Tikis in films

By the way, the aformentioned "Clambake" starring Elvis and the tikis is on tonight (8-16) on Turner Classic Movies (11:30 I believe) for those so inclined

I don't know if it's been mentioned, but a good 50s film called 'Pearl of the South Pacific' starring Virginia Mayo has several large tikis--they are even part of the plot because the tribal leader prays to them several times. Check it out.

(I just realized this thread is the place to post this...)

Has anyone noticed that the White Sphinx figure, as conceived for the 1960 movie, "The Time Machine", looks like a futuristic Tiki:

http://www.colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/Bob_Burns(1).htm

The year (1959-1960) was right for the Tiki boom to have influenced the art direction. The Eloi could be seen as an future incarnation of carefree South Seas people.

There were lot of quick tiki and polypop images in the old Peewee Herman show. My kids recently rented Volume 1 Disk 1. Peewee wins two tickets to the Hawaiian restaurant and has a luau party at his house instead because he can invite all his friends.

i watched the highly-unrecommended "six days, seven nights" last night ~ the irony of the overall flick was that the kickoff meeting of the main character and her supporting actor "boyfriend" prior to flying to a remote pacific island was in "gauguin," the restaurant that donald trump had installed to replace trader vic's new york.

also once the female lead lands at the main airport prior to her charter flight, she passes a large old-school tiki in the background. after that, the poly pop is pretty much of "fantasy island" genre.

[ Edited by: Johnny Dollar 2007-10-29 12:29 ]

ok so here is a good one......

Suffering Bastards
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098408/

friend lent it to me its only on VHS so I haven't grabbed shots from it yet but the opening scenes are in a tiki bar and they are drinking out of mugs throughout the movie......pretty damn funny movie cause its so bad

Another TV show, but a fantastic reference:

in the BBC production "Spooks" (aka "MI-5" in the US), the lead hunk Tom Quinn meets with his CIA babe-counterpart at the London aquarium in front of the submerged Moai tank (that also houses sharks) - a recurring location for this show.

The submerged Moais in a shark tank are an almost impossibly good match for the spy set, what with the archetypal avatar Moais implying reference to incomprehensible power embedded in large-scale mystery, the great significance of which is obvious from the enormous effort their creators must have taken to manufacture and place them where they stand, and yet it is impossible to decipher what they mean without the unavailable knowledge of an arcane culture; the Moais are further hidden from view below the water's surface, guarded by primally fearsome uber-predators...

The selection of this location for these scenes of spy-meets-spy is absolutely delicious: even though at least one layer of secrecy is pealed back (in the aquarium we see the Moais at face level, instead of hidden beneath the water surface), introduction of sharks highlights the importance of protecting secrets buried beneath layer upon layer of secrecy, hidden in the giant stones...

I like bad film just as much as the rest of the 'Ohana, but this series is really good - and available through Netflix®.
It's worth watching because it's a great series, but in addition, for my taste, it's worth watching the whole series just to get the full setup of this one scene.

My wife and I watched "The Nanny Diaries" and towards the end of the show you can hear Les Baxter. Really bad movie so don't waste your time on it. Unfortunately, Les Baxter is not on the soundtrack.

Some stills from My Blue Heaven (1950) with Betty Grable

Some Tikis

Some Tapa

Some Nazis?

No tikis per se, but please do watch the 1958 classic "Bell, Book and Candle" with Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak. You will be completely mesmerized by Kim Novak, her barefoot black outfits, her tribal art shop, her beatnik bongo-playing brother (Jack Lemmon) and Pyewacket. :)

I suggest the following cocktail while watching (no relation to the movie, but just a fantasic cocktail). The Pegu Club cocktail:

2 oz gin
3/4 oz orange curacao
3/4 oz lime juice
dash Angostura bitters
dash orange bitters

Shake well with cracked ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Magical...

[ Edited by: GatorRob 2008-03-02 17:10 ]

Oh, and when the movie is over, a little Don Ralke "Bongo Madness" would be the perfect complement.

David Warner enjoying a "Tahitian Tingle" in Steve Martin's, "The Man With Two Brains".

This thread is really long and I've only scanned through part of it, so this may be a repeat. I spotted a tiki bar about 45 minutes into "The Apartment" with Shirley MacLaine, Jack Lemmon, and Fred McMurray. It's the part when Maclaine and McMurray meet at what they refer to as a 'Chinese Restaurant' but is clearly decorated with all the trappings of a tiki bar: tiki poles, thatched huts, and fishing float lights.

Aw man! I keep passing up a mug in shop exactly like this one... now I'm gonna have to finally go buy it! Anybody got $2.50?

On 2008-03-09 05:49, Bongo Bungalow wrote:
Aw man! I keep passing up a mug in shop exactly like this one... now I'm gonna have to finally go buy it! Anybody got $2.50?

