Hawaii Calls (1938)
Directed by comedy veteran Edward F. Cline and released on March 11, 1938, Hawaii Calls is a charming American musical adventure produced by Sol Lesser’s Principal Productions and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. Starring boy soprano sensation Bobby Breen, deadpan comedian Ned Sparks, and humorist Irvin S. Cobb, this breezy 72-minute film transports audiences to pre-WWII Honolulu for a blend of tropical crooning, juvenile hijinks, and naval espionage.
Plot Overview
Billy Barrington (Bobby Breen) is a cheerful young orphan living in San Francisco who longs to reunite with his family in Hawaii. Lacking the funds for steamship passage, Billy and his best friend—a native Hawaiian boy named Pua (Pua Lani)—decide to stow away aboard a luxury ocean liner bound for Honolulu. Along the journey, the boys cross paths with “Strings” (Ned Sparks), a chronically cynical ship musician who reluctantly takes the young runaways under his wing to keep them out of the brig.
Upon reaching the lush, sun-soaked shores of Oahu, Billy’s search for home takes an unexpected, dangerous detour. He accidentally stumbles onto a covert spy ring attempting to steal top-secret naval defense blueprints from the U.S. military installation. Balancing his blossoming musical talent with a thrilling island adventure, Billy must dodge ruthless espionage agents, team up with local law enforcement, and use his golden voice to help unravel the conspiracy before the spies slip off the island.
Cast
- Bobby Breen as Billy Barrington
- Ned Sparks as “Strings”
- Irvin S. Cobb as Captain Hiram
- Warren Hull as Wayne Milburn
- Gloria Holden as Mrs. Milburn
- Pua Lani as Pua
- Raymond Hatton as Inspector
- Herbert Rawlinson as Harlow
Production Notes & Trivia
- Child Soprano Phenomenon: Canadian-born Bobby Breen was one of the most successful child stars of the late 1930s, marketed by independent producer Sol Lesser as RKO’s musical answer to 20th Century Fox’s Shirley Temple.
- Rare On-Location Footage: The production traveled directly to Oahu, capturing invaluable cinematic footage of pre-war Hawaii, including pristine views of Waikiki Beach, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and Pearl Harbor prior to the events of World War II.
- A Comedy Master at the Helm: Director Edward F. Cline was a key architect of early screen comedy, having co-directed iconic silent shorts with Buster Keaton before later helming legendary W.C. Fields comedies like My Little Chickadee (1940) and The Bank Dick (1940).
- Hawaiian Music Craze: The film’s soundtrack featured authentic Hawaiian tunes arranged by Raymond Paige, feeding directly into the late-1930s mainland craze for island culture, hula dancing, and steel guitar music.
Legacy
Hawaii Calls stands as a captivating time capsule of 1930s escapist Hollywood cinema. Beyond showcasing Bobby Breen’s remarkable vocal range and Ned Sparks’ trademark deadpan comic timing, the film holds immense historical value for its gorgeous location shooting across pre-war Honolulu. Its sun-drenched atmosphere and lighthearted espionage plot offer a nostalgic, highly enjoyable journey back to the Golden Age of studio musicals.
