Südseezauber (1958)

Südseezauber: Directed by Carl Dudley, Richard Goldstone, Francis D. Lyon, Walter Thompson, Basil Wrangell. With Diane Beardmore, Marlene Lizzio, Tommy Zahn, Igor Allan. The fifth in a series of Cinerama travelogues—and not a Documentary since the vast majority of the film, aside from the scenery, is comprised of fictional stories. The first one involves an American girl, on a cruise to Hawaii, who makes friends with another American girl who lives in Hawaii. The first girl meets the second girl’s family, and the Hawaiian-girl’s brother takes an interest in her. The second segment follows the skipper of a sailing vessel taking the route followed by Captain Cook; the next concerns an artist who paints the sights of Tahiti; An American ex-G.I, stationed in New Zealand during World Warr II, returns for a real visit; and the finale is about a group of settlers arriving in the Australian out-back, and the value of the two-way radio.The 120-minute running time includes a 15-minute intermission, as part of the listed running-time.

“Thing is, you are amazed by the special effects of Cinerama, yes yes, but is it worth viewing it without them?? No; without the effects it contains nothing of its original values but some boring travelogue… and that, my friends, is sad.”