Waikiki Wedding 1937

Waikiki Wedding


Paramount, 1937, B/W, 89 minutes, ***

Released March, 1937



The Oscar-winning song "Sweet Leilani" is just one of the tunes in this breezy romance starring Bing Crosby as a pineapple company executive who accompanies a reluctant "Pineapple Princess" on a PR tour of the islands. With Shirley Ross, Martha Raye, Bob Burns, and Anthony Quinn as a native leader.



Adolph Zukor Presents

Produced by: Arthur Hornblow, Jr.

Directed by: Frank Tuttle

Screen Play by: Frank Butler and Don Hartman, Walter DeLeon and Francis Martin

Based on a Story by Frank Butler and Don Hartman

Musical Direction: Boris Morros

Words and Music by: Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger

"Sweet Leilani" by Harry Owens

Hawaiian Lyrics by Jimmy Lowell

Orchestrations by: Victor Young

Arrangements by: Al Siegel and Arthur Franklin

Dance Direction by: LeRoy Prinz

Hawaiian Exteriors by: Robert C. Bruce

Art Direction by: Hans Dreier and Robert Usher

Interior Decorations by: A. E. Freudeman

Costumes Designed by: Edith Head

Sound Recording: Gene Merritt and Louis Mesenkop

Photographed by: Karl Struss

Special Photographic Effects by: Farciot Edouart

Edited by: Paul Weatherwax



Awards: Academy Award for Best Song ("Sweet Leilani," Harry Owens) and Academy Award nomination for Best Dance Direction (LeRoy Prinz)



Cast: Bing Crosby [Tony Marvin], Bob "Bazooka" Burns [Shad Buggle], Martha Raye [Myrtle Finch], Shirley Ross [Georgia Smith], George Barbier [J. P. Todhunter], Leif Erickson [Victor], Grady Sutton [Everett Todhunter], Granville Bates [Uncle Herman], Anthony Quinn [Kimo], Mitchell Lewis [Koalani], George Regas [Muamua], Nick Lukats [Assistant Purser], Prince Lei Lani [Priest], Maurice Liu [Kaiaka], Raquel Echeverria [Mahina], Iris Yamaoka [Secretary], Additional Cast: Kuulei DeClercq [Lani], Nalani DeClercq [Maile], Miri Rei [Specialty Dancer], Spencer Charters [Frame], Alexander Leftwich [Harrison], Harry Stubbs [Keith], Augie Goupil [Specialty Dancer], Ralph Remley [Tomlin], Pierre Watkin [John Durkin], Jack Chapin [Photographer], Pedro Regas [Cab Driver], David Newell [Radio Operator], Emma Dunn [Tony's Mother], Robert Emmett O'Connor [Policeman], Lalo Encinas [Policeman], Sojin Jr. [Bellboy], Ray Kinney [Singer]



Musical Program: [0:00] Blue Hawaii / In a Little Hula Heaven (sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:01] Lani's Song (?) (sung by little girl and Chorus); [0:04] Nani Ona Pua (sung by Bing Crosby and Chorus); [0:13] Blue Hawaii (sung by Bing Crosby and Chorus); [0:25] Momi Pele (sung by Hawiian Mens Ensemble); [0:27] Blue Hawaii (sung in Hawiian by Chorus, joined by Shirley Ross and Bing Crosby singing in English); [0:39] Sweet Leilani (sung by Bing Crosby and Chorus, danced by Hawaiian girls); [0:43] Hawiian drum dance (danced by male and female Hawiians); [0:45] In a Little Hula Heaven (sung by Shirley Ross, Bing Crosby and Chorus, danced by Hawaiians); [0:52] Okolehao (sung and danced by Martha Raye); [1:04] Sweet Is the Word for You (sung by Bing Crosby); [1:11] Sweet Is the Word for You (sung by Shirley Ross); "May I Have the Next Dream with You?" [outtake]; "My Secret Song" [outtake]; "The Tropical" [outtake]; "I Have Eyes" [outtake]; "You're a Blessing to Me" [outtake]; "Live a Love-Dream" [outtake]; "What Aloha Means" [outtake]; "Maile Dance" [outtake]