Hawaii [Blu-ray]

Director: George Roy Hill George Roy Hill

Overview

Hawaii hadn't even begun filming when director Fred Zinnemann was replaced by George Roy Hill; similarly, the role intended for Charlton Heston ended up being played by Richard Harris (though Heston would eventually star in the 1970 sequel, The Hawaiians). Based on James A. Michener's best-selling novel, the time frame of which was spread out over several centuries, the film concentrates only on the years 1820 to 1841. Still, Michener's basic point, that the virginal sanctity of the Hawaiian islands was forever shattered by the incursion of the white man, remains intact. Max Von Sydow stars as Abner Hale, an imperious minister who settles in Hawaii with his wife, Jerusha Bromley Hale (Julie Andrews). While Abner expects the islanders to adapt to him rather than the other way around, Jerusha goes out of her way to understand and appreciate her new neighbors. She eventually seeks comfort in the arms of her former lover Rafer Hoxworth (Richard Harris). Despite the lush location footage and such spectacular highlights as pagan ceremonies and an outsized typhoon, the scene most filmgoers remember is Julie Andrews' agonizingly convincing childbirth sequence. All told, it took seven years to translate Hawaii from script to screen -- and almost that long to make back its 15-million-dollar cost. In the early scenes of Hawaii (the 171-minute version, rather than the 151-minute reissue), Bette Midler plays a bit part as a ship passenger.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/14/2021
UPC:	0850035985045
Original Release:	1966
Rating:	NR
Source:	Sandpiper Pictures
Language:	English
Time:	2:41:00
Sales rank:	12,046

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Julie Andrews	Jerusha Hale
Max von Sydow	Abner Hale,Micah (age 7),Micah (age 12)
Richard Harris	Rafer Hoxworth
Torin Thatcher	Rev. Dr. Thorn
Carroll O'Connor	Charles Bromley
Elizabeth Cole	Abigail Bromley
Diane Sherry	Charity Bromley
Heather Menzies	Mercy Bromley
Gene Hackman	John Whipple
John Cullum	Rev. Immanuel Quigley
Lou Antonio	Rev. Abraham Hewlett
Jocelyne La Garde	Queen Malama
Manu Tupou	Keoki
Ted Nobriga	Kelolo
Elisabeth Logue	Noelani,Noelani
Lokelani S. Chicarell	Iliki
Malcolm Atterbury	Gideon Hale
Dorothy Jeakins	Hepzibah Hale
George Rose	Capt. Janders
Michael Constantine	Mason
John Harding	Collins
Robert Crawford Jr.	Cridland
Robert Oakley	Micah (age 4)
Bertil Werjefelt	Micah (age 18)
Bette Midler	Passenger
Elmer Bernstein	Composer

Technical Credits

George Roy Hill	Director
Marshall M. Borden	Special Effects
Paul Byrd	Special Effects
Linwood Dunn	Special Effects
James B. Gordon	Special Effects
Walter Mirisch	Producer

Editorial Reviews

One's reaction to Hawaii may depend upon the version one sees, as there are several different cuts readily available -- but in any of its forms, Hawaii is at least a little too long. The James Michener novel on which it is based is itself a lengthy read, but even though the film concentrates on only one section of the novel, it tends to drag on. Adapting the Michener behemoth into a standard motion picture (as opposed to perhaps a television miniseries) was probably an impossible task for any screenwriter, but the work of Dalton Trumbo and Daniel Taradash is immensely disappointing. Both are talented screenwriters, but Hawaii is a turgid melodrama that only hints at their abilities. Director George Roy Hill does not help matters appreciably, pacing things sluggishly and creating action sequences that lack the intended impact. With all this against it, it's surprising that Hawaii is actually pretty good. Credit the excellent cast, with Max von Sydow at his self-righteous and imperious best and Julie Andrews a delight, and especially powerful during the famous childbirth sequence. There's also some scrumptious Russell Harlan lensing of some gorgeous location scenery, some good special effects, and colorful Dorothy Jeakins costumes. None of this makes Hawaii a great drama -- or a shorter one -- but it is diverting.