''Kona Coast'' is a 1968 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Lamont Johnson Ernest Lamont Johnson Jr. (September 30, 1922 – October 24, 2010) was an American actor and film director who has appeared in and directed many television shows and movies. He won two Emmy Awards. Early years Johnson was born in Stoc ...

, starring

Richard Boone Richard Allen Boone (June 18, 1917 – January 10, 1981) was an American actor who starred in over 50 films and was notable for his roles in Westerns, including his starring role in the television series ''Have Gun – Will Travel''. Early lif ...

and

Vera Miles Vera June Miles (née Ralston, born August 23, 1929) is an American retired actress who worked closely with Alfred Hitchcock, most notably as Lila Crane in the classic 1960 film '' Psycho'', reprising the role in the 1983 sequel '' Psycho II''. ...

Plot

Sam Moran (

) is a Honolulu charter-boat captain who leads fishing expeditions in the tropical paradise. When his daughter is found murdered at the party of a wealthy young playboy, he seeks the truth about the murder. Convinced the playboy is guilty, he enlists the help of his friend Kittibelle (

Joan Blondell Joan Blondell (born Rose Joan Bluestein; August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress who performed in film and television for 50 years. Blondell began her career in vaudeville. After winning a beauty pageant, she embarked on ...

), who runs an alcohol-abuse treatment center where Sam's former love Melissa (

) is a recovering alcoholic. Sam runs into a wall of silence obviously built by hush money and islanders fearful of reprisals from the rich and powerful family. The determined dad fights to uncover the information that will land the murderer in jail as he avenges the death of his daughter.

Cast

as Capt. Sam Moran *

as Melissa Hyde *

as Kitibelle Lightfoot *

Steve Ihnat Stefan Ihnat (August 7, 1934 – May 12, 1972) was a Slovak-born American actor and director. He emigrated to Canada when he was five years old, and later became a United States citizen. Early life Ihnat was born to Andrew and Mary Ihnat i ...

as Kryder *

Chips Rafferty John William Pilbean Goffage MBE (26 March 190927 May 1971), known professionally as Chips Rafferty, was an Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the late 1930s until his death ...

as Charlie Lightfoot

Production

Producers at Seven Arts approached John D. MacDonald to see if he had any ideas for a TV series. He did a treatment for a show set in the Bahamas called ''Bimini Gal'', which he wrote for Robert Mitchum. Eventually this became ''Kona Coast''. Richard Boone had moved to Hawaii and was keen to help establish film production in the state. He did a deal with CBS who agreed to put up most of the budget for ''Kona Coast''. It was produced by Boone's Pioneer Productions and was distributed by Seven Arts. CBS were hoping it would lead to a TV series, but the film was shot as a theatrical feature rather than a pilot. In May 1967, Boone said "I really don't want to do another series but I've been battling for three years to get production going in Hawaii and if a series will do it, I'll go." CBS produced $750,000 of the $900,000 budget. The film was produced and directed by Lamont Johnson, who was friends with Boone and had worked with him several times in television.

Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison (May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018) was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. Robert Bloch, the author of '' Psycho'' ...

was hired to write the script, but he clashed with Boone, and Gil Ralston replaced Ellison. In July 1967, Vera Miles signed to co star. Boone said "my role in the movie - and, hopefully, in a series - is so much like me that it's ridiculous. The guy's got a large fishing boat - I own a 42 footer - he'll do anything for a price, he's easy going and loves kids, intelligent enough to deal sympathetically with all the varied groups in the islands, but a hard guy when he's turned on." It was the first movie to use Cinemobile technology, which enabled the film to be shot in five weeks instead of six. In March 1968, Boone announced Pioneer Productions would make ''The Guns of Mauna Kea'', a second film in Hawaii.MOVIE CALL SHEET: Walker Joins 'Renegades', Martin, Betty. ''Los Angeles Times'' 16 Mar 1968: b9.

References

External links

* * * *
Review of film
at Shock Cinema
Kona Coast
Letterbox DVD {{Lamont Johnson 1968 crime drama films American crime drama films Films directed by Lamont Johnson Films scored by Jack Marshall Films set in Hawaii Films shot in Hawaii Warner Bros. films 1960s English-language films 1960s American films