Those Paul Marshall-style wooden souvenir mugs are everywhere. I think they're even more ubiquitous than the Tiki Leilani.

Lon Chaney Jr. with tiki in The Devil's Messenger.

On Big Bros. last week. NO, I DO NOT WATCH IT!! Just flippin channels and saw an islandy looking room....

Looks like a Crazy Al to me.

"Voodoo Island" (1957), starring Boris Karloff and Elisha Cook Jr. Music by Les Baxter.

Yet another totem pole from the Pacific Northwest masquerading as a tiki.

Creepy voodoo dolls flanked by taciturn tikis.

I don't have pics, but IFC (Independant Films Channel) iconoclasts series, the Laird Hamilton/Eddie Vedder episode, Laird points to a couple large tikis in his yard & says "we've gotten some guardians".

A little tiki action here, Hawaiian style...new movie, 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall'. Looks pretty funny (maybe). Here's a link to the official trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9podUETps8&feature=related

Last night I watched the most gawdawful movie I've ever seen, "Tiki"...a slasher film featuring a miniature Coco Joe figurine that runs around jabbering in a high, squeaky voice and skinning dorm girls alive. Other than the fact that there's a tiki in it, this film has absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. The acting, camerawork, script, and special effects are all absolutely terrible. I'd rather be strapped into a chair and forced to watch an Ed Wood marathon for 24 hours straight than ever catch a glimpse of this turkey again. I feel unclean for having watched it, and will spend the rest of my life trying to get that hour and 22 minutes of my life back again.

Here's a couple of less gory screencaps:

On 2008-04-05 05:17, MrBaliHai wrote:
Last night I watched the most gawdawful movie I've ever seen, "Tiki"... I feel unclean for having watched it, and will spend the rest of my life trying to get that hour and 22 minutes of my life back again.

Sorry, I should have warned every one about that flick. I bought it over a year ago and still haven't fully recovered. Mrbalihai failed to mention that "Tiki" also features some of the most unwanted nudity ever featured (my eyes still burn from the one girl getting naked).

I was fortunate enough to unload this stinker on Amazon almost immediately after watching it. It's kind of like the video in "The Ring" (or "Ringu" for fans of Japanese cinema). You have to make someone else watch it or you die! You are warned MrBaliHai . . . pass it on before it takes your soul!

On 2008-04-05 10:46, MNZombie wrote:

Mrbalihai failed to mention that "Tiki" also features some of the most unwanted nudity ever featured (my eyes still burn from the one girl getting naked).

I didn't "fail" to mention it, I "thoughtfully avoided" mentioning it...:wink: But since you brought the subject up, there's also a camwhore lesbian scene that's pretty awful as well. Bad horror, bad softcore pr0n, this film ain't got anything at all.

I would rather let the curse die with me than subject anyone else to it.

I am watching Disney's "Lt. Robin Crusoe USN" and am finding it MOST enjoyable for many reasons. I actually saw this a long long time ago at a drive-in and only remembered images...but this is a great, fun movie.

Not sure how many folks watch "FOX & Friends" on Sat & Sun mornings but they have this graphics intro with iconic images from throught the USA and one of the first ones you see is a big Tiki. Maybe Ruppert M. is a closet tikiphile?

I'm guessing that this may have been mentioned, and probably goes without say, but Season 2 of Hawaii Five-O has an episode called "Kamehameha Blues" which has amazing TIKI closeups in the Bishop Museum...Tikis EVERYWHERE in that one.

Kinda to be expected for Five-O, but the TIPSY factor was particularly high in that one.

I know the movie CASINO was mentioned in this thread about a year ago. I was watching it last night and noticed the 'muffin meltdown' scene occurred at the Aku Aku.

Although mentioned earlier starting this week is the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and if we are to believe the still has the Jason Segel in a clothing optional tiki bar. Watch out for those hot buttered rums.

[ Edited by: naugatiki 2008-04-17 14:59 ]

:o :o :o

Doesn't he know you're supposed to always sit on a towel when in a clothing option place.

Eeeewwwwww........

On 2008-04-17 14:57, naugatiki wrote:
Although mentioned earlier starting this week is the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and if we are to believe the still has the Jason Segel in a clothing optional tiki bar. Watch out for those hot buttered rums.

[ Edited by: naugatiki 2008-04-17 14:59 ]

Here's a screencap from Elvis Presley's "Paradise, Hawaiian Style". This was the only tiki I spotted in the whole film. Considering what utter crap this movie was, I felt cheated.

I'm sure everyone has seen the latest Backyardigans featuring Tiki Beach!

Oh, BTW Janet, I'm glad you understand the proper clothing optional hygiene thing. Does beg the question a bit though.....

Anyway. I looked it up:

Any clothing optional or nude facility may have their own rules, but generally the following guidelines will be appropriate.

