You should probably watch this if you have a soft spot for early talkies that feel like they were filmed in someone’s backyard. It is perfect for anyone who likes a romance that feels a bit *messy* and unpolished.
People who want a fast-paced action movie or something with crisp sound will definitely hate it. It moves very slowly and the audio has that constant hum that makes you feel like you are listening to a seashell.
Sally O'Neil plays Josie, and she is great because she doesn't act like a movie star. She sounds like a real person from New York who just happened to end up on a tropical island by mistake.
She has this very thick accent that feels totally out of place in Fiji. It’s honestly one of the best parts of the movie because it makes her feel like an outsider.
Then there is Jim, the British soldier played by Reginald Sharland. He’s got what they called "shell shock" back then, which we now know is PTSD.
He is terrified of fire and loud noises. The way he shakes when someone lights a cigarette is actually quite sad to watch.
It’s a lot more grounded than something like
Redemption. You can tell the movie is trying hard to show how much he is suffering without having the words to explain it.
The villain is a guy named McEwen who is just a total jerk for no reason. He spends most of his time trying to scare Jim because he knows Jim is too traumatized to fight back.
There is a scene where Josie just sits with Jim in a hut and talks to him. The camera doesn't move at all for like three minutes.
It feels like you are eavesdropping on a real conversation. It is a bit awkward, but in a way that feels *human* rather than just bad writing.
I noticed that the Fiji sets look very much like a studio stage. You can almost see where the sand ends and the wooden floor begins.
There are a few shots of the water that look nice, but most of it feels very enclosed. It’s weirdly claustrophobic for a movie set on an island.
Duke Kahanamoku shows up as a character named Kalua. He was a famous Olympic swimmer and surfer in real life, which is a cool bit of history.
He doesn't have a lot to do, but he has a very calm presence. He makes everyone else in the scene look like they are overacting.
Some of the dialogue is very stiff, like they were reading it off a chalkboard behind the camera. This happened a lot in 1930 because actors were still getting used to talking in movies.
If you've seen
What Every Woman Learns, you know how these early dramas love to focus on a woman fixing a man’s life. It’s a very common theme from that era.
The big climax involves a fire, which is obviously Jim’s biggest fear. You can see the ending coming from a mile away, but it still feels earned.
When the fire starts, the special effects are... well, they are mostly just smoke blowing across the screen. It isn't exactly a blockbuster spectacle.
But the look on Jim’s face is what matters. He looks like he’s about to throw up from fear.
I liked how Josie didn't just give him a speech and fix him instantly. She just stayed nearby while he figured it out himself.
It reminds me of the pacing in
Dangerous Curve Ahead where things just sort of happen at their own speed. There is no rush to get to the next scene.
One thing that bugged me was the background music. Or rather, the lack of it.
Most of the movie is just silence and the sound of people’s shoes hitting the floor. It makes the dramatic moments feel a bit naked.
There is a moment where Josie looks at a photo of her old life that lingers way too long. It’s like the director forgot to yell "cut."
Still, there is something very charming about how small this story is. It doesn't try to be an epic; it’s just about two people in a hut.
It’s definitely better than some of the other stuff from that year like
The Woman and the Law which feels way too preachy. This one just lets the characters be themselves.
The ending is very abrupt and they basically just decide to be together forever in about ten seconds. It’s funny how fast movies used to wrap things up back then.
Overall, it’s a shaky but very
sincere little film. It has a lot of heart even if the tech is old and the acting is sometimes a bit loud.
If you can find a decent copy of it, give it a look. It’s a nice way to spend an hour if you like seeing how movies used to handle big emotions.
