Unless you are an ardent fan of Ernie Adams, this picture has only the super-lovely Inez Cooper to recommend it. Otherwise it presents a rather dated and nonsensical plot and a wholly dull tier of additional dialogue – of which Mr. Adams is the main beneficiary. Needless to say, although he rubs his hands in glee – on screen yet! – at the size of his role, little Ernie soon out-stays his welcome. It's left to Robert Armstrong to take up the heavy running, but his role is small and Henry Guttman (although he does his best to leer and play dirty) is no King Kong. But Miss Cooper is more than a match for Fay Wray – and she has a lovely voice too (if it is her voice), and a really beautiful face which Mack Stengler treats most lovingly in really knock-you-for-a-spin close-ups.
5 Reviews
There's trouble in Paradise
sol-kay8 February 2006
(There are Spoilers) Strange as well as nutty war movie that even from a studio like Monogram is an unintentional laugh a minute with US Navy and German Luftwaffe planes shooting each other down over Sunday Island in the South Pacific. It's never really explained how a German in a Lufwaffe fighter plane got himself shot down over the Pacific theater of War when he was supposed to be in Europe or North Africa some 6,500 miles west. In fact on the other side of the International Date-Line?
On the island we see that it's run by this weird hermit Jim Butler, Monlagu Love, who's looked upon by the natives as if he were a God. Butler a WWI vet and war hero moved to Sunday Island some 14 years ago when he was wiped out in the stock market crash of 1929. This was for him to get away from the rat race, and Great Depression, back home to live out his life in the tranquil and quit South Pacific but his life is now to take an abrupt change. With the two flayers the American USN Lt.Allan Scott ,Edward Norris, and German Lt. Kurt Heinmann ,Henry Guttman,landing safely on the island they have to learn to live in peace with each other despite the war between their two's country's going on the other side of the world.
Heinmann for his part is so ridicules in his Nazi beliefs that it's hard not to realize, by everyone on the island, that he's doing everything he possibly can to get in touch with his allies, the Japanese. This is to alert them about Sunday Islands huge oil reserve that are bubbling and oozing all over the place like the famous Old Faithful at Yellowstone Park; oil that the Japanese and Germans desperately need to sustain their war machines. Let. Scott meanwhile is so involved with Butler's pretty young daughter Nora,Inez Coopewr, that he completely forgets about the devious German flier Lt. Heinmann who's doing everything to contact the Japanese and get them to invade Sunday island.
It later turns out that Heinmann has an ally on the island the charming and lovable, but German espionage agent, supply boat captain Pieter van Bronk, Robert Armstrong, who's been spying on Sunday Island for his Fatherland. Van Bronk has been reporting back to the Fatherland for almost ten years about Sunday Island being rich in oil and having an airstrip for German, or Japanese, aircraft to be used in case of a future war, that's now a reality, with America.
The film gets more outrageous as it goes along with the island's chief Satini Pualoa's son Taro, John Roth, getting killed by Van Bronk who's later killed by the angry natives. The bumbling Henimann trying to kiss, or rape, Nora has Scott coming to her rescue and ends up being in one of the most laughable fights in move history with Henimann being taken away, after Scott knocked him out, and dumped into the Pacific Ocean by the natives. During this mindless spectacle The tied up Nora had to keep from watching it in order not to crack up.
Butler who wanted together with his "butler" on the island Harry ,Ernie Adams,to remain neutral during the war finally sees the light and gets together with Scott and the natives to take on the Japanese army who land in the middle of the dense and impassable jungle on a jumbo cargo plane. Scott Butler and the natives make short work of the invaders with less then a dozen guns and a lot of spears and arrows; this against some 100 heavily armed and fanatical Japanese troop.
Just too much to take with too little, if nothing at all, to take seriously even for a Hollywood war propaganda movie at the height of WWII. And yes at the end Scott and Nora tie the knot and live happily ever after.
