''The Blue Lagoon'' is a 1949 British
coming-of-age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can b ...
romance and
adventure film
The adventure film is a broad genre of film. Some early genre studies found it no different than the Western film or argued that adventure could encompass all Hollywood genres. Commonality was found among historians Brian Taves and Ian Cameron in ...
directed and co-produced by
Frank Launder
Frank Launder (28 January 1906 – 23 February 1997) was a British writer, film director and producer, who made more than 40 films, many of them in collaboration with Sidney Gilliat.
Early life and career
He was born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, ...
(with
Sidney Gilliat
Sidney Gilliat (15 February 1908 – 31 May 1994) was an English film director, producer and writer.
In the 1930s he worked as a scriptwriter, most notably with Frank Launder on ''The Lady Vanishes'' (1938) for Alfred Hitchcock, and '' Nig ...
) and starring
Jean Simmons
Jean Merilyn Simmons (31 January 1929 – 22 January 2010) was a British actress and singer. One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets", she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Britain during and after the ...
and
Donald Houston. The screenplay was adapted by John Baines,
Michael Hogan, and Frank Launder from the 1908 novel ''
The Blue Lagoon'' by
Henry De Vere Stacpoole. The original music score was composed by
Clifton Parker and the cinematography was by
Geoffrey Unsworth.
The film tells the story of two young children shipwrecked on a
tropical island paradise in the
South Pacific. Emotional feelings and physical changes arise as they grow to
maturity and fall in love. The film has major thematic similarities to the
Biblical
The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) biblical languages ...
account of
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...
.
Plot
In 1841, 8-year-old Emmeline Foster and 10-year-old Michael Reynolds, two British children, are the survivors of a
shipwreck
A shipwreck is the wreckage of a ship that is located either beached on land or sunken to the bottom of a body of water. It results from the event of ''shipwrecking'', which may be intentional or unintentional. There were approximately thre ...
in the South Pacific. After days afloat, they are
marooned on a lush tropical island in the company of kindly old sailor Paddy Button. Eventually, Paddy dies in a drunken binge, leaving Emmeline and Michael alone. They survive solely on their resourcefulness and the bounty of their remote paradise.
Eight years later, in 1849, the now-adult couple live together in the island paradise, fish, and collect "beads" from the shellfish in the surrounding lagoon. One day, a ship arrives carrying Doctor Murdoch and James Carter, two British men, who are intimated to have fled as criminals from civilization. Surprised to find the couple on the island, Doctor Murdoch soon realises that Michael collects valuable pearls without knowing their true worth. While Murdoch attempts to trick Michael into getting him a bounty of pearls, Carter tries to kidnap Emmeline and escape. Murdoch and Carter kill each other on the boat, and Michael and Emmeline vow to never attempt to leave the island again. They marry, and during a tropical storm, a child, Paddy, is born.
In 1852, Emmeline is reminded of the outside world and wants to leave the island. She fears for their child if Michael and she should die. Michael gives in to her pleading, and they pack a small boat and leave the island.
Becalmed in mid-ocean, they succumb to
exposure. A British ship finds them, but the movie only shows that Paddy is still alive in the small boat, leaving their fate unclear.
Cast
*
Jean Simmons
Jean Merilyn Simmons (31 January 1929 – 22 January 2010) was a British actress and singer. One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets", she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Britain during and after the ...
as Emmeline Foster
*
Donald Houston as Michael Reynolds
*
Susan Stranks as Emmeline (younger)
* Peter Rudolph Jones as Michael (younger)
*
Noel Purcell as Paddy Button
*
James Hayter as Dr. Murdock
*
Cyril Cusack as James Carter
*
Nora Nicholson as Mrs. Stannard
*
Maurice Denham as Ship's Captain
*
Philip Stainton as Mr. Ansty
*
Patrick Barr as Second Mate
* Lyn Evans as Trotter
*
Russell Waters
Russell Waters (10 June 1908 – 19 August 1982) was a British film actor.
Waters was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. He began acting with the Old English Comedy and Shakespeare Company then app ...
as Craggs
*
John Boxer as Nick Corbett
* Bill Raymond as Marsden
Production history
The film was an adaptation of a novel whose previous screen adaptation was
completed for release in 1923, but it is the earliest surviving adaptation.
