Bird of Paradise (1951)

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

I will never forget when I saw "Bird of paradise" and I have never forgotten the name Debra Paget. I was 16 years old, it was in 1952 and the movie was shown at the local cinema, a tiny place hiding under the pine trees in the village in mid-Sweden where I grew up. It was a winter evening and I was deeply moved when walking home alone through the snow. Never shall I forget that TERRIBLE moment when Kalua jumped over the edge of the volcano! Oh, no!!! She was so beautiful and I loved her so much. Of course the volcano's eruption immediately stopped when this wonderful woman sacrificed herself for her people. The story represented something frightening and unknown to me, still remembering it after all these years. I tried to understand how parents could think in the way they did, slowly realizing that that there were different ways to look at life out there. Movie at it's best!

I saw Bird of Paradise when it first came out and was struck by Debra Paget's beauty and gentleness. My age was around 15 at the time. From that time on, I have read innumerable books relating to islands of the South Pacific. Now, 55 years later, I have written my own "island" books. So far I have three in sequence on the market. McKay's Island books by Ken Ralls. I would like to be able to contact Debra Paget for permission to use her pictures in my fourth book in the series. She would be the island girl, Kamlani, in my books. She has a special place in my heart.... Alas, all attempts to contact her have gone for naught.... Help! I share your Christian faith, Ms. Paget.

Filmed on the Big Island (Island of Hawaii) at Kalapana and Hilo. The color version film is still played regularly in downtown Hilo where it has always been a cult classic. This great movie is ever poignant where each night you can see the glow of the lava still flowing from Madam Pele's Kilauea Volcano. You never know when you will need another Debra Piaget to jump into the fiery lava and appease the goddess' wrath. Movies just don't get better than this! Aloha indeed!

I'm an anthropologist and have been one for over 30 years. One of the reasons I decided to study this field, believe it or not, were the island films. They fascinated me as a kid. This one is no exception. I saw it in '51 at least a dozen times. I ate it up and craved more. Also, I lapped up the Dottie Lamour and Jon Hall films as well as Burt Lancaster's His Majesty O'Keefe. Well, truth is I never got to the islands during all of my professional career. The closest was a port of call at Pearl Harbor on the way to Japan when I was in the Navy. But, the portrayal of these people, however flawed in detail it was, started me on the road to finding out about how we humans differ and yet, are really the same. I loved this film. It has much to offer. No, it's not perfect and I concur with the reviewer from Spain on Chandler's wooden dancing, but with that iron-grey hair and dark Jewish face, he did make a convincing Polynesian. Too, let's not overlook the hamboning of old Maurice Schwartz, some good villainous moments by Jack Elam and a dark, mysterious presentation by the veteran actor, Everett Sloane. Jourdan was French and charming and Debra Paget was beautiful. That alone was worth the price of admission.