What is the quintessential tiki movie?

That is a desire I must resist everyday :)
or I shall end up like Mr."My brain hurts!" Gumby from Monty Python...

George Pal's (Yes, THAT George Pal) Puppetoon "Hoola Boola" (1941).

Enjoy. :drink:

BEAR! I never saw that one before, Thanks
here is an older Puppetoon featuring "Peggy Lee"
no folks that's not a Tiki just a "Native American Totem"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUFuxYj9xAU

I'm glad you liked it, Lance.

I've been meaning to share that in the Tiki Films thread for a number of months now. It has some elements that would become elements of Tiki, stylized tiki idols and a blending of Oceanic cultures from Polynesia to PNG. Pal was Tiki before Tiki was even Tiki.

The cannibal dance sequence from "Hoola Boola" was trimmed and made another appearance in the end half of "The Little Broadcast" (1943) as a production number on a theater stage that it couldn't possibly have fit on, similar to big budget Hollywood musicals. :lol: I'm sure it was done for the sake of economy measures, it being wartime and all.

Pal also made a previous Puppetoon with a Polynesian theme in 1938 called "South Sea Sweethearts" of which I have only seen tiny low-res screen captures or a portion of the footage that has been dubbed over in this music video. :(

There is also a Pal Studios made promotional ad for Peter Paul Mounds candy bars called "Sweet Pacific" that has a South Seas theme.

That's great! There's a tiki mug somewhere in that cannibal's cooking pot! Thanks for sharing!!!

Thank you Bruddah Bear! I've never seen any of that stuff and it's great!

On 2013-06-05 20:53, Bay Park Buzzy wrote:
Before John-O names off a bunch of 1940's crap we'll never get around to watching, I cast my vote for:

Bikini A Go Go!

great film bay park buzzy. best viewed with the 'hooter horn' on so you know when not to miss the action.

side note: this film was also known as curse of the erotic tiki and features the ultra-flaming hot 90s goddess nikki fritz as a dominatrix and jay richardson as the scientist who keeps popping up to tell you how the film affects your health.

Very nice sleuthing, BB ! Aaah, the wonders of U-tube!

Some suggestions from the past...
TikiCentral: Best Tiki Movies

No true tiki figures in either of these but tiki fantasy element is very present
YouTube: Pagan Island trailer

YouTube: She Gods of Shark Reef

Well, tiki fantasy from a straight male point of view

On 2013-06-20 15:36, Bruddah Bear wrote:

George Pal's (Yes, THAT George Pal) Puppetoon "Hoola Boola" (1941).

Enjoy. :drink:

1941 !! ?? Those whimsical inauthentic depictions of Tikis pre-date both Tiki Bob and the Enchanted Tiki Room by 15+ years.

This is a significant discovery, yes ??

Welllll....they ARE really cool, and ahead of their time. But the genre of a puppet movie kind of makes it unlikely that the primitive idols portrayed in it are rendered in any other style than cartoony. :)

Very true, puppetoons were intentually humorous entertainment, even when tinged with political commentary as in "Tulips Shall Grow" (1943). Those "whimsical inauthentic depictions of tikis" are designed that way for comic porpoises.

The tikis in "Hoola Boola," and the way the island cultures were portrayed, mirrors what the live action film industry had beeen doing for decades. Making stuff up, be it the physical set dressing, props, costumes, language, or the portrayal of the cultures customs and behaviors. A real artifact, design, words, clothing, or real life activities may occasionally find their way into some films, but mostly these things were just used as inspiration for the phony culture being presented. As Sven has oft times pointed out, this was the foundation upon which Tiki was built.

A good contemporary to "Hoola Boola" example is "Pardon My Sarong" (1942). Fake native culture complete with stylized idols and various other items that are great examples of cross cultural tiki confusion.

Native weapons and shields, skulls upon a stone altar with what looks like a stylized depiction of a Rapa Nui birdman head perched atop a moai style body with hands on belly.

