Napoleon Pukui
Actor
About Napoleon Pukui
Napoleon Pukui was a Hawaiian actor who appeared during the early sound era of Hollywood cinema. His only known film credit was in the 1932 romantic drama 'Bird of Paradise,' directed by King Vidor and starring Dolores del Río and Joel McCrea. As a native Hawaiian, Pukui was likely cast to provide cultural authenticity to the film's South Pacific setting, which was partially filmed on location in Hawaii. His brief film career coincided with Hollywood's growing interest in exotic locales and stories during the early 1930s. While his role in the film was supporting, his casting represented Hollywood's occasional practice of using local talent for authenticity in location-based productions. Unfortunately, like many supporting actors from this era who appeared in only one or two films, detailed records of his life and career are scarce. His appearance in 'Bird of Paradise' remains his only documented contribution to cinema history.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in 'Bird of Paradise' (1932) during Hollywood's golden age of exotic location films
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Napoleon Pukui's appearance in 'Bird of Paradise' represents an early example of Hollywood's attempts at cultural authenticity in location-based filmmaking, though the film itself was still largely a Hollywood production with its own romanticized vision of Pacific Island culture. His casting as a native Hawaiian in a major studio production was relatively progressive for its time, when many ethnic roles were played by white actors in makeup. While his contribution was small, it was part of a broader trend in early 1930s cinema that sought to capitalize on public fascination with exotic locations and cultures, particularly following the success of films like 'Tabu' (1931).
Lasting Legacy
Napoleon Pukui's legacy is that of a representative figure from the early days of Hollywood's location shooting era, when studios began venturing beyond soundstages to capture authentic settings. His single film appearance serves as a historical marker of Hawaiian participation in early Hollywood cinema, though like many supporting actors from this period, his story remains largely undocumented. His name appears in film credits as evidence of the diverse, though often uncredited, talent that contributed to Hollywood's Golden Age.
Who They Inspired
Due to his brief film career, there is no documented evidence of Napoleon Pukui directly influencing other actors or filmmakers. However, his casting in a major Hollywood production may have paved the way for other native Hawaiian actors to be considered for roles in films set in their homeland, though this practice remained limited throughout the studio era.
Off Screen
Very little is documented about Napoleon Pukui's personal life outside of his single film appearance. As a Hawaiian actor during the early 1930s, he was part of a small group of non-white performers who occasionally appeared in Hollywood films during this era. His casting in 'Bird of Paradise' suggests he may have been involved in local Hawaiian performing arts or was discovered during the film's location shooting.
Did You Know?
- 'Bird of Paradise' (1932) was partially filmed on location in Hawaii, which was unusual for Hollywood productions of the time
- The film was directed by King Vidor, one of the most respected directors of the era
- The film starred Mexican actress Dolores del Río in a leading role, representing early diversity in Hollywood casting
- The film was notable for containing scenes of nudity that were controversial for its time
- Pukui's film career appears to have consisted of only this single movie, making him a one-film actor
- The film was a remake of a 1928 silent film of the same name
- The production faced challenges with local Hawaiian authorities due to its content
- The film's underwater sequences were considered technically advanced for their time
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Napoleon Pukui?
Napoleon Pukui was a Hawaiian actor who appeared in the 1932 film 'Bird of Paradise.' His film career was limited to this single role, where he was likely cast to provide authenticity to the film's Hawaiian setting.
What films is Napoleon Pukui best known for?
Napoleon Pukui is known only for his appearance in 'Bird of Paradise' (1932), a romantic drama directed by King Vidor and starring Dolores del Río and Joel McCrea.
When was Napoleon Pukui born and when did he die?
Specific birth and death dates for Napoleon Pukui are not documented in historical records. He is known to have been active as an actor in 1932 and was from Hawaii.
What awards did Napoleon Pukui win?
There are no records of Napoleon Pukui receiving any major film awards or nominations. His career consisted of a single supporting role in 1932.
What was Napoleon Pukui's acting style?
Due to the limited documentation of his work and single film appearance, specific details about Napoleon Pukui's acting style are not available in historical records.
Why was Napoleon Pukui cast in 'Bird of Paradise'?
Napoleon Pukui was likely cast in 'Bird of Paradise' because he was a native Hawaiian, and the film was partially shot on location in Hawaii. His casting would have provided cultural authenticity to the production.
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Films
1 film
