White Shadows in the South Seas (1928)
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- Passed
- 1h 28min
- Drama, Romance
- 10 Nov 1928 (USA)
- Movie
An alcoholic doctor on a Polynesian island, disgusted by white exploitation of the natives, finds himself marooned on a pristinely beautiful island.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- Won 1 Oscar.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Monte Blue | ... |
Dr. Matthew Lloyd
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| Raquel Torres | ... |
Fayaway
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Robert Anderson | ... |
Sebastian - a Trader (uncredited)
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Renee Bush | ... |
Lucy (uncredited)
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| Dorothy Janis | ... |
Native Girl (uncredited)
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Napua | ... |
Native Boy (uncredited)
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Directed by
| W.S. Van Dyke | ... | (under the direction of) |
| Robert J. Flaherty | ... | (uncredited) (early shooting) |
Written by
| Frederick O'Brien | ... | (famous novel) |
| Ray Doyle | ... | (compiled by) and |
| Jack Cunningham | ... | (compiled by) |
| John Colton | ... | (titles) |
Produced by
| Hunt Stromberg | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Irving Thalberg | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| William Axt | ... | (as Dr. William Axt_) |
Cinematography by
| Clyde De Vinna | ... | (photographed by) |
| George Gordon Nogle | ... | (photographed by) (as George Nogle) |
| Bob Roberts | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Ben Lewis | ... | (edited by) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Pop Arnold | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Dale Deverman | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Joseph LaShelle | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Lewis E. McAfee | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Josiah Roberts | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Music Department
| David Mendoza | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Josephine Chippo | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (A Cosmopolitan Production)
- Cosmopolitan Productions
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1928) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn Filmselskap (1928) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Ufa-Metro-Verleihbetriebe GmbH (Parufamet) (1929) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Film AB Le Mat-Metro-Goldwyn (1929) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner Home Video (2010) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (acknowledgement)
- Turner Entertainment (DVD package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Matthew Lloyd has drifted away from a respectable career as a physician, and lives a mediocre existence in a Polynesian island. There, pearl-trader Sebastian and his associates recklessly exploit the natives working for them as divers. After witnessing the appalling consequences of "civilization" on the local population, Matthew vehemently condemns Sebastian's greed and ruthlessness. Sebastian, however, will not shy away from any means to crush opposition to his activities.
Written by Eduardo Casais |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A romance of Romances played against a setting of whispering palms and blue lagoons. Gorgeous, but terrible. this pathetic story of a white man's trampling of a dying race. (Print Ad- Calgary Daily Herald, ((Calgary, Alta.)) 1 December 1928) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $365,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | After completing filming on the tropical island, they returned to the MGM lot at Culver City, where W.S. Van Dyke shot some additional material, including a typhoon at sea and a shipwreck. Then the studio decided to make White Shadows in the South Seas (1928) their first sound film, so they added a synchronized soundtrack consisted of a romantic score by William Axt and David Mendoza, with a few sound effects such as wind howling, a storm, trees ruffling and the words "Hello" and "wait." This was MGM's first sound picture, and it premiered in Hollywood at Sid Grauman's Chinese Theater on Friday, 3 Aug 1928. It is known for being the first MGM film to be released with a pre-recorded soundtrack. See more » |
| Goofs | The drowned young man's left arm moves by itself. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Settling the Score (2005). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Flower of Love See more » |
| Quotes |
Dr. Matthew Lloyd:
For God's sake, go away, Sebastian... these people are like birds... like flowers... they are like man was before he lost the Garden of Eden... See more » |