Lou Costello climbing the path up a volcano to the temple with stone face, past a column of rock with various other stone faces, some appearing Asian, others similar to moai. I feel the inspiration was such places as Ta Prohm.

Inside the temple Costello is chased by the villain's henchmen up a stone altar reminicent of a Mesoamerican pyramid, complete with carved stone faces, what look like a cross between Mayan hieroglyphs and tapa designs, a large predatory cat head (yeah I know, but Hollywood has always had wild animals that don't belong where the movie takes place, be it tigers in Africa, or penguins in the Arctic), plus more shields, weapons, and clothing that look more African than Oceanic.

A closer shot of Lou scrambbling up the side of the pyramid and a better look at the face on the side and the carved designs.

Lou eventually runs/jumps out a side doorway into thin air past another stone face that, although the features could appear Polynesian with a different headdress, etc., it leans more toward Mesoamerican in this shot (don't worry, Lou luckily lands in the dead tree protruding from the cliff face).

Mayan stone bas relief carving and Olmec heads.

Another contemporary example of borrowing from different cultures, blending things together and wholesale fabrication of native life is the wedding feast sequence in "Road to Singapore" (1940). No tiki idols, but hula is borrowed from, plus Hope and Crosby utilize gibberish when conversing with each other AND the natives.

Thankfully, unlike the makers of "Road to Singapore" and "Pardon My Sarong," Pal kept the style close enough that we can see the idols in "Hoola Boola" were inspired by Oceanic cultures. Very similar to what would eventually become the practice of Tiki artists, designers and decorators, but the tikis in "Hoola Boola" were styled as they were for comedic effect, not to fabricate an imaginary idylic paradise to escape to.

Yep, compared to the wild melange of native art in South Seas movies, late 50s/early 60s Tiki bars and were positively scholarly places of research and knowledge regarding Polynesian art.

I like the idea of playing "I.D. the Idol" in Hollywood film sets, let's do it with Hoola Boola!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NGkqurBq9o

On 2013-06-22 22:49, Bruddah Bear wrote:
Pal kept the style close enough that we can see the idols in "Hoola Boola" were inspired by Oceanic cultures.

Well, he certainly had a knack for "primitive art", and the main Idol...

...could be seen as derived from a Solomon Islands canoe prow head:

...which is indeed part of the Oceanic art genre.

But the horns of the idol are more of an African feature:

...and the multiple hands/ arms are more often found in Hindu or Balinese art:

So we must concede that two of three features of this fantasy idol are NOT of Oceanic origin:

This is certainly also true for the other big idol:

...which reminds me more of an African Fang reliquary figure:

The three idols in the middle of the ceremonial plaza are perhaps the most Tiki-like:

...but only because they are so basic in their design. I actually feel hard-pressed to come up with a Polynesian likeness. Perhaps someone can find some Papua New Guinea look-alikes for them? They are more Tiki Modern (i.e. akin to the stylization found by the moderns in primitive art), and in that simplicity not too far from some authentic African masks like this Eastern Nigerian Ijaw water spirit mask either:

Last not least, the jumping witch doctor in the piece:

...is clearly base on a Duk Duk, or more precisely a Vanuatu ceremonial mask:

...which is Oceanic again :)

Perhaps the title of the film says it best:

While "Hoola" is most likely based on the Hawaiian "Hula", the word "Boola" sounds more African to me
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Cole_(composer)

It is an example of the simplified native gibberish that American pop culture produced for amusement and entertainment:

Hollywood movies took place in the vague territory of the "South Seas", which not only included Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia, but also Indonesia and the Philippines, and their art directors, prop makers and costumers borrowed from all these cultures.

...this was still the South Seas!

And how did African art like in Hoola Boola get into the mix? My theory is that, in addition to the much mentioned affinity of artists to ALL primitive art at the time, the less Caucasian-looking natives of Melanesia and their art had a closer likeness to African tribes, and so the geographic borders fell, and cultural authenticity was left behind for dramatic effect.

