Pagan Love Song

Pagan Love Song

MGM, 1950, Color, 76 minutes, **½

Released December, 1950



Lively musical romance with Howard Keel as a teacher in Tahiti who falls for American Esther Williams, whom he believes to be an island native. Rita Moreno co-stars in this MGM production showcasing dazzling swimming choreography and songs like "Singing in the Sun", "Tahiti" and "The House of the Singing Bamboo."



Produced by: Arthur Freed

Associate Producer: Ben Feiner, Jr.

Directed by: Robert Alton

Screen Play by: Robert Nathan and Jerry Davis

Based on the Book Tahiti Landfall by William S. Stone

Music Director: Adolph Deutsch

Music by: Harry Warren

Lyrics by: Arthur Freed

"Pagan Love Song" by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed

Musical Direction: Adolph Deutsch

Vocal Arrangements: Robert Tucker

Orchestrations: Conrad Salinger

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Randall Duell

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Jack D. Moore

Costumes by: Helen Rose

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: William J. Tuttle

Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer

Cinematography: Charles Rosher

Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie, Warren Newcombe

Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch

Film Editor: Adrienne Fazan



Cast: Esther Williams [Mimi Bennett], Howard Keel [Hazard Endicott], Minna Gombell [Kate Bennett], Rita Moreno [Terru], Charles Mauu [Tavae], Philip Costa [Manu], Dione Leilani [Tani], Charles Freund [Papera], Marcelle Corday [Countess Mariani], Sam Maikai [Tua], Helen Rapoza [Angele], Birdie DeBolt [Mama Ruau], Bill Kaliloa [Mata], Carlo Cook [Mons. Bouchet], Betty Wand [singing voice of Esther Williams for "The Sea of the Moon" and "The House of the Singing Bamboo" finale]



Musical Program: [0:00] Pagan Love Song (sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:03] Pagan Love Song (sung by Chorus); [0:11] The House of the Singing Bamboo (sung by Howard Keel); [0:13] The House of the Singing Bamboo (sung by Chorus); [0:17] Singing in the Sun (sung by Howard Keel); [0:21] The House of the Singing Bamboo (reprised by Howard Keel); [0:37] Etiquette (sung by Howard Keel and Children); [0:40] Singing in the Sun (sung by Chorus, Esther Williams and Swimming Ensemble); [0:50] Why Is Love So Crazy (sung by Howard Keel); [0:53] Singing in the Sun (sung by Chorus); [0:54] Tahiti (sung by Rita Moreno and Chorus); [0:58] The Sea of the Moon (sung by Betty Wand dubbing for Esther Williams); [1:07] Pagan Love Song (sung by Howard Keel and Chorus; danced by Chorus; Esther Williams and Howard Keel Swimming); [1:14] The House of the Singing Bamboo (sung by Children, Howard Keel and Chorus)