"Song of the Islands" has its advantages, mostly in sarongs and bathing suits. Innumerable opportunities to display Betty Grable and Victor Mature in Jantzen's best are not filmed as they might be. Miss Grable's effectiveness is somewhat marred by the necessities of a plot, and Thomas Mitchell is wasted on a part entirely devoid of the depth that is requisite for an outstanding Mitchell performance. In the face of the drawbacks, the movie combines several harmless tunes with the purely physical efforts of Jack Oakie to be funny.
It all concerns Mitchell's effort to run a haven for oppressed bushmen on the same island that holds a Mature plantation. Inevitably, both in logic and plot, the interests conflict. Mature comes on the scene, and in his inimitable way appeases the very appeasable daughter of the south-sea utopian.
Mature's hard work ends in a complete rapprochement, and Mitchell continues to spread Polynesian sunshine. As entertainment goes, "Song of the Islands" is a little better than a Pacific travelogue, but not as good as the usual tropical release.
Read more in News
Over the Wire
