South Sea Sinner

South Sea Sinner
Theatrical release poster
Directed byH. Bruce Humberstone
Written byJoel Malone
adaptation
Screenplay byJoel Malone
Oscar Brodney
Story byLadislas Fodor
László Vadnay
(as Laszlo Vadnay)
Produced byMichael Kraike
(as Michel Kraike)
StarringMacdonald Carey
Shelley Winters
CinematographyMaury Gertsman
Edited byTed J. Kent
Music byWalter Scharf
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • August 30, 1950 (1950-08-30) (United States)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

South Sea Sinner is a 1950 American adventure film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Macdonald Carey and Shelley Winters. It is a remake of Seven Sinners (1940). Liberace has a small role.[1]

Plot

A cafe owner on a South Sea island plays a dangerous game of blackmail with a fugitive from justice.

Cast

Production

South Sea Sinner was known as East of Java during filming. Helena Carter replaced Dorothy Hart.[2] Star Macdonald Carey was borrowed from Paramount.

Filming took place in July 1949. Winters was accused of having a number of temperamental outbursts on set including a clash with Helena Carter.[3] Winters admitted to being "nervous and tired" after making three films in five months and was "unused" to Humbersome's "close direction during song and dance scenes."[4] She said she had to perform "a suggestive dance" when some exhibitors and their families visit the set and she was upset when an eight-year-old boy filmed her; she asked that he be removed to where she couldn't see him.[5]

Reception

The New York Times called it a "ridiculously romance-soggy film which has about as much South Seas flavour as a roadside papaya bar."[6]

Filmink called it "an okay film, not as good as the one it was remaking... most notable for giving a small role to Liberace. Winters gets all the sympathy here... but it is nice to see several scenes where Carter and Winters are friendly to each other...Carter doesn’t seem particularly enthusiastic in this one."[7]

References

  1. ^ Bosley Crowther. "'South Sea Sinner' Arrives at the Criterion--'Red Light' Comes to the Globe". The New York Times, January 16, 1950.
  2. ^ THOMAS F BRADY (Jul 1, 1949). "JANET LEIGH GETS 2 RKO FILM LEADS". New York Times. ProQuest 105964331.
  3. ^ HEDDA HOPPER (Jul 26, 1949). Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165977394. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ HEDDA HOPPER (26 July 1949). "Walker Will Costar With Singer Grayson". Los Angeles Times. p. 14.
  5. ^ Scheuer, P. K. (Nov 13, 1949). "SHELLEY WINTERS MAY DO JEAN HARLOW'S LIFE". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166060791.
  6. ^ BOSLEY CROWTHER (Jan 16, 1950). "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW: 'South Sea Sinner' Arrives at the Criterion". New York Times. p. 18.
  7. ^ Vagg, Stephen (February 14, 2020). "Helena Carter: An Appreciation". Filmink.


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