Virgin Island (film)

Last updated

Our Virgin Island
Virgin Island
Our Virgin Island 1959 poster.jpg
1959 theatrical poster
Directed by Pat Jackson
Written by Ring Lardner Jr.
Produced by Leon Clore
Starring John Cassavetes
Virginia Maskell
Sidney Poitier
Cinematography Freddie Francis
Edited byGordon Pilkinton
Music by Clifton Parker
Distributed by British Lion Film Corporation
Release date
  • October 1958 (1958-10)
(UK)
Running time
94 minutes [1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Virgin Island (U.S. title: Our Virgin Island) is a 1958 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring John Cassavetes, Virginia Maskell and Sidney Poitier. [2] [3] It was adapted by Ring Lardner Jr. from the 1953 memoir Our Virgin Island by Robb White. The American release in 1960 followed the title of the novel. [4] [5]

Contents

Premise

A British woman marries an American writer in spite of her family's disapproval and goes to live with him on a tropical island.

Cast

Production

It was filmed on the British Virgin Islands.[ citation needed ]

Freddie Francis said he was "pressured" into doing the film by producer Leon Clore.

I don't think Pat Jackson particularly wanted me to do it. But Leon wanted me to do it. Not that there was any bad feeling between dear old Pat and myself but once again Pat was the wrong guy I think for the picture because the two stars were John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. And let's face it, those two guys with dear old Pat whose such a nice bloke and basically a documentary director, he was way off... I remember one night I was having dinner in the yacht club in one of the Virgin Islands and Sidney Poitier and Cassavetes came over and said would I take the picture over. I said listen I can't do that, you better go and speak to Leon. So anyway they went to Leon and obviously Leon said no you can't do that. So it was a very unhappy picture from that point of view. [6]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "So long as this film makes no effort to create a dramatic scenc or to talk seriously to the audience it is gaily and romantically successful; the comedy is unforced and the high spirits infectious. But when John Cassavetes, always too intense, begins to sermonise on independence, Virginia Maskell to preach about the tribulations of writers, and Isabel Dean to speak an uncomfortable monologue about being cut off from life, the film discloses an unnerving capacity to raise a squirm among the more worldly audiences. Sidney Poitier's outrageous caricature of the laughing West Indian hovers constantly on the verge of the sinister, but his ebullience,vand the crisp, clean-living appeal of Miss Maskell in her less serious moods, are the film's two undeniable assets." [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidney Poitier</span> Bahamian and American actor, filmmaker, diplomat (1927–2022)

Sidney Poitier was a Bahamian and American actor, film director, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the first Black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. He received two competitive Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award as well as nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. In 1999, he was ranked among the "American Film Institute's 100 Stars". Poitier was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.

<i>Guess Whos Coming to Dinner</i> 1967 film by Stanley Kramer

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a 1967 American romantic comedy-drama film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, and written by William Rose. It stars Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, and Katharine Hepburn, and features Hepburn's niece Katharine Houghton.

<i>Shadows</i> (1959 film) 1959 film by John Cassavetes

Shadows is a 1959 American independent drama film directed by John Cassavetes about race relations during the Beat Generation years in New York City. The film stars Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni, and Hugh Hurd as three black siblings, though only one of them is dark-skinned enough to be considered African American. The film was initially shot in 1957 and shown in 1958, but a poor reception prompted Cassavetes to rework it in 1959. Promoted as a completely improvisational film, it was intensively rehearsed in 1957, and in 1959 it was fully scripted.

The year 1958 in film in the US involved some significant events, including the hit musicals South Pacific and Gigi, the latter of which won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Cassavetes</span> Greek-American filmmaker and actor (1929–1989)

John Nicholas Cassavetes was a Greek-American filmmaker and actor. He began as an actor in film and television before helping to pioneer modern American independent cinema as a writer and director, often producing and distributing his films with his own money. He received nominations for three Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy Award.

<i>Trog</i> 1970 British science fiction horror film by Freddie Francis

Trog is a 1970 British science fiction horror film directed by Freddie Francis and starring Joan Crawford, Michael Gough and Bernard Kay. The screenplay was by Peter Bryan, John Gilling and Aben Kandel.

BobRussell was an American songwriter born in Passaic, New Jersey.

