When a young South Seas sailor falls overboard, the beautiful daughter of a Polynesian king dives in and saves his life. Thus begins the romance of Johnny and Luana. Though Luana is promised to another man, Johnny whisks her away, and for a brief time the lovers live very happily together. But, when a local volcano threatens their lives, Luana knows that she must sacrifice herself to the volcanic gods in order to save her island.
When a young South Seas sailor falls overboard, the beautiful daughter of a Polynesian king dives in and saves his life. Thus begins the romance of Johnny and Luana. Though Luana is promised to another man, Johnny whisks her away, and for a brief time the lovers live very happily together. But, when a local volcano threatens their lives, Luana knows that she must sacrifice herself to the volcanic gods in order to save her island.
The film's narrative, while a romantic tragedy, subtly reinforces the power of tradition and collective duty over individual desire, culminating in a tragic sacrifice that upholds established cultural norms.
The movie features a diverse cast with a non-white lead actress portraying an indigenous character, alongside a white male protagonist. The narrative focuses on an intercultural romance without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or presenting strong DEI themes.
The character Luana, a Polynesian princess, is portrayed by Dolores del Río, a Mexican actress. This casting represents a character established as one race being depicted by an actor of a different race.
The film 'Bird of Paradise' does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Its narrative focuses on a heterosexual romance and cultural conflict, thus rendering the net impact on LGBTQ+ portrayal as not applicable.
The film is a romantic drama set on a Polynesian island. Female characters, including the protagonist Luana, do not engage in or win close-quarters physical combat against male opponents.
The 1932 film "Bird of Paradise" is an adaptation of a 1912 play. A review of the main characters from the source material and their portrayal in the film reveals no instances where a character's established gender was changed.
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