Hawaii
US (1966): Drama
This pictures hadn't even begun filming when director Fred Zinnemann was replaced by George Roy Hill; similarly, the role intended for Charlton Heston ended up being played by Richard Harris (though Heston would eventually star in the 1970 sequel The Hawaiians). Based on James A. Michener's best-selling novel, the time frame of which was spread out over several centuries, the film concentrates only on the years 1820 to 1841. Still, Michener's basic point, that the virginal sanctity of the Hawaiian islands was forever shattered by the incursion of the White Man, remains intact. Max Von Sydow stars as an imperious minister who settles in Hawaii with wife Julie Andrews. While Von Sydow expects the islanders to adapt to him rather than the other way around, Julie goes out of her way to understand and appreciate her new neighbors. She eventually seeks comfort in the arms of her former lover Richard Harris. Despite the lush location footage and such spectacular highlights as pagan ceremonies and an outsized typhoon, the scene most filmgoers remember is Julie Andrews' agonizingly convincing childbirth sequence. All told, it took seven years to translate Hawaii from script to screen -- and almost that long to make back its $15 million cost. In the early scenes of the film, Bette Midler plays a bit part as a ship passenger -- in the 171-minute version, rather than the 151-minute reissue. Cast also features Gene Hackman, Carroll O'Connor, John Cullum, George Rose, Michael Constantine and Jocelyne LaGarde (as Queen Malama). (Mirisch/U-A) (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)
7 nominations
· Supporting Actress 1966: Jocelyne LaGarde
· Cinematography (Color) 1966: Russell Harlan
· Costume Design (Color) 1966: Dorothy Jeakins
· Music Scoring Awards (Original Music Score) 1966: Elmer Bernstein
· Music Best Song 1966: "My Wishing Doll" Elmer Bernstein - Music, Mack David - Lyric
· Sound 1966: Gordon E. Sawyer (Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department)
· Special Visual Effects 1966: Linwood G. Dunn