (Suzanna Leigh) and Rick getting together.
Disaster looms as Danny becomes overdue on a flight after Rick has been grounded by government officials. Rick must decide if he should risk losing his license forever by going to look for his friend.
Cast
- Elvis Presley as Rick Richards
- Suzanna Leigh as Judy "Friday" Hudson
- James Shigeta as Danny Kohana
- Jan Shepard as Betty Kohana
- Philip Ahn as Moki Kaimana
- Donna Butterworth as Jan Kohana
- Marianna Hill as Lani Kaimana
- Irene Tsu as Pua
- Linda Wong as Lehua Kawena
- Julie Parrish as Joanna
- Red West as fighter in bar (uncredited)
- Grady Sutton as Mr. Cubberson
Production
Principal photography in Paradise, Hawaiian Style began in Hawaii on July 27, 1965 (with the working title of Hawaiian Paradise) and finished on September 29 in Los Angeles.[2]
Major scenes in both Blue Hawaii (1961) and this film were shot on the island of Kauaʻi, with the Coco Palms Resort prominently featured. The famous resort was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and never rebuilt.[3]
Some scenes were filmed above, at and around the Polynesian Cultural Center on O'ahu.
Around the official wrap on production, Elvis met Tom Jones, who visited the set, and The Beatles, who visited Elvis’ Bel Air home a few weeks after production was completed.[4] Elvis was still the biggest singing star and top actor in the world at this time, with his salary for every film being a million dollars and half the profits which $1.25 million for Hawaiian Style. Elvis made $2.25 million from this film.
Soundtrack
Reception
Released in June 1966, Paradise, Hawaiian Style, despite its "stunning aerial photography", "inspired a collective yawn" with film critics.[5] The New York Times film reviewer Vincent Canby compared the film to the formulaic 1930s musicals that Bing Crosby used to star in, concluding that it was "all harmless and forgettable."[6] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "pleasant hot-weather diversion. Pretty much the usual Elvis Presley formula of songs and romance, this Paramount release ... has the added bonus of lush tropical scenery in color. And Elvis, as always, remains [a] relaxed, enjoyable entertainer."[7]
Variety called the film "a gaily-begarbed and flowing musical," with the Hawaii setting seldom before having been "utilized to such lush advantage."[8] The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote, "This is Elvis Presley right back in the old rut, parading his talents as a man of action while women swoon at his passage. The script is rather worse than routine, and the songs and choreography are undistinguished; which leaves very little but Wallace Kelley's colourful photography of the strictly tourist-eye view of the islands."[9][N 1]
See also
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ "Paradise, Hawaiian Style, Box Office Information." The Numbers. Retrieved: April 16, 2012.
- ^ [http://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/18579#1"History: Paradise, Hawaiian Style." AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved: July 26, 2018.
- ^ Resource, Hotel News. "Historic Coco Palms Resort in Hawaii to Reopen Under Hyatt Umbrella".
- ^ "50th Anniversary: Elvis Presley's Paradise Hawaii Style." Graceland.com. Retrieved: May 20, 2019.
- ^ Knight 2009, p. 134.
- ^ Canby, Vincent. "Presley Invades Hawaii." The New York Times, June 16, 1966, p. 53.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin. "It's 'Paradise' for Elvis Presley fans." Los Angeles Times. June 1, 1966. Part IV, p. 8.
- ^ "Paradise, Hawaiian Style." Variety, June 8, 1966, p. 6.
- ^ "Paradise, Hawaiian Style." The Monthly Film Bulletin, Volume 33, Issue 391, August 1966, p. 127.
Bibliography
- Knight, Timothy. Elvis Presley in the Movies. New York: Metro Books, 2009. ISBN 978-1-4351-1855-3.
External links
- Paradise, Hawaiian Style at IMDb
- Paradise, Hawaiian Style at AllMovie
- Paradise, Hawaiian Style at the TCM Movie Database
- Paradise, Hawaiian Style at Rotten Tomatoes
- Elvis in Hawaii
- Review by Janet Branagan at Apollo Movie Guide
- Review of the movie collection "Lights! Camera! Elvis! Collection (King Creole, Blue Hawaii, G.I. Blues, Fun in Acapulco, Roustabout, Girls! Girls! Girls!, Paradise, Hawaiian Style, Easy Come, Easy Go) by Paul Mavis at DVD Talk, August 6, 2007
- Review by Jon Danziger at digitallyOBSESSED!, March 2, 2003
- v
- t
- e
- Elvis Presley
- Elvis (1956 album)
- Elvis' Christmas Album
- Elvis Is Back!
