Hula

Many of the reviews and comments I have read about this movie say that this is a rather stale film and performance by Clara Bow. Although the story-line was rather typical of Clara's later silents, I still find it somewhat heart-stirring and incredibly fun. Clara plays a happy-go-lucky Hawaiian girl who will stop at nothing to win the man she loves...never mind that this man is married! Clara's lack of modesty was shocking in the day, but I believe it lends to the sweetness and general fun of the movie. Though definitely not a brilliant story-line (quite typical, actually), this movie is a nice showcase of Clara's ability to make the audience laugh.

A vehicle for the "It Girl" Clara Bow, "Hula" showcases the talents of its ever-vivacious star but is an otherwise generic melodramatic romance that veers towards racism in its cultural appropriation of Hawaiian culture. At least, it's short, with a runtime barely over an hour. Bow plays the titular Hula (of all the names), who falls in love with the chin-dimpled but married Anthony (played by Clive Brook). There's also another woman who's not his wife interested in Anthony, and she completes the love triangle until the wife shows up. Then, she conveniently leaves, and the wife takes her place as Hula's competitor. Hula does do some crazy, life-threatening things to win her man's affections, though (i.e. Nearly falling over a waterfall, falling off a horse and blowing stuff up with dynamite).

Hollywood's premiere flapper type, Bow's star persona is reworked here by having her unconventional and wild behavior explained as having been influenced by the natives (although besides a cameo by surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, with an insulting intertitle of him speaking broken English, hardly a native is to be seen). This includes her scandalous outfits or lack thereof (the film begins with Bow swimming nude), her riding a horse inside and, of course, her namesake dance.

In Hawaii, "a land of swinging seas and swinging hips, where volcanoes are often active, and maidens always are," vivacious Clara Bow (as Hula Calhoun) grows into young womanhood. Ms. Bow is a "free spirit" who prefers the outdoors to her rancher family's stuffy, smoke-filled rooms. Bow's "coming of age" corresponds with the arrival of dashing Clive Brook (as Anthony Haldane); he comes to build a new irrigation dam on the Hawaiian island. Bow is smitten with Mr. Brook; but, he is strangely reluctant to reciprocate. After succumbing to Bow's kisses, Brook reveals the unfortunate truth - he's married.

Victor Fleming directs Clara Bow. Of "Paramount" importance, obviously, is showing as much of Bow as possible; in this case, legs are the obsession. Things get off to a good start with a bee stinging Bow's upper thigh during the introductory nude nature dip. As the title and locale promise, Bow dons a grass skirt for some "Hula" dancing, too. There is an odd kissing scene, which has Bow kissing the blood off Brook's cheek, after he is injured saving her dog. In a way, it qualifies Bow as a "vamp". Bow is certainly charming; and, this otherwise silly offering must have been an audience pleaser.

***** Hula (8/28/27) Victor Fleming ~ Clara Bow, Clive Brook, Arnold Kent

Clara Bow (Hula Calhoun) is daughter of plantation owner Albert Gran (Bill Calhoun), who is mainly interested in playing cards and boozing with friends. She's interested in riding in the countryside until engineer Clive Brook (Anthony Haldane) shows up to build a dam. One of her father's friends Arlette Marchal (Mrs. Bane) then competes for his attentions. His wife Maude Truax (Margaret Haldane) shows up for the contrived finale.

Lots of 'pre-code' elements like nude bathing.

Wonderful location shooting in Hawaii.

There are two reasons to watch Hula. 1: Clara. 2: The scenery. You get lots of opportunities to see Clara: On a horse, bathing, in a hula and a few others. My favorite scene the waterfall involving Clara, Clive Brook and her dog, followed by Clara kissing the blood off of his cheek. If you like Clara Bow, you will love this movie, if you do not care about her, you will not. Is it her best? Not at all. Why? No one is up to her standards in this movie ( unlike It or The Saturday Night Kid). Now to be fair Clara is like Marilyn Monroe or Rita Hayworth (a legend), but you need more from others to make streak movie. 7/10 stars. All for Clara and Hawaii: