''Moonlight in Hawaii'' is a 1941 American

musical comedy film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as break ...

directed by

Charles Lamont Charles Lamont (May 5, 1895 – September 11, 1993) was an American filmmaker, known for directing over 200 titles and producing and writing many others. He directed nine Abbott and Costello comedies and many Ma and Pa Kettle films. Biography ...

and starring

Jane Frazee Mary Jane Frehse (July 18, 1915 – September 6, 1985), was an American actress, singer, and dancer. Professional life Jane, age six, and her 12-year-old sister Ruth formed a singing vaudeville act known as The Frazee Sisters.Johnny Downs John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 – June 6, 1994) was an American actor, singer and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most notably as Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' short comedy film series from 1923 to 1926. He remained active ...

and

Leon Errol Leon Errol (born Leonce Errol Sims, July 3, 1881 – October 12, 1951) was an Australian-American comedian and actor in the United States, popular in the first half of the 20th century for his appearances in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in film ...

. It was produced and distributed by

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

. Future star

Maria Montez María África Gracia Vidal (6 June 1912 – 7 September 1951), known professionally as Maria Móntez, was a Dominican actress who gained fame and popularity in the 1940s starring in a series of filmed-in-Technicolor costume adventure fil ...

has a small role, with her hair dyed blonde.''Moonlight in Hawaii''
at Maria Montez

Plot

Deciding to quit his singing act and become a tourist guide, Pete Fleming escorts wealthy Mrs. Floto and her three nieces to

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

for a vacation. Behind his back, Pete's three bandmates stowaway and tag along. At a resort, bandleader Clipper Conovan can't hire the musicians, but hotel guest Toby Spencer, taking a shine to Pete, introduces him to her father Walter, who runs a pineapple plantation. Walter is involved in a business dispute with his partner, Lawton, and both men vie for Mrs. Floto's attentions as well. Toby falls for Pete, who discovers she can sing and wants her to be a part of the band's new act. But one of Mrs. Floto's nieces also wants to sing, and exotic entertainer Ilani catches everyone's eye, too. Toby and Pete ultimately form a partnership, professionally and romantically, while Mrs. Floto, unable to decide between the two pineapple growers, surprises both by deciding to marry Clipper the bandleader.

Cast

Johnny Downs John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 – June 6, 1994) was an American actor, singer and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most notably as Johnny in the ''Our Gang'' short comedy film series from 1923 to 1926. He remained active ...

as Pete *

Jane Frazee Mary Jane Frehse (July 18, 1915 – September 6, 1985), was an American actress, singer, and dancer. Professional life Jane, age six, and her 12-year-old sister Ruth formed a singing vaudeville act known as The Frazee Sisters.Leon Errol Leon Errol (born Leonce Errol Sims, July 3, 1881 – October 12, 1951) was an Australian-American comedian and actor in the United States, popular in the first half of the 20th century for his appearances in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in film ...

as Spencer *

Mischa Auer Mischa Auer (born Mikhail Semyonovich Unkovsky, ; 17 November 1905 – 5 March 1967) was a Russian-American actor who moved to Hollywood in the late 1920s. He first appeared in film in 1928. Auer had a long career playing in many of the era's ...

... Clipper * Charles Coleman as Butler *Sunnie O'Dea as Gloria *

Marjorie Gateson Marjorie Augusta Gateson (January 17, 1891 – April 17, 1977) was an American stage and film actress. Biography Gateson was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Augusta and Daniel Gateson. Her maternal grandfather and brother were clergymen; Some s ...

as Aunt Effie Floto *

Richard Carle Richard Carle (born Charles Nicholas Carleton, July 7, 1871 – June 28, 1941) was an American stage and film actor as well as a playwright and stage director. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1915 and 1941. Carle was born in Some ...

as Lawton *

as Ilani * Janet Warren as Doris *Judd McMichael as Ollie Barrett *Ted McMichael as Red Simpson *Joe McMichael as Beans Smith *Mary Lou Cook as Mary Lou *

Ernie Stanton Ernest George Stanton Burch (August 23, 1890 - February 6, 1944), known professionally as Ernie Stanton, was an English actor, manager and athlete who played baseball and boxed. He was also a vaudeville performer and appeared in films. Early l ...

as Truck Driver (uncredited)

References

Bibliography

* Fetrow, Alan G. ''Feature Films, 1940-1949: a United States Filmography''. McFarland, 1994.

External links

*
''Moonlight in Hawaii''
at

TCMDB Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of ...

1941 films American black-and-white films 1941 musical comedy films Universal Pictures films American musical comedy films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films Films directed by Charles Lamont English-language musical comedy films {{musical-comedy-film-stub