• Always keep a towel handy and put it over any furniture you sit on. (Good hygiene)
• Don't stare or "gawk" at other people who are nude.
• Refrain from any crude or lewd remarks about another persons body or appearance.
• No photography. Save your picture taking for when nobody else is around and/or ask permission if anyone else is going to be included in your photographs or videos.
• Observe the "rules of the house". If a facility designates that clothing must be worn in certain areas, or at certain times - please comply.

[ Edited by: Bohemiann 2008-04-22 05:52 ]

[ Edited by: Bohemiann 2008-04-22 05:57 ]

I just watched "Alpha Dog" last night. A somewhat depressing movie based on a true story murder that occurred in my hometown of Santa Barbara in 2000. The movie uses Palm Springs as the setting for the crime rather than Santa Barbara, as the movie was shot while the trial was still going on.

The movie has a party scene filmed at the Caliente Tropics Hotel in Palm Springs. It includes some great shots of an interior suite room and a night-time skinny dipping scene at the pool with the Tikis all lit up. The Tropics party scene lasts for about 10 minutes and shows quite a bit of the interior and exterior of the hotel grounds.

On 2008-04-21 18:43, MrBaliHai wrote:
Here's a screencap from Elvis Presley's "Paradise, Hawaiian Style". This was the only tiki I spotted in the whole film. Considering what utter crap this movie was, I felt cheated.

Mr.BaliHai,

What'ya mean no Tikis in "Paradise, Hawaiian Style"? Here is a promo picture from the movie which was taken at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Lots of Tikis, Hula Girls, Waterfalls, and of course Elvis!

On 2008-04-25 16:45, Dustycajun wrote:
What'ya mean no Tikis in "Paradise, Hawaiian Style"? Here is a promo picture from the movie which was taken at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Lots of Tikis, Hula Girls, Waterfalls, and of course Elvis!

Unfortunately, those tikis didn't make it into the final cut of the film.

I'm crushing your disco Tiki head!

On 2005-06-10 22:27, Monkeyman wrote:
Peter Sellers, A SHOT IN THE DARK (Pink Panther Film). Inspector Closeau spents a night out with Maria Gambrelli and takes here to a number of restaurants one of which was a hawaiian/polynesian tiki styled establishment. The killer tries to assasinate closeau with a blow dart

Shot in the Dark was on tonight.

Ship Ahoy (1942). A musical...intro big band scene has tiki screens and a big tiki in the background.

Plot = Miss Winters is a dancer with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and is asked to secretly transport a prototype magnetic mine to Puerto Rico.

Here it is again, a 6 strand full pretzel frankl & a tiki bob... damn.... Life doesn't get too much better...

Matthew Broderick "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"

Mission: Impossible Double Dead, season 6, 1972.

In the very beginning Jim goes into the Beachcomber Gift Shop and there is a tiki behind him as he listens to the tape that self destructs in five seconds.

The bad guy's pad has two Witco barstools, golden tiki lamp and what looks to be a couple tikis. There is also a bar scene with a hula girl and tikis in the bar.

Not a Tiki but a large village idol.
They were zooming in quickly on the couple
so I did not get a clear shot.

The origin or an homage to the coconut monkey?

From the movie "Hell Ship Mutiny"

Scenes from the climactic tiki-bar brawl in the Patrick Dempsey "comedy", Loverboy. Set in "Tiki Joe's", which in reality was the Marina Del Rey Don the Beachcomber's:

Anyone care for a frosty beverage?

Aaah, it's nice to be re-united with my archive again:

Jeff Berry was lucky enough to score one of these full size Peles in the early days of Oceanic Arts being rediscovered.

On 2008-06-29 09:28, bigbrotiki wrote:
Jeff Berry was lucky enough to score one of these full size Peles in the early days of Oceanic Arts being rediscovered.

Sigh. One of these days, I really have to build an automatic ass-kicker to punish myself for not walking into OA once during the 6 years in the 1970s, when I lived a mile away from it.

Weblog: Eye of the Goof

[ Edited by: MrBaliHai 2008-06-29 09:45 ]

Just like me with the Hollywood Don The Beachcomber in the early 80s, just down the hill from me. But, ask yourself, would you have cared about that stuff, in the 70s, or just shrugged it off?

I would have thought it was pretty cool, but since I was a Jesus Freak back then, I also would've felt obligated to consider it the WORK OF SATAN!

[i]On 2008-06-29 09:45, MrBaliHai wroteSigh. One of these days, I really have to build an automatic ass-kicker to punish myself for not walking into OA once during the 6 years in the 1970s, when I lived a mile away from it.

Don't feel bad I grew up my entire life less than an hour from the Kahiki but never made it there.

It is these experiences of unfulfilled opportunities and irrevocable loss that unite us in our obsession, brethren!

On 2008-06-29 17:18, bigbrotiki wrote:
It is these experiences of unfulfilled opportunities and irrevocable loss that unite us in our obsession, brethren!

Well said, Brother Sven.