"The Moon of Manakoora" is a popular song written by Frank Loesser (lyrics) and Alfred Newman (music) for the 1937 Paramount film "The Hurricane" starring Dorothy Lamour. Lamour made a commercial recording of it. The song "The Moon of Manakoora" is considered a standard and was Loesser's first success as a lyric writer.
The song has been covered by many other artists, including: Chet Atkins, Gene Krupa, Bing Crosby, Percy Faith, Henry Mancini, Les Paul & Mary Ford and The Ventures. It is also a popular song in the hawaiian dance repertoire.
The stunningly beautiful version of The Ventures was recorded on the 2nd Album "The Ventures" (Dolton BST-8004 / BLP-2004) (June 1961). Producer Bob Reisdorff & Josie Wilson. With Bob Bogle and Don Wilson on guitar, Nokie Edwards on bass and Howie Johnson on drums. There are claims that it was Nokie Edwards who played the lead guitar but he never claimed it. At this time Fender guitars were used.
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| "The Hurricane" 1937 movie poster |
This song "The Moon Of Manakoora" (The Ventures) after watching the movie, takes us back to scenes and deep feeling in the music.
"The Hurricane" (film):
The Hurricane is a 1937 film set in the South Seas, directed by John Ford and produced by Samuel Goldwyn Productions, about a Polynesian who is unjustly imprisoned. The climax features a special effects hurricane. It stars Dorothy Lamour and Jon Hall, with Mary Astor, C. Aubrey Smith, Thomas Mitchell, Raymond Massey, John Carradine, and Jerome Cowan. James Norman Hall, Jon Hall's uncle, co-wrote the novel of the same name on which The Hurricane is based.
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| based in "The Hurricane" novel (1936) Nordhoff, Charles and Hall, James Norman |
Storyline:
In the Island of Manakoora, a French colony in the South Seas, the joyful Terangi is a leader among the natives and the first mate of the Katopua, the tall ship of Captain Nagle. Terangi gets married with Marama and sooner he sails to Tahiti. While in a bar playing with other natives, Terangi is offended by an alcoholic and he hits his face, breaking his jaw. Despite the testimony of Captain Nagle, Terangi is sentenced to six months of forced labor since the victim had political connections with the Powers That Be. Captain Nagle asks the Governor Eugene DeLaage to uses his influence to help Terangi, but the governor refuses. Terangi unsuccessfully tries to escape from the prison, and each attempt increases his sentence. Eight years later, he finally escapes and his jailbreak is celebrated in Manakoora. Father Paul finds his canoe and brings Terangi to the island. But a devastating hurricane also arrives in the island threatening the dwellers.
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| MARAMA (Dorothy Lamour) & TERANGI (Jon Hall) |
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| TERANGI (Jon Hall), MARAMA (Dorothy Lamour) and TITA (Kuulei De Clercq) |
Awards and nominations:
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards (1938 The Oscar), winning in the category for Best Sound.
*Best Sound Recording - Thomas T. Moulton
*Best Supporting Actor (nomination) - Thomas Mitchell
*Best Music, Score (nomination) - Alfred Newman
"The Hurricane" (1937) - Movie Trailer
Dorothy Lamour - "The Moon Of Manakoora" (1937)
The Ventures - "The Moon Of Manakoora" (1961)
"The Hurricane" (1937) full movie (1h43m24s)
