At Vitaphone Varieties, Jeff Cohen discusses early talking pictures with a South Seas setting in the article "Melody Native."
A brief quote:
"The Pagan, an MGM feature released in April of 1929, hit the mark with escapist minded audiences and devout fans of it's [sic] star, Ramon Novarro, alike. Although a silent film with a synchronized music, vocal and sound effects score, The Pagan had enough drawing power to succeed at a time when theaters were swelling with all-talkie product. Visually stunning, and containing what many justly believe to be Novarro's signature performance and perhaps even role of a lifetime, [the] success of The Pagan was also due in no small way to the film's theme song, which swept the country and globe before, during and after the film's release."
The theme song in question, by the way, is the "Pagan Love Song," with lyrics by Arthur Freed, and music by Nacio Herb Brown. An MP3 recording of the song has been attached to Jeff's article. (I've been in touch with Jeff for several years — I'm allowed to refer to him by his first name.)
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