But American Tiki temples were created at a time when the popularity of Polynesian culture, aided by Hawaii and Kon-Tiki, was much higher, and so the recreations of artifacts they used were actually more "authentic" than most Hollywood productions. Yet still, they had an American spark and style of their own.

Finally, let's not forget one of the main figures in Hoola Boola:

(Actress Martha O’Driscoll with George Pal in the Paramount commisary, with “Sarong-Sarong")

We certainly all know who SHE was based on :) :

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2013-06-23 07:18 ]

I really like where this thread has gone! The "Name That Influence" photo comparisons are great! Those influences really cover the globe - Africa, Caribbean, Latin America, South Seas . . .

So back to the greatest Tiki movie...
of the 1980s is "Back to the Beach" with Frankie and Annette and Connie Stevens
Bridges the generations, has several Tikis and Tiki mugs (Tiki Bob, black Easter Island, pineapple mug), cameos by The Surf Punks (Drew), Fishbone, Dick Dale, Pee Wee Herman, Rodney Bingenheimer, Gilligan (Bob Denver) & The Skipper too, Beaver Cleaver, Edd Kookie Byrnes, and more.

soundtrack includes "Lonely Bull" by Herb. I've already stated the connection between Herb and Exotica. Soundtrack kept alive Surf and Frat rock during the 1980s when NEW music was all that mattered.

These are just two of the Tiki sightings in the movie

...and Gary Usher consulted for music, and long time Tiki fan Mark Cunningham was part of the "Ocean crew"

watching TV this weekend I saw two more movies with Tikis in them
Orgazmo with Ron Jeremy apparently re-enacting "The World's Largest Gangbang" scene with two large painted Tikis and a palm tree on a porn set.

The Cabinet of Caligari 1962
In the sadistic doctor's office there is a two foot tall Ku statue on the credenza
This is not his office but a cool picture that gives you an idea of the vibe

The Cabinet of Caligari 1962

Ah, I think I'll rent The Cabinet of Caligari!

I've been looking for a tiki movie that isn't campy, which apparently is a hard thing to find.

And not rockabilly, or surf, or beehives and horn-rims, which to me aren't tiki, just from periods / interests that coincide with it.

(Sort of like parrot-headism has certain elements in common, but-that-certainly-doesn't-make-it-tiki!)

Just one dullard's (i.e. my) opinion. : )

Another of my pet peeves is the equation of "tiki" and "kitsch.""Tiki" is a style.

"Kitsch" is a subjective evaluation. (And not a very flattering one.)

Even this article in Honolulu Magazine has "kitsch" and "tacky" in the title. Says who?

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/January-2012/The-Tiki-Tribe/

It depends on how good a job you do, doesn't it?

To the credit of the commenters (and tiki culture in general), no one calls out or "flames" the writer.

Which is sort of nice and touching.

Kitsch is a funny word. On the one hand, it's used as a pejorative term that generally means ugly or cheesy. But it's also evolved into its own sort of cultural style as well. Wikipedia defines it as "a low-brow style of mass-produced art or design using popular or cultural icons. Kitsch generally includes unsubstantial or gaudy works or decoration, or works that are calculated to have popular appeal."

If one looks at the origins of tiki, that pretty much fits the bill. Tiki "artifacts" were generally mass produced—much of it overseas—and it sprouted from the collective psyche of the time. It wasn't generally gaudy, since the origins were Polynesian native art and nautical, and they tended to have a rough and hand-crafted quality, but they were certainly calculated to have popular appeal, at least at the time. It now has more crossover with the lowbrow movement, which is counter-culture and specifically not mass appeal, which I think is very interesting.