In 1928,
Herbert Wilcox
Herbert Sydney Wilcox Order of the British Empire, CBE (19 April 1890 – 15 May 1977) was a British film producer and film director, director.
He was one of the most successful British filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1950s. He is best know ...
acquired the motion picture rights to the novel from
I.W. Schlesinger to produce a remake. To eliminate competition with his film, Wilcox purchased all existing prints of the 1923 adaptation that weren't in circulation. A year later, he officially announced the inclusion of this project in his portfolio of motion pictures in production. He planned to film it in
multiple-language version
A multiple-language version film (often abbreviated to MLV) or foreign language version is a film, especially from the early talkie era, produced in several different languages for international markets. To offset the marketing restrictions of ma ...
s in French and Spanish, in
2-strip Technicolor, and with a full libretto of native music. The project was abandoned due to the
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...
and was not restarted until 1935, now with backing from the newly formed
General Film Distributors
General Film Distributors (GFD), later known as J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors and Rank Film Distributors Ltd., was a British Empire, British film distribution company based in London. It was active between 1935 and 1996, and from 1937 it was p ...
(GFD). After development resumed, Wilcox planned to cast either
Joel McCrea or
Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell (4 October 162612 July 1712) was an English statesman who served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1658 to 1659. He was the son of Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.
Following his father ...
as the male lead. It was going to be shot in
3-strip Technicolor in Honolulu.
After a spectacular fire at the
British and Dominions Imperial Studios on 9 February 1936 destroyed the last surviving print of the 1923 film, Wilcox lost interest in the project, and the rights were assumed by GFD's new sister company
Gainsborough Pictures
Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, east London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The co ...
at the recommendation of Frank Launder, who always admired the novel. Gainsborough announced the film in 1938 as part of a slate of 10 films.
The stars were to be
Michael Redgrave and
Margaret Lockwood,
who had just appeared in Gainsborough's ''
The Lady Vanishes
''The Lady Vanishes'' is a 1938 British Mystery film, mystery Thriller (genre), thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. Written by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder, based on the 1936 novel '' ...
'';
Will Fyffe was to co-star. It was going to be shot on location in the
East Indies
The East Indies (or simply the Indies) is a term used in historical narratives of the Age of Discovery. The ''Indies'' broadly referred to various lands in Eastern world, the East or the Eastern Hemisphere, particularly the islands and mainl ...
for the exteriors and at the Islington Poole Street studio for the interiors.
Carol Reed
Sir Carol Reed (30 December 1906 – 25 April 1976) was an English film director and producer, best known for '' Odd Man Out'' (1947), '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948), '' The Third Man'' (1949), and '' Oliver!'' (1968), for which he was awarded th ...
was going to direct. In 1939, Gainsborough went into a co-production with
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...
to secure funding, and Lockwood was going to co-star with
Richard Greene, under contract to Fox. Plans to make the film were postponed due to
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
The project was reactivated after the war and announced in 1946, with Frank Launder attached to direct.
Extensive location searches were undertaken before deciding to make the film in Fiji.
Plans to make the film were postponed due to Britain's currency difficulties, but eventually, plans were reactivated.
Censorship
In 1946,
Joseph Breen
Joseph Ignatius Breen (October 14, 1888 – December 5, 1965) was an American film censor with the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America who applied the Hays Code to film production.Staff report (December 8, 1965). Joseph I. ...
told
Universal Studios Universal Studios may refer to:
* Universal Studios, Inc., an American media and entertainment conglomerate
** Universal Pictures, an American film studio
** Universal Studios Lot, a film and television studio complex
* Various theme parks operat ...
that they could turn the book into a movie if they made some changes to follow the
Hays Code
The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the United States from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as th ...
. Breen said the characters could not be related, the love should be between grown-ups, and there could not be any sex scenes or birth scenes. He also asked them to take out the parents' suicide. In 1948, Breen approved the script with further changes, like no nudity or suggestive content, and suggested they show the marriage passing incontinently. Indeed, though there were rules and restrictions, they still made and released the movie.
