Naked Paradise

1957 film by Roger Corman

Naked Paradise

Directed by| Roger Corman
Written by| Charles B. Griffith
Mark Hanna
Produced by| Roger Corman
Starring| Beverly Garland
Richard Denning
Music by| Ronald Stein

Production
company

Sunset Productions[1]

Distributed by| American International Pictures

Release date

* January 1957 (1957-01)

Running time

| 68 min.
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $100,000[2]

Naked Paradise (sometimes credited as Thunder Over Hawaii) is a 1957 drama film directed by Roger Corman. It stars Richard Denning and Beverly Garland.

Corman later asked Charles B. Griffith, who worked on the script, to reuse his screenplay for Atlas (1960), Beast from Haunted Cave (1960) and Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961).[3]

## Plot

[edit]

Duke Bradley's boat is hired to sail a group to the Hawaiian Islands. His passengers include Zac Cotton, alcoholic girlfriend Max McKenzie and a pair of thugs, Mitch and Stony, who following a lūʻau, without Duke's knowledge, rob a plantation of its payroll.

The gang intends to continue on to another island in the South Pacific, but tempers flare after Max is struck by Zac, which causes Duke to quit, demanding payment. As he is about to set sail, Max asks to go with him, determined to change her life. A hurricane hits, however, forcing Duke to turn back. On arrival, he is beaten unconscious by Mitch and Stony while the woman is roughed up by Zac.

Zac intends to make off with Duke's schooner and takes a local girl, Lanai, as a hostage, shooting Stony, who objects to this. A fight ensues in which Duke triumphs after Zac is killed by the boat's propeller. Duke and Max sail away.

## Cast

[edit]

* Beverly Garland as Max
* Richard Denning as Duke
* Dick Miller as Mitch
* Jonathan Haze as Stony
* Leslie Bradley as Zac
* Lisa Montell as Lanai

## Production

[edit]

In early July 1956 it was announced Beverly Garland would star in Naked Paradise by R. Wright Campbell directed by Roger Corman. Garland had made several films for Corman, including Not of This Earth, It Conquered the World, and Gunslinger.[4] A few days later it was announced John Ireland, who had just made Gunslinger for Corman under a two-picture deal, would be Garland's costar. Filming was to begin on September 12.[5]

In August it was announced the film would star Lisa Montell, who had been in Shark Reef.[6] Ireland was still attached at this stage.[7] He was soon replaced by Richard Denning.

Robert Wright Campbell's script was rewritten by Charles B. Griffith.[3]

Filming started 2 September 1956.[8] The film was shot in two weeks on location in Hawaii, back-to-back with She Gods of Shark Reef.

Samuel Arkoff of AIP has a small role in the movie.[9] Arkoff later recalled:

> We went over to Hawaii — me, my two kids and my wife, Jim Nicholson with his wife and three kids. Roger told me to come over to where he was shooting, and he gave me this one line to read to Richard Denning: "It's been a good harvest, and the money is in the safe." Now that's a key line (laughs)! That was my first and last role; I've never been asked back into any of 'em since![10]

The Cocoa Palms Hotel received an on screen credit in exchange for housing the films stars at a reduced rate.[11]

Garland recalled "We filmed on the island of Kauai, stayed at the Coca Palms Hotel and had great accommodations. Roger really did this one up the right way. I don't know if it was because we were at this beautiful location and Roger simply felt like spending more, but it was one of the best locations ever, especially for a Roger Corman film." However it would be the last film Garland made for the director.[12]

## Release

[edit]

The film was initially released as a double feature with Flesh and the Spur[13] It was re-released in 1960 under the title Thunder over Hawaii.[14]

## Reception

[edit]

Variety found the film colorful, with interesting action and a well-knit story.

Monthly Film Bulletin found the picture beautifully shot but average in other facets.[15][16]

The Los Angeles Times said "some beautiful Hawaiian scenery, an excellent performance by Richard Denning... and a very believable characterisation by Beverly Garland make the picture quite tolerable."[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Sunset Rushing Into US Shortage Market". Variety. 13 June 1956. p. 23.
2. ^ Alan Frank, The Films of Alan Frank: Shooting My Way Out of Trouble, Bath Press, 1998 p 42
3. ^ a b Aaron W. Graham, 'Little Shop of Genres: An interview with Charles B. Griffith', Senses of Cinema, 15 April, 2005 accessed 25 June 2012
4. ^ Drama: 'Beyond Pass' Proposed as Unique Western; Big Brass Role for Pidgeon Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 2 July 1956: B9.
5. ^ FERRER TO DIRECT AND STAR IN FILM: New York Times 5 July 1956: 18.
6. ^ Drama: John Lund Heads Cast of 'Affair in Reno'; Film of Escadrille Scheduled Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 4 Aug 1956: B7.
7. ^ Ann Blyth Promoted to Play Helen Morgan Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 18 Aug 1956: B8.
8. ^ "Hollywood Production Pulse". Variety. 19 September 1956. p. 20.
9. ^ Roger Corman on Naked Paradise at Trailers From Hell.
10. ^ Weaver, Tom (March 1987). "The Philosophy of Exploitation". Fangoria. No. 62\. p. 59.
11. ^ Black (1996) The Films of Roger Corman, Batsford
12. ^ Weaver, Tom; Del Vechio, Cal (1986). "Queen of 50s Horror". Fangoria. No. 50\. p. 59.
13. ^ LearnAboutMoviePosters.com – Pressbook – Combo
Naked Paradise
Flesh and the Spur
14. ^ p.89 McGee, Mark Thomas Fast and Furious: The Story of American International Pictures McFarland 1984
15. ^ Frank,The Films of Roger Corman 1966
16. ^ NAKED PARADISE Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 24, Iss. 276, (Jan 1, 1957): 74.
17. ^ Variety of Violence Found in Double Bill G M W. Los Angeles Times 22 Mar 1957: A8.

## External links

[edit]

* Naked Paradise at IMDb
* Review of film at Variety

* v
* t
* e

Films by Charles B. Griffith

Director|

* Forbidden Island (1959)
* Eat My Dust! (1976)
* Up from the Depths (1979)
* Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype (1980)
* Smokey Bites the Dust (1981)
* Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II (1989)

Writer|

* It Conquered the World (1956)
* Gunslinger (1956)
* Not of This Earth (1956)
* Flesh and the Spur (1956)
* The Undead (1956)
* Teenage Doll (1956)
* Naked Paradise (1956)
* Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
* Rock All Night (1957)
* Ghost of the China Sea (1958)
* Beast from Haunted Cave (1958)
* Ski Troop Attack (1959)
* A Bucket of Blood (1959)
* The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
* Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961)
* Atlas (1962)
* The She Beast (1965)
* The Wild Angels (1966)
* Devil's Angels (1967)
* Death Race 2000 (1975)
* The Swinging Barmaids (1975)
* Not of This Earth (1988)
* A Bucket of Blood (1995)
* Not of This Earth (1995)

* v
* t
* e

Roger Corman

Filmography

Director|

* Five Guns West (1955)
* Apache Woman (1955)
* Day the World Ended (1955)
* The Beast with a Million Eyes (1955, uncredited)
* Swamp Women (1956)
* The Oklahoma Woman (1956)
* Gunslinger (1956)
* It Conquered the World (1956)
* Naked Paradise (1957)
* Carnival Rock (1957)
* Not of This Earth (1957)
* Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957)
* The Undead (1957)
* Rock All Night (1957)
* Teenage Doll (1957)
* Sorority Girl (1957)
* The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1957)
* I Mobster (1958)
* War of the Satellites (1958)
* Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
* Teenage Caveman (1958)
* She Gods of Shark Reef (1958)
* A Bucket of Blood (1959)
* The Wasp Woman (1959)
* Ski Troop Attack (1960)
* House of Usher (1960)
* The Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
* Last Woman on Earth (1960)
* Atlas (1961)
* Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961)
* The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
* The Premature Burial (1962)
* The Intruder (1962)
* Tales of Terror (1962)
* Tower of London (1962)
* The Young Racers (1963)
* The Raven (1963)
* The Terror (1963)
* The Haunted Palace (1963)
* X: The Man with the X-ray Eyes (1963)
* The Masque of the Red Death (1964)
* The Secret Invasion (1964)
* The Tomb of Ligeia (1964)
* The Wild Angels (1966)
* The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967)
* The Trip (1967)
* A Time for Killing (1967, uncredited)
* The Wild Racers (1968, uncredited)
* Target: Harry (1969)
* De Sade (1969, uncredited)
* Bloody Mama (1970)
* Gas-s-s-s (1970)
* Von Richthofen and Brown (1971)
* Frankenstein Unbound (1990)

Producer only|

* Monster from the Ocean Floor (1954)
* The Fast and the Furious (1954)
* Dementia 13 (1963)
* Devil's Angels (1967)
* Boxcar Bertha (1972)
* Unholy Rollers (1972)
* I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973)
* Cockfighter (1974)
* Big Bad Mama (1974)
* Capone (1975)
* Death Race 2000 (1975)
* Fighting Mad (1976)
* Eat My Dust! (1976)
* Thunder and Lightning (1977)
* Deathsport (1978)
* Avalanche (1978)
* Saint Jack (1979)
* Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979)
* Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)
* Smokey Bites the Dust (1981)
* Galaxy of Terror (1981)
* Forbidden World (1982)
* Space Raiders (1983)
* Love Letters (1984)
* Cocaine Wars (1985)
* Big Bad Mama II (1987)
* Munchies (1987)
* The Terror Within (1989)
* Two to Tango (1989)
* Bloodfist (1989)
* Lords of the Deep (1989)
* Time Trackers (1989)
* Overexposed (1990)
* Watchers II (1990)
* Immortal Sins (1991)
* Kill Zone (1993)
* Dracula Rising (1993)
* Hellfire (1995)
* Scene of the Crime (1996)
* Black Scorpion II (1997)
* A Very Unlucky Leprechaun (1998)
* Running Woman (1998)
* The Haunting of Hell House (1999)
* White Pony (1999)
* Enemy Action (1999)
* The Suicide Club (2000)
* Stray Bullet II (2000)
* Moving Target (2000)
* Aladdin and the Adventure of All Time (2000)
* Nightfall (2000)
* Raptor (2001)
* When Eagles Strike (2003)
* The Hunt for Eagle One (2006)
* The Hunt for Eagle One: Crash Point (2006)
* Saurian (2006)
* Cyclops (2008)
* Splatter (2009)
* Dinoshark (2010)
* Sharktopus (2010)
* Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012)
* Palace of the Damned (2013)
* Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda (2014)
* Fist of the Dragon (2014)
* Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf (2015)
* Death Race 2050 (2017)

Related|

* Julie Corman (wife)
* Gene Corman (brother)
* Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel
* Roger Corman Presents
* New World Pictures
* The Filmgroup
* New Concorde
* American International Pictures
* Millennium
* Concorde Anois
* New Hollywood

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