Although we may all appreciate the artistic sensibility and history behind tiki, to the uninitiated it generally screams tacky due its rough crafted nature and "out-of-date" style. Since it was mass produced, a lot of it has a cheap feel, particularly the later pieces. Anyone who collects tiki mugs will have seen the reaction of disdain from somewhere along the way. I got it just the other day when a woman at a flea market asked what I collected. "You mean those ugly things from Hawaii?" Fine with me; it helps keep the prices down! :)

[ Edited by: TikiTacky 2014-05-10 12:30 ]

Ha, agreed!

But at the same time, items from IKEA are cheap and mass-produced, but not considered "kitsch."

Posters are "mass-produced ... calculated to have popular appeal," but not "kitsch."

So the standouts, to me, are "low-brow ... unsubstantial or gaudy."

It just seems unfair when I see mugs from people like Gecko / Squid / Munktiki, which to me stand as works of art in their own right. Are they "high" works of art? Who makes that call?

It seems unfair to elevate certain African art forms to the status of "art," and not modern, Oceanic-art-inspired hand-made items simply because they fall under the umbrella of "tiki" (making them automatically "tacky").

Picasso owes much of the "revolutionary" nature of his art DIRECTLY to African and Oceanic forms.

He was an avid collector of of African and Ocean art.

http://www.amazon.com/Picassos-Collection-African-Oceanic-Art/dp/3791336916

So to paint all "tiki" / Oceanic-inspired modern-art-in-a-tiki-style as "tacky" seems a bit of cultural elitism at its finest!

But if it keeps prices of mugs low ... well, maybe I can soften my position until my collection is complete, haha. :)

Pablo

My collection of bifwebe | My cruddy music

[ Edited by: PabTiki 2014-05-10 12:52 ]

"It just seems unfair when I see mugs from people like Gecko / Squid / Munktiki, which to me stand as works of art in their own right. Are they "high" works of art? Who makes that call?"

I agree....

Unfortunately though, any discussion relating to art, culture and the classification of such, is often dominated by folks who behave as though their opinion is the standard by which the universe should be judged. In the end, it boils down to someone's opinion. Many or even most folks may even agree with said opinion. However that doesn't make the opinion more valid, just more popular. It is for this reason that I keep my artwork out of the "art world". When pretension and narcissism rule the scene, what's the point in jumping in?

That's primarily why I like to hear folks discussing what Tiki is to them, because ultimately no individual, group, page or otherwise is really in the position to tell others whether their "opinion" is or isn't valid. Whether one agrees or disagrees is irrelevant to the validity of someone else's opinion. While the elements within (or motivations behind) any particular movement at one particular time can be finite, the way those elements can influence someone's personal Tiki aesthetic is not. I have certainly seen some "Tiki style" that I neither cared for nor felt was consistent with the Tiki movement of the late 50s, however I don't feel comfortable telling these cats that it isn't Tiki based solely on my beliefs, personal experiences or research. It wasn't Tiki to me, but who am I to pretend to define it for the world?

I had a Tiki discussion once and was basically told that my opinion was invalid because someone older held an opposing viewpoint. Age neither ensures truth nor does it prevent inaccuracies. That logic begs the question of whether we should listen to any voice other than the oldest person alive. After all, he is older, so he must be correct about everything he believes, right?

Thoughtful post! I agree with much of it.

I don't know if this is the most Tiki, but I recently watched "Green Dolphin Street" (1947). Two sisters, Lana Turner and Donna Reed, fall in love with the same man (yeah, in my dreams). It's largely set in 1840's New Zealand. Maori culture may be a little too far afield(?)b but the sets are great---lots of native carvings everywhere---and the film won an Oscar for special effects (there's a fantastic earthquake scene).

Another one I like is "Honolulu" (1939) starring Eleanor Powell. She gives a tour de force dance performance as part of a very classy Polynesian-themed floor show, complete with a Hawaiian Big Band featuring Andy Iona on steel guitar. Pure island escapist fantasy.

Two great movies, Man from T.I.K.I., also great user name by the way. Maori were prolific carvers and I still am amazed how the movie (GREEN DOLPHIN STREET) assembled all this decent Maori art work for a movie filmed in SoCal. Probably trashed everything after filming. Big film that some how got lost in the scuffle. Good that it finally has a DVD release, highly recommended.

