This 1960s TV episode of “True Adventure” hosted by Bill Burrud shows Tahiti’s development, especially the impact of industrialization, on the host’s return visit. The show opens with Burrud asking, “What could be more exciting than going to a South Sea island called Tahiti?” A montage of island scenes from French Polynesia follows: waterfalls, hula dancers, hibiscus flowers (1:10). Burrud, narrating in front of a compass rose, says this is his second visit to Tahiti; he was previously there when in the Navy. Burrud flies over the islands of Huahine and Moorea (1:40); the seaplane lands coming from Fiji. Burrud is greeted by women in Polynesian island dress as he steps off a boat and is given a lei (2:34). Burrud looks across the water to the island of Moorea (3:03); a steam shovel doing construction dumps earth into a lagoon to build Tahiti’s first landing strip. Burrud rides a local bus into town next to a man playing a guitar (4:33). Burrud disembarks in Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. Locals ride bicycles; the Donald restaurant (5:55). Burrud sees engineers constructing a new hotel to accommodate tourists, part of what he calls “Jet Age construction”(6:37). Burrud hugs a former acquaintance, Maman, whom he befriended as an ensign (7:13); she asks him to accompany her to visit grandchildren on Moorea. Tahiti nightlife scenes: a man playing bongos, dancers in leis and skirts (9:00). Locals sing hymns at a church (10:28). Tahitian families swim and relax on the beach (12:10). A French flag (12:37); Moorea is a French possession, like Tahiti. Men load a pig and refrigerator onto a boat. Burrud and Maman ride the boat to Moorea; a man, Morito, plays guitar on the bow (14:30). Burrud meets Suzanne, Mammon’s granddaughter; she joins them on the trip back to Tahiti. Morito, Suzanne, and Burrud take a canoe to go spearfishing near the reef (16:52). Burrud explores the coral reefs and spears his first fish (20:10). Women dance in hula skirts and men play drums at the luau Maman holds for Suzanne (20:41). The feast includes roasted pig, pineapple, coconuts and papayas (21:43). The film ends with Burrud narrating the contrast between “the Tahiti that was” and the Tahiti “soon invaded by a jetwave of tourists” as he bids farewell to Maman at the airport; he says that as a tourist, he will also contribute to Tahiti’s commercialism. Credits: Executive Producer Gene McCabe, Unit Director & Music Director Betty Turbiville, Production Coordinator Barney Sarecky, Supervising Film Editor William R. Lieb, Associate Producer Gerald Pearce, Recording Supervisor Ken Carlson, Re-Recording Audio Effects Co, Producer William H. White, Produced by Bill Burrud Productions.

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