MovieChat Forums > Hawaii (1966) Discussion > Adequate, but flawed adaptation

Adequate, but flawed adaptation

posted 12 years ago by Venus-25
1 reply | jump to latest

I read the book in the late 70s before ever seeing the film and kept wondering what the changes were about... until I realized that the film industry thought no audience member would never believe that Jerusha would marry an ugly man a head shorter than herself.

My boyfriend at that time thought that Rafer Hoxworth should have been a rougher, more coarse man than Richard Harris portrayed. I disagreed with him because Jerusha could not have been in love with such a man.

I didn't think enough attention was given to Abner's standards for membership in the church. I also think that Keoki's internal conflict should have gotten more screen time. Of course those things don't move the plot forward.

Anyone else?

Oy; PBS is now doing digital censorship. That rots.

The Fabio Principle: Puffy shirts look best on men who look even better without them.

[–] Madeline5 10 years ago

I also think that Keoki's internal conflict should have gotten more screen time.

I agree. See post: "Question: Keoke's expectations..."

I was unclear about Keoke. He asked for the missionaries to come...save them. At the time, I thought he understood what that meant, having studied Divinity at Yale in some capacity.
He tried to be a convert, but once they were on the ship, and especially when back home in Hawaii...if you only account for Abner's obnoxiousness toward Keoke as being the cause for Keoke's choice to stay with Hawaiian ways...I guess that works, sort of.

It was confusing. Needed more time.