The movie HONOLULU has some of the best "Hollywood" hulas, also filmed in SoCal. A good sign of where a South Seas movie was filmed is to check out the ground. Smooth, level & shinny = sound stage :).

One of my favorite tiki images is from another Eleanor Powell hula film that was set, not in Hawaii, but on the continent. Here in the film SHIP AHOY, a GIANT imposing Ku tiki idol dominates the shot with the Tommy Dorsey band (also w/a great Buddy Rich drum solo). My favorite rendition of “Hawaiian War Chant”. Oh I wish I could post video clips, but here's a couple screen shots.

Tiki Movies & Tiki TV @ southseascinema.org

[ Edited by: creativenative 2014-05-20 02:00 ]

Thanks! I appreciate your insights. Those stills look amazing. Definitely one to watch out for.

Big Jim McLain

So after years of looking for Hawaiian location Movies - I just stumbled across this Amazing Movie.
Location Location Location.
You want to see Oahu in 1952 this is Amazing.
Kinda like Blue Hawaii but 10 years before and in B&W

Nancy Olson is so hot in this..

The Movie is kinda odd but....

The film was shot entirely on location in Hawaii and includes scenes of Pearl Harbor, Molokai, Waikiki and Honolulu 30 April- 16 June 1952.
Several of the people cast in the film were Honolulu citizens: Honolulu Chief of Police Dan Liu, news reporter Vernon "Red" McQueen, wrestling champion Zinko "Lucky" Simunovich, University of Hawaii professor Joel Trapido, Bishop Kinai Ikuma, Sam "Steamboat" Mokuaki, Charles "Panama" Baptiste, Rennie Brooks, Akira Fukunaza and Ralph Honda.
World Premiere was in Kohio, Hawaii on 28 August 1952.

[ Edited by: TikiSpeer 2016-07-04 21:06 ]

Interesting topic. I'm actually surprised that with the influx of tiki in the 50-60s there aren't more movies that people can point to since movies are a reflection of the times.

Off hand right now the only thing I can think of, not a movie even but a TV show, would be The Brady Bunch's "The Tiki Caves". Episode very much about tiki. Mentioned it to my husband who said "oh yeah, isn't that the episode they go to Hawaii and Vincent Price is in it?"
So memorable.

Always wanted my dad to take us to Hawaii on vacation, partially because I had seen shows like this and knowing my dad had been in Hawaii during the war.

Now off topic here but has anyone in SoCal been to the Montclair "Mission Tiki Drivein Theater"? http://missiontiki.com/about/ . I was looking at the photos of the theater grounds with their tiki statutes, including those in their archival photos from their About page, and looks like a fun place. Now driveins were something we enjoyed a lot of back in the 50s-60s. Always a treat. I would have loved it if ours was like this. Like tiki bar/restaurants, not a lot of them left around.

[ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-07-04 22:33 ]

[ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-07-04 23:15 ]

On 2016-07-04 22:22, Polly_Nesia wrote:

Now off topic here but has anyone in SoCal been to the Montclair "Mission Tiki Drivein Theater"? http://missiontiki.com/about/ . I was looking at the photos of the theater grounds with their tiki statutes, including those in their archival photos from their About page, and looks like a fun place. Now driveins were something we enjoyed a lot of back in the 50s-60s. Always a treat. I would have loved it if ours was like this. Like tiki bar/restaurants, not a lot of them left around.

[ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-07-04 22:33 ]

[ Edited by: Polly_Nesia 2016-07-04 23:15 ]

Mission Tiki Drive in is pretty cool....they did a really good job and is well maintained....in the snack bar building they even have a tiki gift shop with shirts, etc including a mug of a tiki holding a bag of popcorn......it's not always open (weekends in the summer only I think) but I'm impressed its there.....I wish I was able to get out and enjoy that drive in more often actually