Customer Reviews

Pagan Love Song [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Esther Williams stars in this silly South Pacific love story, filmed largely on the Hawaiian island of Kauai (although the story is supposed to be set in Tahiti...) Her love interest is the schmaltzy show tune crooner Howard Keel, playing a lazy American who inherits an abandoned coconut farm, and after making it out to the island picks up a yen for the half-Tahitian hottie played by Williams. She tames him, he mellows out, learns to like small children and to kick back into Tahitian time, just like the locals. Musically, the Harry Warren compositions are not, admittedly, among his best work, although there is a dazzling Tahitian dance number, staged in a Busby Berkeley-like fashion, and if you know Kauai at all, the improbable cutaways from one beach to the next are pretty hilarious. Not the greatest musicial ever (and Williams hardly gets in the water at all!) but it has it's charms. Take the "happy native" stuff with a grain of salt, though.

In this movie, Esther is a native Hawaiian rich girl. Howard Keel comes to the islands for the simple life and finds that life with Esther around is anything but simple. The water dancing sequences are not the most original or spectacular. It is a friendly movie with friendly songs.

There is nothing taxing or demanding about Pagan Love song and people wanting escapist fare may be pleased with it. Lush island scenery and a hummable score are the film's strongest assets. It is a long way, however, from producer Arthur Freed's finest achievements. 2 1/2 stars.

This is one of my favorite Esther Williams films. It's very well done, witha lovely sitting on a tropical island. There are also some delightful tunes in it as well.

I bought this video for my mother and enjoyed it very much myself. The music is enchanting, and seeing Howard Keel and Esther Williams together was great. There's a bit of everything in this film--drama, comedy, music, beautiful scenery, and more! This is a must DVD for Keel and/or Williams' fans!