Bird of Paradise / The Lady Refuses (1931) Rating: Starring: Betty Compson, Delores Del Rio, Joel McCrea Director: George Archainbaud, King Vidor Category: Classic, Drama Studio: Roan Group Subtitles: [None] Length: 0 mins Want to buy?           Pre-Code Hollywood 2 Volume Two of the Pre-Code Hollywood series combines the 1932 Delores Del Rio picture Bird Of Paradise and 1931's The Lady Refuses starring Betty Compson. Director King Vidor was a hot property, thanks to The Champ and Street Scene (both 1931), when David O. Selznick signed him for Bird Of Paradise.Vidor didn't like the play, so he and writer Wells Root reworked it, creating a lavish South Seas romance for Delores Del Rio and Joel McCrea.(For McCrea to get the part, he had to teach Selznick to surf!) Selznick went all out on this one.The cast and crew journeyed to Hawaii (where rain put them way behind schedule).Busby Berkeley choreographed the native dances.And Max Steiner composed the first score to run the entire length of a film. Del Rio's nude swimming scene was cut from the re-release prints, but has been restored for DVD. Betty Compson was one of the stars signed to form RKO Pictures.The Lady Refuses casts her as a "lady for hire" involved with a wealthy socialite and his son.It's versatile director, George Archainbaud, would go on to The Penguin Pool Murder (1932) and Hoppy Serves A Writ (1943).