Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

The Hawaiians Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 22, 2016

Even considering the “kinder, gentler” era in which it appeared, the fact that The Hawaiians, a putative sequel to 1966’s Hawaii, came out almost four years after its progenitor may not have been the smartest marketing move in motion picture history. Hawaii, most likely riding the wave (sorry) Julie Andrews had created with Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, became one of the biggest hits of the 1966-67 film year as well as a certain critical success, ultimately winning two Golden Globes (for Jocelyn LaGarde’s wonderful portrayal of Malama Kanakoa and for Elmer Bernstein’s sweeping score) and seven Academy Award nominations (with no wins). That said, Hawaii was never the earth shattering, zeitgeist capturing film that at least some other historical epics of that era had been, and by the time 1970 rolled around, few probably remembered it very well. That may be at least one reason why The Hawaiians never achieved much impact at the time of its release, though it’s not the only reason. This follow-up is obviously gorgeously scenic and as well intended in a kind of uppity moral (meaning politically correct) way as the first film was, but it never really works up the emotional heft that the Julie Andrews — Max von Sydow film does. Taking place a couple of generations after the events depicted in Hawaii, The Hawaiians will probably have more resonance for folks who recognize names like Hale and Hoxworth, but the film manages to function well enough as a standalone entry, even if it ends up playing like a tired retread at various points.

The fact that James Michener’s original source novel of Hawaii dealt in huge geological time spans may indicate one reason why the 1966 film was based largely on just part of one chapter of the book. While The Hawaiians broadens that scope perhaps just a little, there’s a somewhat odd feeling running through the film that introductions have been left by the wayside, with a kind of understanding that the audience is either going to know something about at least some fhe characters going in, or at least will be able to quickly figure out what’s going on. Whip Hoxworth (Charlton Heston) is the black sheep grandson of Hawaii’s strapping Rafer Hoxworth (Richard Harris), who, in the film’s alarming first scene, is shown bringing a passel of Chinese indentured servants to the islands. Those include Mun Ki (Mako) and Nyuk Tsin (Tina Chen), who come to work for Hoxworth and whom Hoxworth more or less forces into a marriage. Hoxworth’s return delivers the news that Rafer has died and left his considerable estate not to Whip, but to Micah Hale (Alec McGowan). It’s here that those with an acquaintance with the first film’s dynamics between the Hales and Rafer Hoxworth will probably have a bit of a subtextual leg up on proceedings.

It’s difficult to peg exactly why The Hawaiians never creates much emotional connection, for many of the elements which informed Hawaii are still present here. The developing culture of the islands as more and more non-natives move in is depicted in a reasonably engaging way, and when Whip ultimately strikes out on his own to create a pineapple plantation, there’s some interesting and focused historical (or at least quasi-historical) information imparted. But the relationship between Whip and his native wife Purity (Geraldine Chaplin) certainly never approaches the depths displayed between Abner (Max Von Sydow) and Jerusha Hale (Julie Andrews) in the first film, and in fact some of the melodramatic flourishes for Purity seem overwrought while being simultaneously ill defined.

Somewhat weirdly, the real emotional content here tends to be more focused on the supporting characters of Mun Ki and Nyuk Tsin, who for reasons which will not be detailed here soon becomes known as Wu Chow’s Auntie. There’s almost an analog to certain plot points in Pearl Buck’s immortal The Good Earth, with a more or less “arranged” marriage ultimately paying off with true devotion and, yes, maybe even love. Chen and Mako are superb in these roles, and there is some viscerally compelling content here as the two move through large swaths of time, especially when Mun Ki is diagnosed with leprosy.

The film’s third act does finally start to pay some decent emotional dividends, though a probably overly “spectacular” climax and a too jokey final moment between Whip and Nyuk Tsin undercut the obvious attempts to tug at the heartstrings. The Hawaiians is often incredibly scenic, but its dramatic sensibilities are just as often lost at sea.

The Hawaiians Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Hawaiians is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. The video quality of Twilight Time's release of Hawaii was at least a bit of a disappointment (and some would probably argue more than just a bit), and the good news is that The Hawaiians is generally a more impressive looking transfer, albeit one that shows some signs of age, with a just slightly brown looking palette at times. That said, blue skies pop quite convincingly and some of the lush green fields also resonate with decent accuracy. The film employs a number of beautiful wide shots which offer excellent depth of field. Conversely, close-ups offer excellent detail in textures of costumes and sets. While contrast is consistent, a lot of the film looks a bit too dark. Occasional sequences, notably those I assume were second unit location work, look relatively soft when compared to the bulk of the presentation (see screenshot 3 for one example). Grain resolves naturally. Elements are in generally very good to excellent condition.

The Hawaiians Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Hawaiians' lossless DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track is problem free and provides an excellent rendering of the film's dialogue, score and effects. Those who read my Hawaii Blu-ray review probably figured out that I am a huge fan of Elmer Bernstein's score for that film, and as enjoyable as Henry Mancini's work on this film is, it simply doesn't have the shimmering beauty that Bernstein's did. That said, its rendering here, both on the actual soundtrack and the isolated score track, is flawless.

The Hawaiians Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 3:18) looks slightly anamorphically stretched to me.


• MGM 90th Anniversary Trailer (1080p; 2:06)


• Isolated Score Track is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.

The Hawaiians Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Hawaiians is big, occasionally noisy, and almost always scenic, but it never develops any real emotional connection with the audience, at least with regard to its main character Whip. Instead, the real interest here tends to be the supposed supporting story of the "odd couple" of Mun Ki and Nyuk Tsin. Director Tom Gries keeps things moving well enough, even if his (or cinematographers Lucien Ballard and Philip Lathrop's) use of zoom lenses gets annoying after a while. Those who loved Hawaii will probably find enough interest in this follow-up to warrant a look, while others may want to devote some serious reading time to Michener's original novel. Technical merits are generally strong for those considering a purchase.