- His Hand in Mine
- Something for Everybody
- Pot Luck
- How Great Thou Art
- From Elvis in Memphis
- From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis
- That's the Way It Is
- Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)
- Love Letters from Elvis
- Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas
- Elvis Now
- He Touched Me
- Elvis (1973 album)
- Raised on Rock / For Ol' Times Sake
- Good Times
- Promised Land
- Today
- From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee
- Moody Blue
- Loving You
- King Creole
- G.I. Blues
- Blue Hawaii
- Girls! Girls! Girls!
- It Happened at the World's Fair
- Fun in Acapulco
- Kissin' Cousins
- Roustabout
- Girl Happy
- Harum Scarum
- Frankie and Johnny
- Paradise Hawaiian Style
- Spinout
- Double Trouble
- Clambake
- Speedway
- Viva Elvis
- Elvis Presley: The Searcher
- Love Me Tender
- Peace in the Valley
- Jailhouse Rock
- Flaming Star
- Follow That Dream
- Kid Galahad
- Viva Las Vegas
- Tickle Me
- Easy Come, Easy Go
- Elvis (1968 album)
- From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis
- On Stage
- As Recorded at Madison Square Garden
- Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite
- Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis
- Having Fun with Elvis on Stage
- Elvis in Concert
- An Afternoon in the Garden
- Elvis Sings Flaming Star
- Let's Be Friends
- Almost in Love
- C'mon Everybody
- I Got Lucky
- Elvis' 40 Greatest
- Pure Gold
- Elvis' Golden Records
- For LP Fans Only
- A Date with Elvis
- 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong
- Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3
- Elvis for Everyone!
- Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4
- Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1
- Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2
- The Sun Sessions
- Welcome to My World
- He Walks Beside Me
- Mahalo from Elvis
- Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3
- Greatest Hits Volume 1
- Elvis' Gold Records Volume 5
- Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances
- Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II
- Elvis 56
- Tiger Man
- Memories: The '68 Comeback Special
- Sunrise
- Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology
- The 50 Greatest Hits
- ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits
- 2nd to None
- Elvis at Sun
- Hitstory
- Elvis Inspirational
- Elvis Rock
- Elvis Christmas
- The Essential Elvis Presley
- Christmas Duets
- If I Can Dream
- Way Down in the Jungle Room
- The Wonder of You
- Where No One Stands Alone
- Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1
- The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters
- From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
- Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters
- Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings
- Live in Las Vegas
- Today, Tomorrow, and Forever
- Elvis the King
- The Complete '68 Comeback Special
- The Complete Elvis Presley Masters
- Elvis (1979 film)
- Elvis and Me (miniseries)
- Elvis (1990 series)
- Elvis Meets Nixon
- Elvis (2005 miniseries)
- Elvis & Nixon
- Elvis (2022 film)
- Agent Elvis (2023 series)
- Priscilla
- The Pied Piper of Cleveland
- Elvis: That's the Way It Is
- Elvis on Tour
- This Is Elvis
- The New Gladiators
- Elvis Presley: The Searcher
- The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis
- Elvis ('68 Comeback Special)
- Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite
- Elvis in Concert
- Cooking with Elvis
- All Shook Up
- Elvis. The Musical
- Elvis: The Concert
- Viva Elvis
- The Elvis Dead
- Lisa Marie Presley (daughter)
- Riley Keough (granddaughter)
- Priscilla Presley (ex-wife)
- Brandon Presley (second cousin)
- Sam Phillips
- The Blue Moon Boys
- The Jordanaires
- The Imperials
- The Sweet Inspirations
- TCB Band
- J. D. Sumner
- Stephen H. Sholes
- June Juanico
- Memphis Mafia
- Colonel Tom Parker
- George C. Nichopoulos
- Judy Spreckels
- Linda Thompson
- Ginger Alden
- Larry Geller
- Graceland
- Audubon Street House
- Impersonators
- Elvis and Gladys
- Elvis and Me
- Elvis: What Happened?
- Elvis-A-Rama Museum
- Sun recordings
- Million Dollar Quartet
- Cultural depictions of Elvis Presley
- Songs about Elvis
- Elvis Presley Enterprises
- Elvis Presley Lake
- "Elvis has left the building"
- Elvis Radio
- FBI files on Elvis Presley
- Military service
- Eight Elvises
- Triple Elvis
- Elvis Presley's Pink Cadillac
- Elvis Presley's guitars
- Elvis Presley single
- Elvis Presley Forever stamp
- Elvis sightings
- Elvis sandwich
- Fool's Gold Loaf
- Elvis' Greatest Shit
- List of memorials
- Category