Once more in the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood a major studio, Paramount, ventures forth into the South Seas. These films follow pretty much the same formula. A exotic tropical island, the adversary, in this case Pirates, romance and finally the concluding disaster. Where the attractive couple always survive and true love is fulfilled.
TYPHOON (1940) follows this formula with a few interesting variations. Pearls are the objective and to help get them Skipper Joe (Lynne Overman) has a pre-WWI Submarine at his disposal. He is assisted by shanghaied Johnny Potter (Robert Preston). They are pursued by Pirate Kehi (Chief Thundercloud) and threatened by mutinous Mekaike (J. Carroll Naish). Who manages to lose the Submarine, forgetting that you have to close the hatches before diving the boat.
All is not lost though, on their island is Dea (Dorothy Lamour) back in the Sarong again! Rehabilitating the perpetual drunk Johnny with the help of her Chimpanse companion and finding romance. The Pirates make a reappearance, but fortunately are dispatched by the TYPHOON arriving in the nick of time to wrap up the film. In a brisk seventy (70) minutes.
Lamour had first donned the Sarong in THE HURRICANE (1937) the best of these epics, Directed by John Ford. Lamour is always good to look at even in material like this. She was capable of more as in JOHNNY APOLLO (1940) and looked just as good in contemporary fashions. Filmed in TechniColor the ending disaster benefited from Paramounts SFX Wizard Gordon Jennings. Though lasting only about five (5) minutes it is impressive, though not the equal of THE HURRICANE. This is a light entertainment and should be enjoyed as such.
TYPHOON (1940) follows this formula with a few interesting variations. Pearls are the objective and to help get them Skipper Joe (Lynne Overman) has a pre-WWI Submarine at his disposal. He is assisted by shanghaied Johnny Potter (Robert Preston). They are pursued by Pirate Kehi (Chief Thundercloud) and threatened by mutinous Mekaike (J. Carroll Naish). Who manages to lose the Submarine, forgetting that you have to close the hatches before diving the boat.
All is not lost though, on their island is Dea (Dorothy Lamour) back in the Sarong again! Rehabilitating the perpetual drunk Johnny with the help of her Chimpanse companion and finding romance. The Pirates make a reappearance, but fortunately are dispatched by the TYPHOON arriving in the nick of time to wrap up the film. In a brisk seventy (70) minutes.
Lamour had first donned the Sarong in THE HURRICANE (1937) the best of these epics, Directed by John Ford. Lamour is always good to look at even in material like this. She was capable of more as in JOHNNY APOLLO (1940) and looked just as good in contemporary fashions. Filmed in TechniColor the ending disaster benefited from Paramounts SFX Wizard Gordon Jennings. Though lasting only about five (5) minutes it is impressive, though not the equal of THE HURRICANE. This is a light entertainment and should be enjoyed as such.