On the island we see that it's run by this weird hermit Jim Butler, Monlagu Love, who's looked upon by the natives as if he were a God. Butler a WWI vet and war hero moved to Sunday Island some 14 years ago when he was wiped out in the stock market crash of 1929. This was for him to get away from the rat race, and Great Depression, back home to live out his life in the tranquil and quit South Pacific but his life is now to take an abrupt change. With the two flayers the American USN Lt.Allan Scott ,Edward Norris, and German Lt. Kurt Heinmann ,Henry Guttman,landing safely on the island they have to learn to live in peace with each other despite the war between their two's country's going on the other side of the world.
Heinmann for his part is so ridicules in his Nazi beliefs that it's hard not to realize, by everyone on the island, that he's doing everything he possibly can to get in touch with his allies, the Japanese. This is to alert them about Sunday Islands huge oil reserve that are bubbling and oozing all over the place like the famous Old Faithful at Yellowstone Park; oil that the Japanese and Germans desperately need to sustain their war machines. Let. Scott meanwhile is so involved with Butler's pretty young daughter Nora,Inez Coopewr, that he completely forgets about the devious German flier Lt. Heinmann who's doing everything to contact the Japanese and get them to invade Sunday island.
It later turns out that Heinmann has an ally on the island the charming and lovable, but German espionage agent, supply boat captain Pieter van Bronk, Robert Armstrong, who's been spying on Sunday Island for his Fatherland. Van Bronk has been reporting back to the Fatherland for almost ten years about Sunday Island being rich in oil and having an airstrip for German, or Japanese, aircraft to be used in case of a future war, that's now a reality, with America.
The film gets more outrageous as it goes along with the island's chief Satini Pualoa's son Taro, John Roth, getting killed by Van Bronk who's later killed by the angry natives. The bumbling Henimann trying to kiss, or rape, Nora has Scott coming to her rescue and ends up being in one of the most laughable fights in move history with Henimann being taken away, after Scott knocked him out, and dumped into the Pacific Ocean by the natives. During this mindless spectacle The tied up Nora had to keep from watching it in order not to crack up.
Butler who wanted together with his "butler" on the island Harry ,Ernie Adams,to remain neutral during the war finally sees the light and gets together with Scott and the natives to take on the Japanese army who land in the middle of the dense and impassable jungle on a jumbo cargo plane. Scott Butler and the natives make short work of the invaders with less then a dozen guns and a lot of spears and arrows; this against some 100 heavily armed and fanatical Japanese troop.
Just too much to take with too little, if nothing at all, to take seriously even for a Hollywood war propaganda movie at the height of WWII. And yes at the end Scott and Nora tie the knot and live happily ever after.
Uh oh, there goes the neighborhood....
mark.waltz10 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Picture Snoopy and the Red Baron in a tropical setting, both shooting each other out of the sky and landing in paradise. Don't you already feel sorry for the island natives? In this case, it's lead by an English speaking man who is a fair ruler, judging one man for theft by making sure that the victim of theft is given a supply of fish to replace what the thief stole. Then there's the native man who abused his wife, almost comical because she appears to be Ma Kettle in size to his Pa. The peaceful island landscape is further influenced by a song of peace sung by the leader's darkly complected daughter (Inez Cooper) whose number is immediately followed by a battle in the sky between a good as apple pie American and the typically evil German who sees an opportunity to disturb the peace of the Pacific landscape.
Before long, the Nazi is causing all sorts of problems, and being initially unaware of a World War going on outside around them, the islanders at first leave him free to roam the island. He's doing all he can to cause distention, and that means taunting the American (Edward Norris) into attacking him. But the islanders have wizened up to his motives, and a romance has occurred between Norris and Cooper. The Nazi manages to contact nearby Japanese fighters who prepare to attack the island to take it over as a base. All this and more occurs in under an hour, making this pretty innocuous fun with an obviously fake island setting that makes "Gilligan's Island" seem like it was filmed right on the South Pacific. Yet, these Monogram programmers were often more enjoyable than some of what the A studios were doing, and many of them hold up perfectly fine, even those which I give low ratings to.
