MGM's head of production Irving Thalberg was recuperating in the hospital when he read Frederick O'Brien's book on his 1919 travels to the Pacific South Seas Islands. Enthralled by the prospects of making a great movie based on the author's account, Thalberg enlisted documentary filmmaker Robert J. Flaherty to direct his proposed film. It was natural for Flaherty, a friend of O'Brien, to be considered for the project since he had produced and filmed 1926's "Moana," a documentary on the natives on the Pacific island of Samoa. For insurance, Thalberg assigned MGM director W. W. Van Dyke to assist him in the movie with a semi-fictitious plot.
In the credits for November 1928's release of "White Shadows in the South Seas," Van Dyke's name is the only one listed as director. Working from a script, Flaherty, according to accounts, was taking his sweet time filming the movie at the Tahiti location. Van Dyke, reporting back to MGM studios, noted his inefficient methods. The two clashed so often that Flaherty decided he had enough. He felt he wasn't getting any support from MGM's Los Angeles studio, and abruptly left the island. Van Dyke, whose nickname was "One-Take Van Dyke," was known for his proficiency in getting his movies completed on schedule and under budget, qualities MGM head Louis B. Mayer loved about the director.
The movie's plot was unusual for its time in that it places blame on the civilized white man for exploiting the island natives and endangering their health and lives in the quest to gather all the pearls they can to satisfy greedy pearl traders. A rather worn-out doctor-turned-alcoholic, Dr. Lloyd (Monte Blue), laments the blatant cruelty inflicted on the islanders by the whites and voices his opinion. The men in the white business suits don't take kindly to his criticisms and shanghai him on a boat to parts unknown. The good doctor ends up on another idyllic island inhabited by super friendly natives untouched by the scourge of white capitalists. That is until the opportunists hear about the great quantity of pearls found on that island.
The production of "White Shadows in the South Seas" was not only contentious between the two directors, but also between MGM producer Hunt Stromberg and writer David Selznick, who left the studio after their confrontation. An impartial observer noted "David thought it an idyllic story; Hunt said he wanted lots of breasts." MGM was fortunate to have adventure cameraman Clyde De Vinna, who loved to travel to exotic locations. He was familiar with Tahiti as far back as 1923, accompanying director Raoul Walsh to shoot his movie 'Lost and Found on a South Sea Island." De Vinna's work was so breathtaking in capturing tropical settings both above and below the water line that he received the Academy Award's Best Cinematography for that year.
"White Shadows in the South Seas" is also noted for the first film MGM inserted sound. Filming was done without any audio and had a soundtrack created in post-production. With its Los Angeles studio incapable of inserting the audio because of a lack of equipment, the head of MGM's sound department, Douglas Shearer, actress Norma Shearer's brother, took the movie's negatives to New Jersey where he placed onto the film strip synchronized music and sound effects using the Western Electric Sound System. The movie, however, contains no audible dialogue between the actors.
"White Shadows in the South Seas" was also the first time MGM's lion was heard roaring. MGM films before then had the lion's roar inserted into the introduction well after their initial releases. The studio secured the services of a new lion, Jackie, who was trained to roar. Jackie replaced the first MGM lion, Slats, who never made a peep. Jackie is seen fronting each MGM movie until 1956, when Leo the Lion took over.
In the credits for November 1928's release of "White Shadows in the South Seas," Van Dyke's name is the only one listed as director. Working from a script, Flaherty, according to accounts, was taking his sweet time filming the movie at the Tahiti location. Van Dyke, reporting back to MGM studios, noted his inefficient methods. The two clashed so often that Flaherty decided he had enough. He felt he wasn't getting any support from MGM's Los Angeles studio, and abruptly left the island. Van Dyke, whose nickname was "One-Take Van Dyke," was known for his proficiency in getting his movies completed on schedule and under budget, qualities MGM head Louis B. Mayer loved about the director.
The movie's plot was unusual for its time in that it places blame on the civilized white man for exploiting the island natives and endangering their health and lives in the quest to gather all the pearls they can to satisfy greedy pearl traders. A rather worn-out doctor-turned-alcoholic, Dr. Lloyd (Monte Blue), laments the blatant cruelty inflicted on the islanders by the whites and voices his opinion. The men in the white business suits don't take kindly to his criticisms and shanghai him on a boat to parts unknown. The good doctor ends up on another idyllic island inhabited by super friendly natives untouched by the scourge of white capitalists. That is until the opportunists hear about the great quantity of pearls found on that island.
The production of "White Shadows in the South Seas" was not only contentious between the two directors, but also between MGM producer Hunt Stromberg and writer David Selznick, who left the studio after their confrontation. An impartial observer noted "David thought it an idyllic story; Hunt said he wanted lots of breasts." MGM was fortunate to have adventure cameraman Clyde De Vinna, who loved to travel to exotic locations. He was familiar with Tahiti as far back as 1923, accompanying director Raoul Walsh to shoot his movie 'Lost and Found on a South Sea Island." De Vinna's work was so breathtaking in capturing tropical settings both above and below the water line that he received the Academy Award's Best Cinematography for that year.
"White Shadows in the South Seas" is also noted for the first film MGM inserted sound. Filming was done without any audio and had a soundtrack created in post-production. With its Los Angeles studio incapable of inserting the audio because of a lack of equipment, the head of MGM's sound department, Douglas Shearer, actress Norma Shearer's brother, took the movie's negatives to New Jersey where he placed onto the film strip synchronized music and sound effects using the Western Electric Sound System. The movie, however, contains no audible dialogue between the actors.
"White Shadows in the South Seas" was also the first time MGM's lion was heard roaring. MGM films before then had the lion's roar inserted into the introduction well after their initial releases. The studio secured the services of a new lion, Jackie, who was trained to roar. Jackie replaced the first MGM lion, Slats, who never made a peep. Jackie is seen fronting each MGM movie until 1956, when Leo the Lion took over.