<i>A Child Is Waiting</i> 1963 film by John Cassavetes

A Child Is Waiting is a 1963 American drama film written by Abby Mann based on his 1957 Westinghouse Studio One teleplay of the same name. The film was produced by Stanley Kramer and directed by John Cassavetes. Burt Lancaster portrays the director of a state institution for children with intellectual disabilities or who were emotionally disturbed, and Judy Garland is a new teacher who challenges his methods.

<i>Only Two Can Play</i> 1962 British film by Sidney Gilliat

Only Two Can Play is a 1962 British comedy film directed by Sidney Gilliat starring Peter Sellers, Mai Zetterling and Virginia Maskell. The screenplay was by Bryan Forbes, based on the 1955 novel That Uncertain Feeling by Kingsley Amis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia Maskell</span> English actress (1936–1968)

Virginia Elizabeth Maskell, was an English actress.

<i>The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography</i> 2007 autobiographical work by Sidney Poitier

The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography is an autobiographical work by Sidney Poitier. On January 26, 2007, Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robb White</span> American novelist

Robb White III was an American writer of screenplays, television scripts, and adventure novels. Most of the latter had a maritime setting, often the Pacific Navy during World War II. White was best known for juvenile fiction, though he has proven popular with adults as well. Nearly all his books are out of print; nevertheless, White has a devoted following among baby boomers, many of whom were introduced to him through inexpensive paperbacks available in American schools in the mid-20th century.

<i>The Mark of the Hawk</i> 1957 film

The Mark of the Hawk is a 1957 drama film, directed by Michael Audley with a screenplay by Lloyd Young and H. Kenn Carmichael. The film stars Eartha Kitt and Sidney Poitier.

Robert Alan Aurthur was an American screenwriter, film director, and film producer. Many of his works examined race relations and featured In the Heat of the Night star Sidney Poitier.

<i>Edge of the City</i> 1957 film by Martin Ritt

Edge of the City is a 1957 American film-noir drama film directed by Martin Ritt in his directorial debut, and starring John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. Robert Alan Aurthur's screenplay was expanded from his original script, staged as the final episode of Philco Television Playhouse, A Man Is Ten Feet Tall (1955), also featuring Poitier.

<i>The Wild and the Willing</i> 1962 British film

The Wild and the Willing is a 1962 British romantic drama film, directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Virginia Maskell, Paul Rogers, and Samantha Eggar. It is the film debuts of Ian McShane, John Hurt, and Samantha Eggar. It depicts a group of students at university.

Sepia Cinderella is a 1947 American musical race film directed by Arthur H. Leonard. The film is notable for musical numbers by vocalists Billy Daniels and Sheila Guyse, and for a brief guest appearance by former child star Freddie Bartholomew, who is onscreen as himself for five minutes, telling gags to recharge his post-war career. It was the film debut of Sidney Poitier, who had an uncredited role.

<i>High Tide at Noon</i> 1957 film

High Tide at Noon is a 1957 British drama film directed by Philip Leacock. It was entered into the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. High Tide at Noon was based on the first of a series of novels by Elisabeth Ogilvie, set in Maine. Location work was done in Devon.

<i>The Secret Place</i> (film) 1957 British film by Clive Donner

The Secret Place is a 1957 British crime film that was the directorial debut of Clive Donner. It stars Belinda Lee, Ronald Lewis, and David McCallum.

Leon Clore was a British film producer who was primarily involved in documentary and short films, as well as several motion pictures.

References

  1. Film Review 1959-60, p.98
  2. "Virgin Island". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. "BFI | Film & TV Database | VIRGIN ISLAND (1958)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  4. British Virgin Islands, Report - Page 6 Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office - 1958 GENERAL The Colony was the location for the film Virgin Island shot by Countryman Films Ltd. of London during the period September to November, 1957. The film was based on Robb White's book Our Virgin Island which had its setting on ...
  5. Film Review - Page 22 F. Maurice Speed - 1959 But one girl who did get a really big chance in 1958 and made the most of it was Virginia Maskell, the girl from Shepherd's Bush who made a delightful impact with her performance in her first major role in the British Lion film Virgin Island.
  6. "Interview with Freddie Francis". British Entertainment History Project. 1993–1994.
  7. "Virgin Island". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 25 (288): 152. 1 January 1958 via ProQuest.