Before long, the Nazi is causing all sorts of problems, and being initially unaware of a World War going on outside around them, the islanders at first leave him free to roam the island. He's doing all he can to cause distention, and that means taunting the American (Edward Norris) into attacking him. But the islanders have wizened up to his motives, and a romance has occurred between Norris and Cooper. The Nazi manages to contact nearby Japanese fighters who prepare to attack the island to take it over as a base. All this and more occurs in under an hour, making this pretty innocuous fun with an obviously fake island setting that makes "Gilligan's Island" seem like it was filmed right on the South Pacific. Yet, these Monogram programmers were often more enjoyable than some of what the A studios were doing, and many of them hold up perfectly fine, even those which I give low ratings to.
The Nazis seem to have a horrible sense of direction as they keep showing up in the middle of the Pacific!!
planktonrules20 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Yikes! When this film started, I could tell it was yet another DVD from Alpha Video that had absolutely no restoration work done on it. The print was washed out, blurry and rough. It is watchable--so it isn't that terrible. So, if you do want to watch it, keep this in mind.
This is film with a wacky plot--even for a WWII propaganda film. After all, what they heck are Nazis doing in the middle of the Pacific during this war?! Believe it or not, the film claims that they are looking for oil!! Don't you think the Middle East or North Africa or even Europe would have been a bit more convenient?! After all, this is about 6500 miles more or less from home! It makes no sense and you also wonder where the Nazi pilot came from in the film, as the range of a fighter plane was about 400 miles. And, incidentally, in this film, their planes are able to turn on a dime--and even modern technology wouldn't be able to do this (maybe aliens were on their side)! Didn't anyone from Monogram Pictures think about any of this?! Or, was this one of their films written and produced by chipmunks? My bet is on the chipmunks, as they work for peanuts and Monogram was notorious for its very low budgets.
The film begins with an American and Nazi pilot having a dogfight in the Pacific. They end up shooting each other down and it conveniently is over an inhabited island run by a a guy who speaks English! Sure, there are natives but in this paternalistic world, they all obey their white boss-man and welcome the two pilots. Naturally, the German is of the snarling, propaganda-spouting, murderous and dogmatic variety--and is about as one-dimensional as they come. And you know this must eventually result in a titanic struggle between the forces of niceness and evil. Considering when it was made and who made the film, is there any doubt about the outcome?! But wait...when a Nazi agent later shows up on the island, it sure looks as if the baddies will prevail!
The plot for this film might be among the very stupidest of the genre. It's not the most offensive (that would be "First Yank in Tokyo") and you might just want to see it because it's so cheesy and dumb. But if you are looking for a film that makes sense, has good acting or is genuinely entertaining....keep looking.
By the way, despite the film only being an hour long, there is a lot of singing by the leading lady (Inez Cooper--that's a good Polynesian name). She has a nice voice and not a trace of the accent you'd expect from a resident of a lonely Pacific Island (but perhaps Vassar, as her diction and poise were practically flawless).
This is film with a wacky plot--even for a WWII propaganda film. After all, what they heck are Nazis doing in the middle of the Pacific during this war?! Believe it or not, the film claims that they are looking for oil!! Don't you think the Middle East or North Africa or even Europe would have been a bit more convenient?! After all, this is about 6500 miles more or less from home! It makes no sense and you also wonder where the Nazi pilot came from in the film, as the range of a fighter plane was about 400 miles. And, incidentally, in this film, their planes are able to turn on a dime--and even modern technology wouldn't be able to do this (maybe aliens were on their side)! Didn't anyone from Monogram Pictures think about any of this?! Or, was this one of their films written and produced by chipmunks? My bet is on the chipmunks, as they work for peanuts and Monogram was notorious for its very low budgets.
