White Savage

White Savage is a 1943 American Technicolor South Seas adventure film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall and Sabu. The film was re-released by Realart in 1948 on a double-feature with the same three stars in Cobra Woman (1944) and again in 1953, under the title White Savage Woman. It was choreographed by Lester Horton.

White Savage
Realart rerelease film poster
Directed byArthur Lubin
Screenplay byRichard Brooks
Story byPeter Milne
Produced byGeorge Waggner
StarringMaria Montez
Jon Hall
Sabu
Turhan Bey
Sidney Toler
Thomas Gomez
Don Terry
Paul Guilfoyle
CinematographyWilliam E. Snyder
Lester White
Edited byRussell F. Schoengarth
Music byFrank Skinner
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • April 23, 1943 (1943-04-23) (United States)
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.4 million (US rentals)[1]

Plot

Montez is the ruler of the tropical Temple Island. Thomas Gomez plays the villain, who schemes to marry her and get hold of the gold bars lining the submerged floor of the island's temple (about which the innocent islanders remain blissfully unconcerned). Jon Hall plays a heroic shark hunter who wins the day and the heart of the princess.

Cast

Production

White Savage had been the original title for Montez's first starring vehicle, South of Tahiti (1941).[2]

Arabian Nights was so popular that Universal commissioned two follow-up movies to star Montez, Hall and Sabu – White Savage and Cobra Woman.[3] Gene Lewis wrote the original script for White Savage.[4][5]

Montez's costumes in some scenes were considered to be too skimpy, requiring those scenes to be cut.[6]

Reception

Diabolique said "Not as well known as Montez's later camp classic Cobra Woman (1944) (to be fair, all her American films are camp classics), White Savage is actually a better movie – Montez and Hall seem to genuinely like each other (not always the case in their films), Richard Brooks’ script is clever and there's plenty of action and gorgeous photography."[7]

References
  1. "Top Grossers of the Season", Variety, 5 January 1944 p 54
  2. "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Olivia de Havilland Gets Lead in 'The Male Animal,' Which is Set to Start Today SIX NEW FILMS DUE HERE ' Whistling in the Dark,' 'Dive Bomber' and 'Wild Geese Calling' to Arrive". New York Times. Aug 25, 1941. p. 18.
  3. Vagg, Stephen (April 9, 2022). "The Campy, Yet Surprisingly Interesting Cinema of Jon Hall". Filmiink.
  4. "Simon Simone Signed by RKO for Lead in 'The Cat People' -- Dekker Gets Part: 'ATLANTIC CONVOY' OPENS Action Drama Due Today at the Stanley -- Dance Program Enters Seventh Week SIGNED FOR LEAD". New York Times. July 4, 1942. p. 11.
  5. "DRAMA: Ann 'Oomphs' to Piano; Exotic Trio to Sail On". Los Angeles Times. July 13, 1942. p. 8.
  6. White Savage at Maria Montez Fan Page
  7. Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2019). "The Cinema of Arthur Lubin". Diabolique Magazine.
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