(US, 1966)
Original title: Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Filming date:
August - September 1965
Release date:
June 9, 1966
Running time:
91min
Production company:
Paramount Pictures
Budget:
US$ 2 million
Box office:
US$ 2,5 million
Main cast:
Elvis Presley
James Shigeta
Suzanna Leigh
Donna Butterworth
Irene Tsu
Julie Parrish
Irene Tsu
Julie Parrish
Soundtrack:
"Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (LP)
(June 10, 1966)
"Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (CD)
(FTD - July 2004)
(June 10, 1966)
"Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (CD)
(FTD - July 2004)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style is Elvis' twenty-first film. In it, his character finds himself in trouble when all his Hawaiian girlfriends decide to take revenge for his broken promises.
Hawaii had always been a refuge for Elvis in the early years of his career (he was there in 1957 and 1961, and had since returned on vacation), but by 1966 his film career was taking a turn that prevented the King of Rock and Roll from relaxing.
 |
| Elvis and his co-stars. Back, left to right: Julie Parrish, Suzanna Leigh and Marianna Hill Front, left to right: Irene Tsu, Donna Butterworth and Linda Wong |
This time, besides repeating the same old role (a conqueror who needs to correct a mistake to get the girl), Elvis would have to... Sing to dogs. And worst of all, do a maneuver with a helicopter that could only exist in a movie script.
 |
| Left to right: Coronel Parker, Hal Wallis, Vernon and Elvis during filming |
Elvis did enjoy the company and appreciation of the local people. Every day during filming, delegations of Hawaiian native chiefs came to visit the set and locations. To everyone's surprise, Elvis actually learned to play a few instruments for the final scenes of the film and got along very well with the native leaders.
Elvis' last film in Hawaii proved, even more than its predecessors, that a drastic change of direction was necessary if his film career was to be saved.
Apart from a brief idea of what the story was about, the script didn't help much and mostly featured Elvis singing or chasing - or searching for - women. The classic fight scene was also there.
The production did not do as well as Paramount had hoped. The production company was betting that "Paradise..." could achieve the same success as "Blue Hawaii" or at least come close to "Girls! Girls! Girls!", but in the end the return was minimal, only US$ 2,500,000 - a mere US$ 500 thousand profit - and the film only ranked forty-first in the box office in 1966.
SOUNDTRACK
Ten songs were recorded for the film between July 26 and August 4, 1965 at Radio Records studios in California. Only nine were used in the film, but all were included on the LP.
In 2004, FTD released their version of the album, including the best outtakes as bonus tracks.
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JAMES SHIGETA
SUPPORTING CAST
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 17, 1929, James Saburo Shigeta devoted his entire life to theater, music, film and television. With a degree in Drama, his agent took him to The Original Amateur Hour with Ted Mack, where he won the Best New Singer award.
During the Korean War, he was sent to Japan, where he signed a contract with Toho Studios and became known there as "the Japanese Frank Sinatra". In 1959, his film opportunity came in the United States, where he played Detective Joe Kojaku in "The Crimson Kimono". Paramount soon took an interest in Shigeta, casting him in successful series such as "Hawaii 5-0".
In 1998, he voiced General Li in "Mulan", a role that went on to become a household name. His last film work was in 2009. The actor passed away on July 28, 2014, at the age of 85, due to complications from a heart attack he suffered in 2012.
SUZANNA LEIGH
Born Sandra Eileen Anne Smith on July 26, 1945 in Berkshire, England, she began working in films as a preteen and adopted the stage name Suzanna Leigh in honor of her career godmother, Vivien Leigh.
Leigh's film roles included a flight attendant in the comedy "Boeing Boeing" (1965), with Jerry Lewis and Tony Curtis, Elvis Presley's love interest in "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" and the fragile heroine in "Lust For a Vampire" (1971).
Leigh is also a writer, having released her biography, entitled "Suzanna, Paradise Style", a self-help book, and "KING: Travels With Elvis", which details her friendship with the King of Rock. Suzanna had been arguing since 1977 that Elvis was murdered.
Leigh passed away on December 11, 2017, at the age of 72, due to liver cancer.
DONNA BUTTERWORTH
Born Donna Lee Butterworth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 23, 1956, Donna had a short career. She was discovered by Paramount Pictures while performing in Hawaii as a singer.
Her career can be summed up by two films, the first being "The Family Jewels" (1965), with Jerry Lewis, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe, and the second and last, "Paradise, Hawaiian Style". She also appeared in "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" in 1967.
Donna abandoned film and television to dedicate herself to music and had a prolific career in the industry in the 1970s. From the 1980s onwards, she would become a recluse and seeing her was, for fans, as rare and surprising as seeing Elvis himself.
The actress and singer passed away on March 6, 2018, at the age of 62, of unknown causes.
IRENE TSU
Of Chinese-American descent, Tsu was born in Shanghai on November 4, 1945. She trained in the arts and dance schools during her adolescence and made her film debut in 1961 in "Flower Drum Song", an adaptation of the 1958 Broadway play of the same name based on a Chinese novel by C. Y. Lee.
Her first speaking role was as a teenage prostitute in "Take Her, She's Mine", a 1963 comedy with James Stewart. The late 1960s marked Irene's career with commercials for Chevron, "Paradisde, Hawaiian Style" and a two-year romance with Frank Sinatra.
From 1978 to 1989 she ran her own company, IT Designs, which specialized in creating leisurewear. Since 1990 Irene has been a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker, a yoga instructor, and a devoted mother, having adopted her Chinese niece. The actress continues to act and is 78 years old (2024).
JULIE PARRISH
The eldest of her siblings, Ruby Joyce Wilbar was born in Middlesboro, Kentucky, on October 21, 1940. After winning the Teen Model of the Year award, she began using the stage name Julie Parrish when she signed a contract for two films with Jerry Lewis: "It's Only Money" (1962) and "The Nutty Professor" (1963).
Her film career lasted until 1981 with sporadic appearances as a supporting actress, with "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" being one of her last films. On TV, her credits include series such as "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza" and "Star Trek".
The actress passed away on October 1, 2003, at the age of 62, after a long battle with ovarian cancer.
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