The film begins with an American and Nazi pilot having a dogfight in the Pacific. They end up shooting each other down and it conveniently is over an inhabited island run by a a guy who speaks English! Sure, there are natives but in this paternalistic world, they all obey their white boss-man and welcome the two pilots. Naturally, the German is of the snarling, propaganda-spouting, murderous and dogmatic variety--and is about as one-dimensional as they come. And you know this must eventually result in a titanic struggle between the forces of niceness and evil. Considering when it was made and who made the film, is there any doubt about the outcome?! But wait...when a Nazi agent later shows up on the island, it sure looks as if the baddies will prevail!
The plot for this film might be among the very stupidest of the genre. It's not the most offensive (that would be "First Yank in Tokyo") and you might just want to see it because it's so cheesy and dumb. But if you are looking for a film that makes sense, has good acting or is genuinely entertaining....keep looking.
By the way, despite the film only being an hour long, there is a lot of singing by the leading lady (Inez Cooper--that's a good Polynesian name). She has a nice voice and not a trace of the accent you'd expect from a resident of a lonely Pacific Island (but perhaps Vassar, as her diction and poise were practically flawless).
Inez Cooper was HOT! Love this picture! WW-II flicks ROCK! See it!
vilenciaproductions1 February 2021
"Wings Over The Pacific" Love this picture! Got a beautiful 16mm reduction print for my sixtieth birthday present yesterday and screened it on the big screen! One of the funny scenes is when the four cast members are talking together, Lt. Allan Scott, Jim Butler, Harry Adams, and of course the Nazi Lt. Kurt Heinmann! The topic of "women" comes up, and the Nazi says: "the only thing women are good for is babies" at which point all of the other actors sits forward and almost jumps in his face! Now I am sure that the Hayes Office wouldn't allow the correct line in the script which should have read: "the only thing women are good for is sex" Now all things considered and talking into account the current "me too movement" I hate to say it, but this might be the first time I ever agreed with a Nazi, "the only thing women are good for is sex" never been so true! Now Lt. Allan Scott from the first time seeing sexy, beautiful Nona Butler, played by hottie Inez Cooper, he wanted to bone her straight up! But he's an American! He's white, he's good looking, he's alright! Later still Nona's father, Jim Butler knows Lt. Allan Scott wants to bone his daughter too, but that's okay, it's wholesome they will get married! Lt. Allan grabs her and kisses her! That's okay, but when the mean old Lt. Kurt Nazi tries the same thing, he gets slapped across his German face! Nona's likes them white, but not the white Aryan Nations type. It's funny how the German Nazi is portrait, he's taller then the other guys, he's menacing, mean, and acts superior to these lessor human beings. The actor who played the Nazi, Henry Guttman, was typecast in 1942 playing one German SS officer, Storm Trooper, Gestapo Guard, Nazi Officer - one after another! He does it well I must say! The reason I wanted this "B" picture was because I loved Inez Cooper! She was a typical 1940's babe! Back then every guy wanted to bone her! Of course all hot sexy 1940's women smelled like Lysol, look that up! If you didn't mind a little Lysol in your face, then all was well! The end when the dirty yellow J A P S, try to take the island, the white guys and natives kick their little sawed off butts! Love this flick! I can't wait to project it again! The print was amazingly clear some scenes looked 3-D without the glasses, of course its on FILM, and not the stupid digital stuff! Oh yea! There was oil on that island! Good old bubbling crude, now the good guys, us, United States needs that stuff for Victory! Can't let it fall into the hands of the Nazi's or J A P S! Can we! Darn it, we need to drive our SUV'S - besides oil in the hands of America is next to Godliness! At only 61 minutes is a gem! Don't listen to these other reviews
they've had too much Lysol in their faces! Best of all, there are no -cell phones, dumb broads with different colored hair, no stupid guys covered with tattoos, no TV sets, computers, car alarms, No Trumps or Biden's, no loud rock 'n roll, rap or new country music, no Covid-19 vaccines or masks, no just the good old days! Good Times! Boy the way Glenn Miller Played..... Damn it, lost my Covid-19 mask and stimulus check?
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