South of Pago Pago

In 1875 a group of adventurers meet in Singapore to look for pearls in the Pacific Islands: ship's Captain Bucko Larson, his First Mate Williams, Peg Legged Foster and bar girl and adventuress Ruby Taylor. They are guided by a Portuguese sailor Manuel Ferro who knows of virgin pearl beds off the island of Manoa, "south of Pago Pago". They arrive at the island; however, when Ferro wants more than his agreed third of a share, Bucko throws him over the side to his doom.

Passing out gifts, the amiable Bucko recruits the native divers to obtain pearls. When there are not many suitable pearls in the shallow waters, Bucko directs the divers to dangerous waters that cause death and severe injuries through decompression sickness. He has initial success in getting them to continue their diving by providing them with more gifts and alcoholic beverages, but Kehane, the chief's son, places a taboo on any more deep water diving.

Aware Kehane desires Ruby, Bucko manipulates her into marrying Kehane. After they leave the island on their honeymoon Bucko, hellbent on greater profit, forces the divers at gun point into more dangerous work. Ruby genuinely falls for Kehane and has a crisis of conscience.

File:Jon Hall and Frances Farmer in 'South of Pago Pago'.png

{{castlist|

• Victor McLaglen as Bucko Larson
• Jon Hall as Kehane
• Frances Farmer as Ruby Taylor
• Olympe Bradna as Malia
• Gene Lockhart as Lindsay
• Douglas Dumbrille as Williams
• Francis Ford as Peg Legged Foster
• Ben Welden as Grimes
• Abner Biberman as Ferro
• Pedro de Cordoba as Chief
• Rudy Robles as Luna
• Bobby Stone as Hono (as Robert Stone)
• Nellie Duran as Laulau
• James Flavin as Cafe Customer
• Nina Campana as Hono's Mother (as Nina Compana)
• James B. Leong as Waiter
• Harry Woods as Black Mike Rafferty
• Satini Pualoa as Native Diver
• Ray Mala as Native Diver
• Robert Willey as Native Diver (as Bob Willey)
• Julie Carter as Native Girl
• Lola Vanti as Native Girl
• Al Kikume as High Priest

}}

Producer Edward Small announced the project in 1938 with the stars to be Jon Hall and Sigrid Gurie, both of whom would be borrowed from Sam Goldwyn.{{Cite news|title="Frawley Awarded New Paramount Contract: Rita Johnson Assigned Small Debates Plans Brown to Meet Corrigan Korda Seeks Arlen" Scheuer, Philip K.|work=Los Angeles Times|date=Aug 3, 1938|page=8}} Small had a deal with United Artists. Howard Emmett Rogers was working on the script.{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|work=New York Times |date=Aug 2, 1938|page=15}} In August 1938 Small sent a unit under John Burch to film in second unit footage in American Samoa.{{Cite news|title=Unique Army Ready to 'Fight' in Hollywood|date=Aug 23, 1938|work=Los Angeles Times|page=8}}

In March 1939 Small announced the film as part of his $5 million seven-film program for 1939–40. (The other movies would be Kit Carson, Two Years Before the Mast, Valentino, Quantrill, My Son, My Son and Food of the Gods. Small would end up only making a few of these.){{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Three Pictures Announced by Small Productions|work=New York Times |date=Mar 28, 1939|page=20}} For a time it seemed Clayton Moore might be cast instead of Hall.{{Cite news|author=Louella O. Parsons|title=Close-Ups and Long-Shots Of the Motion Picture Scene|work=The Washington Post|date=Aug 30, 1939|page=6}} Filming was to begin on 1 September 1939.{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|date=Aug 3, 1939|work=New York Times|page=21}} Tom Neal and Diane Lewis joined the cast.{{Cite news|title=JIMMIE FIELDER IN HOLLYWOOD|date=Aug 28, 1939|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A14}} Filming was pushed back to 15 September so Small could borrow director Charles Vidor from Columbia.{{Cite news|title=DRAMA: Golden Boy Hits Trail Anew as Raft Brother 'Roz' May 'Willow Walk' Leigh Story Huddle On 'Pago Pago' Director 'Disraeli' Comes to Life Rush Trips in Evidence|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times|date=Aug 28, 1939|page=A14}}

