The most interesting part of "Tusitala" is the weaving of the story against a true historical background. "Tusitala," meaning "teller of tales" in Samoan, was the name given to Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson when he made Samoa his home. Being in ill health, he had searched for a place that would help his illness, and the salt air and climate of Samoa suited him. When there, he formally deeded his birth date to the daughter of the American Land Commissioner Henry Clay Ide, since she, Anna, was born on Christmas Day and therefore could not experience the joy of receiving presents and attention on her birthday separate from that usually given on that holiday. Stevenson was involved in local politics and attempted to intervene in the budding feud between two tribal elders that could lead to war. These historical facts are played out in this "Four Star Playhouse" presentation and show a part of the great author with whom many of us might not be familiar. The roles were well-played by Niven (as Tusitala) and the supporting cast, though the roles of the two chiefs, Metaafa, played by Steven Geray, and Lappeppa, played by Richard Reeves, were closer to caricatures. The part of Anna, a small part, was played by a very young (pre-teen) Noreen Corcoran, but it was significant enough that the show ended with her being held in David Niven's arms; she was the child whose birthday was changed by Stevenson's decree. Noreen went on to star as teenager Kelly Gregg, the niece on the TV series "Bachelor Father." As that series started in 1957, I was surprised to see "Tusitala" listed as 1955, since Noreen looked so much younger than on "Bachelor Father." Her innocent, spirited, precocious role in Tusitala serves as an interesting preview to the child star's TV sitcom days.
3 Reviews
"The Teller of Tales in the South Seas"
theowinthrop25 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It was by sheer chance about eighteen months ago that I came across this film (or television episode or television drama) which I was able to understand a bit about because I had been doing some reading about the events involved in the background. It was being shown on one of the cable networks - unfortunately I cannot recall which.
The story dealt with a political crisis that was in Samoa in 1887 - 1890. The succession to the throne of Samoa was in dispute. The situation was complicated by international rivalries between three countries: Germany, Great Britain, and the Unites States. Each had commercial interests in Samoa, and were concerned about who controlled the throne there.
Germany's interest was the largest of the three, and in 1887 Germany's overseas empire was rather complete. So wherever it existed the Bismarck government was making sure that it's power was felt. Britain did not like being pushed around and was not about to give up the use of a valuable pair of harbors (Pago Pago and Apia). The Cleveland Administration had seen little use for a confrontation over Samoan interests, but in 1889 the new Benjamin Harrison administration was coming in with Secretary of State James G. Blaine, and he was determined to protect our interests there.
In this program they were concentrating less on the international impasse (that came to a crazy conclusion in March 1889) but on the diplomatic efforts of one of the Europeans living in Samoa at that time to keep a native war from breaking out. This individual was actually an international celebrity, and he was well liked by the natives of his new adopted land. He uses his gifts of persuasion to get the two leading rivals for the throne, Metaafa (Steven Geray) and Lapeppa (Richard Reeves) to come to his home for a conference, and warns them that the British were sending a battleship to settle the crisis. And by sheer luck, the battleship appeared on the scene at the right moment for the two rivals to decide to arbitrate.
The European was the novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, alias "Tusitala" which means "Teller of tales". In this drama, put out by Four Star Playhouse (of which he was one of the producers) was David Niven as Stevenson.
It was an enjoyable piece of easy to take fluff. Niven was at his best as the great novelist, trying to prevent unneeded bloodshed. It has to be admitted that Geray and Reeves played their parts too stiffly, but I wonder how much they could have added to their roles anyway. I am giving this an "8" for at least tackling part of a curious piece of Pacific history.
In reality the issue had to wait until a major war almost hit the Pacific, and until a major storm dissipated the forces leading to war. For in March 1889 a hurricane hit Apia harbor where the American and German ships, and the single British vessel "H.M.S. Calliope" were all birthed watching each other. "Calliope" was the only one to get out of the tricky harbor on it's own. German and American naval casualties were high, but in the end "Calliope" returned. American Admiral Kimberley (who managed to survive) made an arrangement with the British commander, and both controlled Samoa until an arbitration settled the spheres of influence and the royal succession. Bismarck hoped to bluster the Americans into collapsing (it had worked well before in Europe), only to find, finally, in James Blaine the one statesman that did not care about his military posturing. He told the American Minister to Germany (in a telegram dispatch) that the Constitution did not give any place for the anger of Bismarck in supporting American citizens and their rights.
Most of the story, about the hurricane that hit Apia, can be found in Edwin P. Hoyt's book, THE TYPHOON THAT STOPPED A WAR (New York: David McKay Company, c.1968). The business about Blaine's refusal to be bullied by Otto Von Bismarck appears in Harry Thurston Peck's TWENTY YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC.
There was a sad result that was unexpected for Bismarck - Kaiser Wilhelm II had recently gotten to the throne (in part, ironically, assisted by Bismarck) but was straining to be rid of the old statesman. He noted Bismarck was ignored by Blaine. Within a year Bismarck, the creator of the Second Reich that Wilhelm II ruled, was fired (Tenniel's famous "dropping the pilot" cartoon dramatized this).
By the way, in reality Stevenson did write about the situation (the best thing he could do) to bring a good account to the world of what was going on on the little island kingdom. In fact, the issue required full time professional diplomats to handle to a solution.
