''Down Among the Sheltering Palms'' is a 1953 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 breaks ...

starring

Mitzi Gaynor Mitzi Gaynor (born Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber; September 4, 1931) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Her notable films include '' We're Not Married!'' (1952), '' There's No Business Like Show Business'' (1954), '' The Birds ...

William Lundigan William Paul Lundigan (June 12, 1914 – December 20, 1975) was an American film actor. His more than 125 films include '' Dodge City'' (1939), ''The Fighting 69th'' (1940), ''The Sea Hawk'' (1940), ''Santa Fe Trail'' (1940), '' Dishonored Lady ...

Gloria DeHaven Gloria Mildred DeHaven (July 23, 1925 – July 30, 2016) was an American actress and singer who was a contract star for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Early life DeHaven was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actor-director Carter De ...

, David Wayne and

Jane Greer Jane Greer (born Bettejane Greer; September 9, 1924 – August 24, 2001) was an American film and television actress best known for her role as ''femme fatale'' Kathie Moffat in the 1947 film noir '' Out of the Past''. In 2009, ''The Guardian'' ...

.''Down Among the Sheltering Palms''
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 A ...

The popular song of the same name, which dates to 1914, is one of those performed in the film.

Plot

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

is coming to an end, but rather than being sent home, Capt. Bill Willoby and Lt. Frank Schmidt, along with their unit, are assigned to Midi Island, formerly held by the Japanese. They receive a friendly welcome there from King Jilouili and many native girls. Willoby declares fraternization with the natives off-limits, which becomes awkward when the King presents him with beautiful Rozouila as a token of his appreciation. Rozouila is to be the captain's wife. Rev. and Mrs. Edgett have arrived with niece Diana Forrester, who is hired by Schmidt to be his secretary. Willoby goes to the reverend for advice and is told to keep Rozouila in a separate quarters at all time. Major Curwin visits the isle next, accompanied by Angela Toland, an attractive correspondent. Angela immediately makes a play for Willoby, observed by two jealous women, Rozouila and Diana, who are both relieved when Willoby rejects her advances. An angry Angela writes a false story claiming the captain is romantically involved with a native girl, which causes Willoby's men to turn against him. A colonel investigates the news story and Willoby could face a court-martial. But a way is figured out for the captain to give Rozouila back to her island boyfriend with no loss of honor. Angela's story is revealed to be a lie. Midi is reclassified as a "friendly island" by the military, permitting fraternization by the soldiers. Willoby now loves Diana, though, while a chastised Angela has her eye on Lt. Schmidt.

Cast

as Rozouila *

as Capt. Willoby * David Wayne as Lt. Schmidt *

as Diana *

as Angela *

Gene Lockhart Edwin Eugene Lockhart (July 18, 1891 – March 31, 1957)"Gene Lockhart"
''The ...

as Rev. Edgett *

Lyle Talbot Lyle Florenz Talbot (born Lisle Henderson, also credited Lysle Talbot; February 8, 1902 – March 2, 1996) was an American stage, screen and television actor. His career in films spanned three decades, from 1931 to 1960, and he performed on ...

as Maj. Curwin * Jack Paar as Lt. Sloan

Songs

* "

Down Among the Sheltering Palms "Down Among the Sheltering Palms" is a popular song. The music was written by Abe Olman, the lyrics by James Brockman and Leo Wood. The song was published in 1914 by Olman who heavily marketed it in the Chicago region. Music publisher Leo Fei ...

" (sung by

) * "The Friendly Islands" (Arlen/Blane) (sung by chorus) * "The Drum Chant" (danced by

) * "I'm a Ruler of a South Seas Island" (Arlen/Blane) (sung by

and David Wayne) * "Who Will It Be When the Time Comes?" (Arlen/Blane) (sung by

) * "What Make De Diff'rence?" (Arlen/Blane) (sung by Mitzi Gaynor) * " All of Me" (sung by Gloria DeHaven) * "27 Elm Street" (Arlen/Blane) (sung by chorus) * "When You're in Love" (Arlen/Blane) (sung by Gloria DeHaven)

References

External links

* 1953 films Films directed by Edmund Goulding American romantic musical films Films scored by Leigh Harline 1950s romantic musical films Films set in the Pacific Ocean Films set on islands 20th Century Fox films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{romantic-musical-film-stub