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Adventure comedy

South Sea Woman (1953): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch

South Sea Woman (1953) movie poster

South Sea Woman is a 1953 adventure comedy directed by Arthur Lubin, starring Strother Martin as Marine in Audience at Court-martial (uncredited), Virginia Mayo and Chuck Connors. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

South Sea Woman (1953) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Director
Arthur Lubin
Genres
Adventure , Romance , Comedy , War
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is South Sea Woman About?

The premise of South Sea Woman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Marine Sergeant James O’Hearn is court‑martialed at San Diego for desertion, theft, scandalous conduct and property destruction, but he refuses to plead. Showgirl Ginger Martin testifies that he stays silent to protect his friend, Marine Private Davey White. She also recounts meeting the two men in Shanghai while destitute, just weeks before Pearl Harbor.

South Sea Woman Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • guadalcanal
  • awol
  • military trial
  • based on play
  • held at gunpoint
  • grass skirt
  • hawaiian islands
  • fistfight
  • japanese soldier
  • devil dog
  • stranded
  • sneak attack
+38 more
  • treachery
  • song
  • singer
  • singing
  • united states marine corps hymn
  • explosion
  • 1940s
  • saloon bouncer
  • u.s. marine corps
  • year 1942
  • buddy comedy
  • farce comedy
  • told in flashback
  • courtroom testimony
  • vigilante justice
  • sea adventure
  • military desertion
  • court of inquiry
  • master gunnery sergeant
  • marine corps sergeant
  • photographer
  • abduction
  • boat
  • stolen motorboat
  • children
  • waterfront bar
  • reference to attack on pearl harbor
  • chinese man
  • shanghai china
  • south pacific island
  • death
  • escape from prison
  • french woman
  • romantic rivalry
  • south seas island
  • trial witness
  • ship
  • ship fire
Where to watch

Where to Watch South Sea Woman

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

South Sea Woman Cast & Characters

Strother Martin leads the cast as Marine in Audience at Court-martial (uncredited), with Virginia Mayo as Ginger Martin and Chuck Connors as Pvt. Davey White. Directed by Arthur Lubin; 26 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in South Sea Woman

· 22 more
Show all 26 cast members
Plot

South Sea Woman Plot Summary

What happens in South Sea Woman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

James O’Hearn, a U.S. Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, sits in the hot seat of a courtroom at a San Diego Marine base, facing charges of desertion, theft, scandalous conduct, and destruction of property in time of war. He refuses to testify and declines to enter a plea, and the film unfolds through a careful braid of courtroom testimony and flashbacks that piece together the events leading to the charges. The proceedings themselves become a test of character, truth, and the limits of loyalty, with every witness adding a layer to a story that blurs the line between duty and personal choice.

Full summary

The whole story of South Sea Woman, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

South Sea Woman Trailers & Videos

The trailer of South Sea Woman.

South Sea Woman (1953)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know South Sea Woman?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

What rank does James O'Hearn hold at the start of the film?

Seen South Sea Woman?

FAQ

South Sea Woman FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of South Sea Woman, each answered in a sentence.

How long is South Sea Woman?

South Sea Woman runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was South Sea Woman released?

South Sea Woman was released on June 27, 1953.

Who directed South Sea Woman?

South Sea Woman was directed by Arthur Lubin.

More films by Arthur Lubin

Who is in the cast of South Sea Woman?

South Sea Woman stars Strother Martin as Marine in Audience at Court-martial (uncredited), Virginia Mayo as Ginger Martin and Chuck Connors as Pvt. Davey White, among 26 credited actors.

Where can I watch South Sea Woman?

In the US, South Sea Woman is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

Does South Sea Woman have a post-credit scene?

No. South Sea Woman has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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