The story dealt with a political crisis that was in Samoa in 1887 - 1890. The succession to the throne of Samoa was in dispute. The situation was complicated by international rivalries between three countries: Germany, Great Britain, and the Unites States. Each had commercial interests in Samoa, and were concerned about who controlled the throne there.
Germany's interest was the largest of the three, and in 1887 Germany's overseas empire was rather complete. So wherever it existed the Bismarck government was making sure that it's power was felt. Britain did not like being pushed around and was not about to give up the use of a valuable pair of harbors (Pago Pago and Apia). The Cleveland Administration had seen little use for a confrontation over Samoan interests, but in 1889 the new Benjamin Harrison administration was coming in with Secretary of State James G. Blaine, and he was determined to protect our interests there.
In this program they were concentrating less on the international impasse (that came to a crazy conclusion in March 1889) but on the diplomatic efforts of one of the Europeans living in Samoa at that time to keep a native war from breaking out. This individual was actually an international celebrity, and he was well liked by the natives of his new adopted land. He uses his gifts of persuasion to get the two leading rivals for the throne, Metaafa (Steven Geray) and Lapeppa (Richard Reeves) to come to his home for a conference, and warns them that the British were sending a battleship to settle the crisis. And by sheer luck, the battleship appeared on the scene at the right moment for the two rivals to decide to arbitrate.
The European was the novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, alias "Tusitala" which means "Teller of tales". In this drama, put out by Four Star Playhouse (of which he was one of the producers) was David Niven as Stevenson.
It was an enjoyable piece of easy to take fluff. Niven was at his best as the great novelist, trying to prevent unneeded bloodshed. It has to be admitted that Geray and Reeves played their parts too stiffly, but I wonder how much they could have added to their roles anyway. I am giving this an "8" for at least tackling part of a curious piece of Pacific history.
In reality the issue had to wait until a major war almost hit the Pacific, and until a major storm dissipated the forces leading to war. For in March 1889 a hurricane hit Apia harbor where the American and German ships, and the single British vessel "H.M.S. Calliope" were all birthed watching each other. "Calliope" was the only one to get out of the tricky harbor on it's own. German and American naval casualties were high, but in the end "Calliope" returned. American Admiral Kimberley (who managed to survive) made an arrangement with the British commander, and both controlled Samoa until an arbitration settled the spheres of influence and the royal succession. Bismarck hoped to bluster the Americans into collapsing (it had worked well before in Europe), only to find, finally, in James Blaine the one statesman that did not care about his military posturing. He told the American Minister to Germany (in a telegram dispatch) that the Constitution did not give any place for the anger of Bismarck in supporting American citizens and their rights.
Most of the story, about the hurricane that hit Apia, can be found in Edwin P. Hoyt's book, THE TYPHOON THAT STOPPED A WAR (New York: David McKay Company, c.1968). The business about Blaine's refusal to be bullied by Otto Von Bismarck appears in Harry Thurston Peck's TWENTY YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC.
There was a sad result that was unexpected for Bismarck - Kaiser Wilhelm II had recently gotten to the throne (in part, ironically, assisted by Bismarck) but was straining to be rid of the old statesman. He noted Bismarck was ignored by Blaine. Within a year Bismarck, the creator of the Second Reich that Wilhelm II ruled, was fired (Tenniel's famous "dropping the pilot" cartoon dramatized this).
By the way, in reality Stevenson did write about the situation (the best thing he could do) to bring a good account to the world of what was going on on the little island kingdom. In fact, the issue required full time professional diplomats to handle to a solution.
Actually based on true events...
planktonrules20 March 2016
The retired history teacher in me enjoyed this episode of "Four Star Playhouse" because I learned something about world history by watching the show. While I have no idea how close to the truth the show was, Robert Louis Stevenson WAS called 'Tusitala' and he did mediate between warring factions in order to prevent a bloody civil war in Samoa near the very end of his life!
When the show begins, you see Stevenson 'giving his birthday' to a little girl. This actually did occur and the child was the daughter of some foreign official. Soon after, Tusitala (literally 'Story Teller') learns that his beloved Samoan people are preparing for war, as two chiefs both claim title of King. He is not about to let that happen if he can help it, so even though he was quite ill and soon died after, he comes up with a plan and approaches both chiefs in order to have a meeting and, hopefully, avoid war.
The acting, as usual, is excellent and David Niven did a nice job. Some might blanch at the paternalistic language and way Stevenson describes the Samoans as children--very politically incorrect but very accurate for the day. Well worth seeing and rather sweet.
When the show begins, you see Stevenson 'giving his birthday' to a little girl. This actually did occur and the child was the daughter of some foreign official. Soon after, Tusitala (literally 'Story Teller') learns that his beloved Samoan people are preparing for war, as two chiefs both claim title of King. He is not about to let that happen if he can help it, so even though he was quite ill and soon died after, he comes up with a plan and approaches both chiefs in order to have a meeting and, hopefully, avoid war.
The acting, as usual, is excellent and David Niven did a nice job. Some might blanch at the paternalistic language and way Stevenson describes the Samoans as children--very politically incorrect but very accurate for the day. Well worth seeing and rather sweet.
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