An outrageous social comedy about a New York realtor who dreams of having political influence by taking over a new Polynesian nation.An outrageous social comedy about a New York realtor who dreams of having political influence by taking over a new Polynesian nation.An outrageous social comedy about a New York realtor who dreams of having political influence by taking over a new Polynesian nation.
Ferdy Mayne
- Seth the Butler
- (as Ferdinand Mayne)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaShot in 15 days on the campus of Bard College in 1986, during the break between the spring and summer sessions. Its cast of legendary character actors was joined by a young NYC indie crew and 22 Bard College student interns, all living together in the dorm. 93% of the film was shot at Bard (or a nearby Chinese restaurant, a local hardware store and on the highway to Bard). NYC exteriors were filmed on the streets of Manhattan in a day and a half, plus a half day of exteriors on the island of St. Croix.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Guiron (1991)
Featured review
Hilarious Political Satire!
Surrounding two sleazy business buddies looking to make a quick buck by investing in a peaceful Polynesian island, Chief Zabu is a quick-witted comedy that hilariously satirizes global politics and the "American dream. Although the film was originally made in 1988, many of the jokes are still relevant today, as they translate perfectly to 21st century politics. Actors Allen Garfield and Zack Norman's on-screen chemistry is incontrovertible as two power-hungry real estate developers with pie in the sky dreams of wealth and success. When these two friends learn that they can earn millions off of a small Polynesian island, what follows is a hilariously entertaining scheme to gain economic control of the tropical land. Overall, Chief Zabu is a hilarious, farcical, and witty satire with a humorous and engaging script that mocks sleazy business dealings and political influence that stands the test of time over 30 years after it was originally produced.
helpful•41
- cshipleyfilm
- Jul 12, 2020
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Filming locations
- St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands(Tiburaku)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $187,996 (estimated)
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![Allen Garfield and Zack Norman in Chief Zabu (1988)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMWJlYmUzZDMtNGQyMy00NDJiLTg5MzMtN2Q5Y2VkYmQ2NzZkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjkzNzc4MjQ@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,1,90,133_.jpg)