The original Moana: did a 1926 documentary give birth to a 21st century Disney blockbuster?

Long before the 2016 hit animation and its forthcoming live-action remake came a pioneering silent film that established a whole new genre Next week sees the release of Moana, the live-action remake of the 2016 Disney animation smash – again starring Dwayne Johnson. But that was not the original Moana. That honour goes to a Moana released a full century ago: a glimpse of Polynesian life now largely forgotten but none the less offering some inspiration to the makers of today’s iteration. “Some...

By Christian Kriticos