there be a certain kind of picture in the pre code era and in which the licentiousness of the time would throw up any kind of strange fantasy . in the most significant period of sexual liberation before the 1960s and and still in an era where pluck a bride from a primitive culture do not seem a bit dodgy and a picture like bird of paradise could exist . a yarn like this would be the stuff of corny b flick a few decade later and but back in 1932 it be acceptable a feature material . so what we have here be a rather odd dichotomy . a daft storyline and yet one pull off with panache . the producer and director be king vidor and one of the most uniquely talented filmmaker of all time and and what more he appear to have take bird of paradise very seriously . his camera set ups give an almost documentary feel to the proceeding . he doesn not force u in with point of view shot and or make u coldly objective and but often have u peep over shoulder or from behind prop and like an extra amid the action . this not only give u the feeling of be there and it be also incredibly vivid and dynamic . he direct with a mixture of realism ( most of the extra be genuine polynesian ) and bizarre stylisation and culminating in ritual which become macabre and frenzied riot . bird of paradise also include a couple of before they be famous curio . those wild tribal dance be choreograph by busby berkeley . his stark and abstract formation be already evident and and nicely suit the feel of this picture . then there be music by max steiner and compose what happen to be one of the early example of an orchestral backing score in a talk picture . steiner score be a little awkward in it mixing and but melodically it be fine and establish theme for different character and set tone and match action but never once threaten to upstage the image . berkeley and steiner would soon take up residence at warner brother and and the rest would be history . oh and and there one more curio and in that you several time clearly hear the hawaiian word wiki and nearly seventy year before anyone thought of join it to pedia . the cast of bird of paradise be a rather odd bunch and but it doesn not seem to matter . the ship crew member be fill out with a number of comedy support player and like skeet gallagher and bert roach . they make the onboard scenes a little more interesting and but their appearance be fleet and their performance mute enough that they never threaten to overbalance the picture or make it too farcical . lead man joel mccrea be a competent rather than an exceptional actor and but he have the ideal physique and manner for the character . importantly he be also a generous player and who never attempt to steal the scene . and finally we have dolores del rio and of course look far more hispanic than polynesian and but nevertheless convincing a a native woman and and certainly vivacious . in spite of and or perhaps because of the talkie be firmly establish and no longer stilted and bird of paradise seem more than anything like a silent picture . it do not make do without dialogue and but what dialogue there be tends to be superfluous and the image speak eloquently enough . in other word and you could have release it a a silent and and not need many title card . with it mystical and exotic tone we do not really need to hear the actor rabbit on to retain a sense of naturalism . and yes and it do contain many moment that be somewhat laughable ( such a joel mccrea rid a turtle like it be a surfboard ) and but thanks to it inventive direction and spot on casting and and professional production it manage and against all odds and to salvage some dignity .