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Beyond the Reef (Song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Beyond The Reef” | |
|---|---|
| Song by Napua Stevens | |
| Songwriter | Jack Pitman |
“Beyond The Reef” is a song written by Canadian Jack Pitman in Hawaii in 1948. It was first performed by Hawaiian artist Napua Stevens in 1949.
Although Pitman was living in Hawaii when he wrote it, “Beyond the Reef” does not contain any Hawaiian language words or any mention of Hawaii. It is a slow song in the key of C major with a 2-5-1 progression with D minor, G major and C major. It features the steel guitar as do many of the hapa-haole songs written during this period.
Notable cover versions
- Bing Crosby recorded the song on 5 September 1950 and Crosby’s recording reached No. 26 on the Billboard pop chart.
- Marty Robbins included the song on his 1957 album Song of the Islands.
- Andy Williams released a version on his 1959 album, To You Sweetheart, Aloha.
- George Greeley recorded an instrumental version of the song in 1960 on his Warner Bros. album, The Most Beautiful Music of Hawaii.
- The Ventures also recorded the song on their third album, Another Smash, in September 1961.
- Vic Damone included the song on his 1962 album Strange Enchantment.
- Burl Ives included the song on his 1965 album On the Beach at Waikiki.
- Elvis Presley recorded his version of the song on 27 May 1966 but this recording was only released on a boxset in 1980/1 and as the b-side to “It’s only love” released in 1970.
- Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra
- The Waikikis
- Percy Faith & HIs Orchestra
- Joni James
- The Yandall Sisters
The song “Beyond the Reef” is most notably associated with Disney’s recent animated film, Moana 2, as a thematic song for Moana’s journey beyond her island, with a version titled “Beyond (From ‘Moana 2’)” by Auli’i Cravalho.
Beyond the Reef (Film)
| Beyond the Reef | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Frank C. Clarke |
| Screenplay by | Louis LaRusso II James Carabatsos |
| Based on | Tikoyo and his Shark by Clement Richer |
| Produced by | Raffaella De Laurentiis |
| Starring | Dayton Ka’ne Maren Jensen Kathleen Swan Keahi Farden Oliverio Maciel Diaz George Tapare David Nakuna Robert Atamu Bob Spiegel |
| Cinematography | Sam Martin |
| Edited by | Ian Crafford |
| Music by | Francis Lai |
| Production company | Dino De Laurentiis Company |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
| Release date | April 24, 1981 |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $547,525 |
Beyond the Reef is a 1981 American adventure film directed by Frank C. Clarke and written by Louis LaRusso II and James Carabatsos. The film stars Dayton Ka’ne, Maren Jensen, Kathleen Swan, Keahi Farden, Oliverio Maciel Diaz, George Tapare, David Nakuna, Robert Atamu and Bob Spiegel.
Cast
- Dayton Ka’ne as Tikoyo
- Maren Jensen as Diana
- Kathleen Swan as Milly
- Keahi Farden as Jeff
- Oliverio Maciel Diaz as Manidu
- George Tapare as The Hawaiian
- David Nakuna as Mischima
- Robert Atamu as Maku
- Bob Spiegel as Turpin
- Maui Temaui as Milly’s Boyfriend
- Teriitehu Star as Grandfather
- Joseph Ka’ne as Tikoyo as a child
- Titaua Castel as Diana as a child
- Andre Garnier as Jeff as a child
Set in the lush landscapes of Bora Bora, “Beyond the Reef” (1981) is an adventure-romance film that plays like an “environmental fable.” It is a remake of the 1962 film Ti-Koyo and His Shark and is based on the novel by Clément Richer.
The Plot
The story follows a young Polynesian boy named Tikoyo, who is raised by a wise mentor named Manidù. After a group of pearl divers kills a female tiger shark, Tikoyo rescues her orphaned pup. He names the shark Manidù after his mentor.
As Tikoyo grows up, his bond with the shark becomes mystical. When the elder Manidù passes away, Tikoyo becomes convinced that the old man’s spirit has moved into the shark. The shark, now a massive 16-foot predator, becomes Tikoyo’s loyal companion and protector.
The conflict arises from two main fronts:
- The Romance: Tikoyo’s childhood friend, Diana, returns to the island after many years of schooling in America. While they rekindle their relationship, the shark “Manidù” acts as a guardian and matchmaker, though it initially poses a challenge to their reunion.
- The Greed: Diana’s brother, Jeff, is obsessed with finding a legendary cache of sacred black pearls hidden in a lagoon. Jeff and his associates represent the “civilized” world’s greed, threatening the island’s natural balance.
The climax involves the shark defending Tikoyo, Diana, and the sacred pearls from Jeff’s group. Ultimately, the film serves as a message about living in harmony with nature versus the destructive nature of human greed.
The 1981 film “Beyond the Reef” (sometimes released as Shark Boy of Bora Bora or Sea Killer) is a unique production that blended Hollywood stars with authentic South Pacific locations and local talent.
Filming Locations
The movie was filmed primarily on location in Bora Bora, French Polynesia. This gave the film a visually stunning and authentic backdrop that set it apart from other adventure films of the era.
- The Lagoon: Most of the underwater photography and sailing scenes took place in the famous turquoise lagoon surrounding the island.
- The Reef: The “forbidden” reef mentioned in the title was filmed along the outer coral barriers of the island, where the production captured real-life tiger sharks.
- Authenticity: The director, Frank C. Clarke, utilized the lush jungles and white-sand beaches of the island to create the “environmental fable” atmosphere described in the plot.
The Cast
The film is notable for its lead duo—one a rising Hollywood star and the other a local Polynesian actor.
| Actor | Role | Background |
| Dayton Ka’ne | Tikoyo | A Hawaiian actor who became a temporary heartthrob; he also starred in the 1979 disaster film Hurricane. |
| Maren Jensen | Diana | Best known for her role as Athena in the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. |
| Oliverio Maciel | Manidù | A notable Mexican scuba diver and stuntman who played the elderly mentor. |
| Keahi Farden | Jeff | Diana’s greedy brother and the film’s human antagonist. |
| Kathleen Swan | Milly | A supporting character who interacts with the local community. |
Notable Production Trivia
- Real Sharks: The film is famous (and somewhat controversial) for its use of real tiger sharks rather than mechanical props. The underwater sequences were managed by Ramón Bravo, a legendary cinematographer and shark expert who was known for his work on Tintorera and Cyclone.
- Family Connection: The film was produced by Raffaella De Laurentiis, daughter of the legendary Dino De Laurentiis. This production followed their previous South Pacific venture, Hurricane (1979), which also starred Dayton Ka’ne.
- Alternative Titles: Depending on where you lived, you might have seen this movie under the title Sea Killer (Europe) or Manidù: The Rebel Shark.
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