Eventually Small decided to put Vidor on My Son, My Son instead, feeling he was better suited to that.{{Cite news|title=DRAMA: Dramatic Subject to Star McLaglen, Cooper|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Sep 10, 1939|work=Los Angeles Times|page=X3}}

In February 1940 Victor McLaglen was signed to costar alongside Clayton Moore and Alfred Werker was signed to direct.{{Cite news|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN: George Brent Gets Lead Opposite Merle Oberon in 'House on the Hill'--'Pinocchio' Opens Tonight Laraine Day Gets Role Of Local Origin|author=DOUGLAS W. CHURCHILL|date=Feb 10, 1940|work=New York Times|page=22}} Moore did not appear in the final film. Small borrowed Frances Farmer to play the female lead; Farmer had been fighting with Paramount over roles and it was reported that this would be her last film under her Paramount contract.{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|work=New York Times|date=Feb 29, 1940|page=15}}

Rita Hayworth was discussed for the role of the lead native girl.{{Cite news|title=R.K.O. Uses News Story as Basis for Picture: Comedienne in Air Film Miss Campbell Assigned Fields Book Due Soon Donat's Return Seen Lessey to Play Lawyer|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Mar 5, 1940|work=Los Angeles Times|page=12}} Olympe Bradne ended up playing it.

Filming eventually began 26 March 1940. Locations included Balboa Island, Newport Beach with underwater scenes shot at Santa Catalina.{{Cite news|title='Scattergood Baines' Series to Be Filmed|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=May 9, 1940|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A10}}{{Cite news|title=Hedda Hopper's HOLLYWOOD|date=Apr 12, 1940|work=Los Angeles Times|page=A11}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131940556 |title=South Seas. |newspaper=The News |location=Adelaide |date=14 November 1940 |access-date=18 December 2013 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{Cite news|title=CAMERAS ON THE HALF SHELLZwork=New York Times|date=July 14, 1940|page=104}} On 3 April it was reported that Werker had "retired as director" after an "argument over the script."{{Cite news|title=NEWS OF THE SCREEN|date=Apr 4, 1940|work=New York Times|page=31}} He was replaced by Alfred E. Green. Green had directed Farmer in her last film, Ride a Crooked Mile and described her as a "different girl" on this one.{{Cite news|title=TOWN CALLED HOLLYWOOD: Town Called Hollywood|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|date=Apr 28, 1940|work=Los Angeles Times|page=C3}}

After completion of the film, Hall immediately went into Kit Carson for Small.{{Cite news|title=Looking at Hollywood: Jon Hall, a Forgotten Hero|date=July 7, 1940|work=Chicago Daily Tribune|page=d3}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmiink|title=The Campy, Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall|first=Stephen|last= Vagg|date=April 9, 2022|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/the-campy-yet-surprisingly-interesting-cinema-of-jon-hall/}}

Reviews were poor.{{Cite news|title=THE SCREEN: 'Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) Meets Debutante' at Capitol--New Films at Music Hall and Palace At the Music Hall At the Palace |author=BOSLEY CROWTHER|date=Aug 2, 1940|work=New York Times|page=12}} Theodore Strauss of The New York Times listed it as among the worst films of the year.{{Cite news|title=A FEW HUSKS FROM A FIELD OF CORN: Condensed Roll-Call of The Worst Offerings of The Passing Year|author=THEODORE STRAUSS.|date=Dec 29, 1940|work=New York Times|page=X5}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0033082}}
• {{TCMDb title|90949}}

{{Edward Small}}

{{Alfred E. Green}}

Category:1940 films

Category:1940s historical adventure films

Category:United Artists films

Category:American black-and-white films

Category:Films set in Oceania

Category:Films directed by Alfred E. Green

Category:Films produced by Edward Small

Category:Films set in 1875

Category:American historical adventure films

Category:Films scored by Edward Ward (composer)

Category:1940s English-language films

Category:1940s American films

Category:English-language historical adventure films