White Savage
White Savage is a 1943 American Technicolor South Seas adventure film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Sabu. The film was re-released by Realart in 1948 on a double-feature with the same three stars in Cobra Woman (1944) and again in 1953, under the title White Savage Woman. It was choreographed by Lester Horton.
| White Savage | |
|---|---|
Realart rerelease film poster | |
| Directed by | Arthur Lubin |
| Screenplay by | Richard Brooks |
| Story by | Peter Milne |
| Produced by | George Waggner |
| Starring | Maria Montez Jon Hall Sabu |
| Cinematography | William E. Snyder Lester White |
| Edited by | Russell F. Schoengarth |
| Music by | Frank Skinner |
Production company | Universal Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 76 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.4 million (US rentals)[1] |
Plot
Montez is the ruler of the tropical Temple Island. Thomas Gomez plays the villain, who schemes to marry her and get hold of the gold bars lining the submerged floor of the island's temple (about which the innocent islanders remain blissfully unconcerned). Jon Hall plays a heroic shark hunter who wins the day and the heart of the princess.
Cast
- Maria Montez as Princess Tahia
- Jon Hall as Kaloe
- Sabu as Orano
- Thomas Gomez as Sam Miller
- Sidney Toler as Wong
- Paul Guilfoyle as Erik
- Turhan Bey as Tamara
- Don Terry as Chris
- Constance Purdy as Blossom
- Al Kikume as Guard
- Frederic Brunn as Sully
- Anthony Warde as Clerk
Production
White Savage had been the original title for Montez's first starring vehicle, South of Tahiti (1941).[2]
Arabian Nights was so popular that Universal commissioned two follow-up movies to star Montez, Hall and Sabu – White Savage and Cobra Woman. Gene Lewis wrote the original script for White Savage.[3][4]
Montez's costumes in some scenes were considered to be too skimpy, requiring those scenes to be cut.[5]
Reception
Diabolique said "Not as well known as Montez's later camp classic Cobra Woman (1944) (to be fair, all her American films are camp classics), White Savage is actually a better movie – Montez and Hall seem to genuinely like each other (not always the case in their films), Richard Brooks’ script is clever and there's plenty of action and gorgeous photography."[6]
References
- ^ "Top Grossers of the Season", Variety, 5 January 1944 p 54
- ^ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Olivia de Havilland Gets Lead in 'The Male Animal,' Which is Set to Start Today SIX NEW FILMS DUE HERE ' Whistling in the Dark,' 'Dive Bomber' and 'Wild Geese Calling' to Arrive". New York Times. Aug 25, 1941. p. 18.
- ^ "Simon Simone Signed by RKO for Lead in 'The Cat People' -- Dekker Gets Part: 'ATLANTIC CONVOY' OPENS Action Drama Due Today at the Stanley -- Dance Program Enters Seventh Week SIGNED FOR LEAD". New York Times. July 4, 1942. p. 11.
- ^ "DRAMA: Ann 'Oomphs' to Piano; Exotic Trio to Sail On". Los Angeles Times. July 13, 1942. p. 8.
- ^ White Savage at Maria Montez Fan Page
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2019). "The Cinema of Arthur Lubin". Diabolique Magazine.
External links
- White Savage at the American Film Institute Catalog
- White Savage at IMDb
- White Savage at the TCM Movie Database
- Review of film at Variety