Bird of Paradise
“A drama of forbidden love beyond the pale of white men's morals.”
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
August 12, 1932
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$753K
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- King Vidor
- Screenplay & Story
- Wells Root, Wanda Tuchock, Leonard Praskins
- Original Score
- Max Steiner
- Original Title
- Bird of Paradise
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 20m
- Worldwide Gross
- $753K
- Production Studios
- RKO Radio Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
King Vidor
Wells Root, Wanda Tuchock, Leonard Praskins, Richard Walton Tully
Max Steiner
Edward Cronjager, Clyde De Vinna, Lucien N. Andriot
Archie Marshek
King Vidor, David O. Selznick
Department Leadership Roster
Wells Root
Screenplay
King Vidor
Director
Max Steiner
Original Music Composer
King Vidor
Producer
Edward Cronjager
Director of Photography
Archie Marshek
Editor
Clyde De Vinna
Director of Photography
Wanda Tuchock
Screenplay
Leonard Praskins
Screenplay
Lucien N. Andriot
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Bird of Paradise.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Bird of Paradise.
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Public Domain
Movies in the public domain in the United States. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_in_the_public_domain_in_the_United_States archive.org
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
MGM+ US - Romance Movies
Curated list of Most Popular on MGM+ (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.
MGM+ US - Adventure Movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bird of Paradise
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Bird of Paradise about?
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.
Who directed Bird of Paradise?
Bird of Paradise was directed by King Vidor.
Who stars in Bird of Paradise?
The principal cast of Bird of Paradise includes Dolores del Río, Joel McCrea, John Halliday, Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher, Bert Roach.
When was Bird of Paradise released and how long is it?
Bird of Paradise was released in 1932 with a total runtime of 1h 20m.
How much did Bird of Paradise make at the box office?
Bird of Paradise grossed $753K in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for Bird of Paradise?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Bird of Paradise was composed by Max Steiner.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Bird of Paradise?
Bird of Paradise holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).