Naked Paradise

Naked Paradise (sometimes credited as Thunder Over Hawaii) is a 1957 drama film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Richard Denning and Beverly Garland.

Naked Paradise
Directed byRoger Corman
Produced byRoger Corman
Written byCharles B. Griffith
Robert Wright Campbell
StarringBeverly Garland
Richard Denning
Music byRonald Stein
Production
company
Sunset Productions[1]
Distributed byAmerican International Pictures
Release date
  • January 1957 (1957-01)
Running time
68 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100,000[2]

Charles Griffith, who worked on the script, later Corman asked him to reuse his screenplay for Atlas (1960), Beast from Haunted Cave (1960) and Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961).[3]

Plot

Duke Bradley's boat is hired to sail a group to the Hawaiian Islands. His passengers include Zac Cotton, alcoholic girlfriend Max McKenzie and a pair of thugs, Mitch and Stony, who following a luau, without Duke's knowledge, rob a plantation of its payroll.

The gang intends to continue on to another island in the South Pacific, but tempers flare after Max is struck by Zac, which causes Duke to quit, demanding payment. As he is about to set sail, Max asks to go with him, determined to change her life. A hurricane hits, however, forcing Duke to turn back. On arrival, he is beaten unconscious by Mitch and Stony while the woman is roughed up by Zac.

Zac intends to make off with Duke's schooner and takes a local girl, Lanai, as a hostage, shooting Stony, who objects to this. A fight ensues in which Duke triumphs after Zac is killed by the boat's propeller. Duke and Max sail away.

Cast

Production

In early July 1956 it was announced Beverly Garland would star in Naked Paradise by R. Wright Campbell directed by Roger Corman. Garland had made several films for Corman, including Not of This Earth, It Conquered the World, and Gunslinger.[4] A few days later it was announced John Ireland, who had just made Gunslinger for Corman under a two-picture deal, would be Garland's costar. Filming was to begin on September 12.[5]

In August it was announced the film would star Lisa Montell, who had been in Shark Reef.[6] Ireland was still attached at this stage.[7] He was soon replaced by Richard Denning.

Robert Wright Campbell's script was rewritten by Charles B. Griffith.[3]

Filming started 2 September 1956.[8] The film was shot in two weeks on location in Hawaii, back-to-back with She Gods of Shark Reef.

Samuel Arkoff of AIP has a small role in the movie.[9] Arkoff later recalled:

We went over to Hawaii — me, my two kids and my wife, Jim Nicholson with his wife and three kids. Roger told me to come over to where he was shooting, and he gave me this one line to read to Richard Denning: “It’s been a good harvest, and the money is in the safe.” Now that's a key line (laughs)! That was my first and last role; I’ve never been asked back into any of ’em since![10]

The Cocoa Palms Hotel received an on screen credit in exchange for housing the films stars at a reduced rate.[11]

Garland recalled "We filmed on the island of Kauai, stayed at the Coca Palms Hotel and had great accommodations. Roger really did this one up the right way. I don't know if it was because we were at this beautiful location and Roger simply felt like spending more, but it was one of the best locations ever, especially for a Roger Corman film." However it would be the last film Garland made for the director.[12]

Release

The film was initially released as a double feature with Flesh and the Spur[13] It was re-released in 1960 under the title Thunder over Hawaii.[14]

Reception

Variety found the film colorful, with interesting action and a well-knit story.

Monthly Film Bulletin found the picture beautifully shot but average in other facets.[15][16]

The Los Angeles Times said "some beautiful Hawaiian scenery, an excellent performance by Richard Denning... and a very believable characterisation by Beverly Garland make the picture quite tolerable."[17]

Notes
  1. "Sunset Rushing Into US Shortage Market". Variety. 13 June 1956. p. 23.
  2. Alan Frank, The Films of Alan Frank: Shooting My Way Out of Trouble, Bath Press, 1998 p 42
  3. Aaron W. Graham, 'Little Shop of Genres: An interview with Charles B. Griffith', Senses of Cinema, 15 April, 2005 accessed 25 June 2012
  4. Drama: 'Beyond Pass' Proposed as Unique Western; Big Brass Role for Pidgeon Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 2 July 1956: B9.
  5. FERRER TO DIRECT AND STAR IN FILM: New York Times 5 July 1956: 18.
  6. Drama: John Lund Heads Cast of 'Affair in Reno'; Film of Escadrille Scheduled Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 4 Aug 1956: B7.
  7. Ann Blyth Promoted to Play Helen Morgan Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 18 Aug 1956: B8.
  8. "Hollywood Production Pulse". Variety. 19 September 1956. p. 20.
  9. Roger Corman on Naked Paradise at Trailers From Hell.
  10. Weaver, Tom (March 1987). "The Philosophy of Exploitation". Fangoria. No. 62. p. 59.
  11. Black (1996) The Films of Roger Corman, Batsford
  12. Weaver, Tom; Del Vechio, Cal (1986). "Queen of 50s Horror". Fangoria. No. 50. p. 59.
  13. LearnAboutMoviePosters.com - Pressbook - Combo
    Naked Paradise
    Flesh and the Spur
  14. p.89 McGee, Mark Thomas Fast and Furious: The Story of American International Pictures McFarland 1984
  15. Frank,The Films of Roger Corman 1966
  16. NAKED PARADISE Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 24, Iss. 276, (Jan 1, 1957): 74.
  17. Variety of Violence Found in Double Bill G M W. Los Angeles Times 22 Mar 1957: A8.
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