Casting
Jean Simmons
Jean Merilyn Simmons (31 January 1929 – 22 January 2010) was a British actress and singer. One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets", she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Britain during and after the ...
was attached to the project at an early stage due to her success in ''
Great Expectations
''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens' second novel, after ''Dav ...
'' (1946).
Donald Houston was chosen as the male protagonist from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates, including
Laurence Harvey
Laurence Harvey (born Zvi Mosheh Skikne; 1 October 192825 November 1973) was a Lithuanian-born British actor and film director. He was born to Lithuanian Jewish parents and emigrated to Union of South Africa, South Africa at an early age, before ...
and
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...
,
100 of whom had screen tests.
Filming
Before embarking on their journey to the island, Launder,
Noel Purcell, and Jean convened with Prince Thakombow of Fiji, who was studying in London at the time. They treated the prince to a tour of Pinewood, followed by a relaxed discussion regarding the film's production intricacies, including the imminent expedition to the islands, which the prince enthusiastically supported. Before departure, Jean had the privilege of visiting Henry de Vere Stacpoole, the author of ''The Blue Lagoon'', who resided on the Isle of Wight. During this visit, the 84-year-old gifted Jean a green coral charm he had acquired from Fiji four decades earlier while gathering material for his renowned novel.
On 27 November 1947, Jean Simmons embarked on a journey from
Poole
Poole () is a coastal town and seaport on the south coast of England in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area in Dorset, England. The town is east of Dorchester, Dorset, Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east ...
aboard a
BOAC seaplane bound for Sydney, Australia. Arranged by
the Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation (founded as the J. Arthur Rank Organisation) is a British entertainment Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1937 by industrialist J. Arthur Rank. It quickly became the largest and most vertical integration, ve ...
in coordination with her voyage to Fiji, a comprehensive tour of Australia was on her itinerary. The extensive flight included layovers in Cairo, Calcutta, and Singapore. Her departure garnered significant press coverage, with film footage capturing the moment featured in various newsreels. The farewell at the airport was emotionally charged, particularly for Winifred, Jean's mother, who accompanied her daughter. This marked not only Jean's maiden flight but also her inaugural trip abroad, evoking tears as mother and daughter bid each other farewell. After three days, Jean encountered a delay in her flight bound for Sydney when the immigration service in Darwin detained her and twelve other passengers for three hours. Their vaccination documents against cholera were deemed insufficient, causing concern as they had arrived from Cairo, where the virus was rampant, prompting scrutiny from the Australian Department of Health. Fortunately, the situation was resolved the following day.
Jean's journey encountered complications when the Brisbane airport closure due to inclement weather halted the resumption of her travels. After a prolonged wait, the plane, which had paused for refueling, eventually landed in Sydney on 2 December amidst the enthusiastic welcome of 50 fans. Her first act upon arrival, as recounted in local media, was to send a food parcel to her mother. On 5 December, she graced the gala premiere of Launder’s latest film, ''
Captain Boycott'', featuring
Stewart Granger, who later married Simmons. Jean's explorations across Australia, spanning from Sydney to Adelaide to Melbourne and back, were meticulously documented in national newspapers. Engagements such as press interviews, radio appearances, visits to various institutions including hospitals, schools, botanical gardens, and zoos, as well as attendance at film premieres, ballet performances, formal dinners, and other public events, filled her schedule until 21 December, when she finally departed for the Fiji Islands.
There was uncertainty regarding her entry into Fiji due to her age of 18. The colonial government of Fiji was discussing the possibility of prohibiting individuals under 19 from entering the country as a preventative measure against the introduction of polio. On 22 December, a light plane carrying
Leslie Gilliat, the producer and brother of
Sidney Gilliat
Sidney Gilliat (15 February 1908 – 31 May 1994) was an English film director, producer and writer.
In the 1930s he worked as a scriptwriter, most notably with Frank Launder on ''The Lady Vanishes'' (1938) for Alfred Hitchcock, and '' Nig ...
, crashed into a river near Suva. Both Gilliat and the pilot escaped unharmed. On
New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve refers to the evening, or commonly the entire day, of the last day of the year, 31 December, also known as Old Year's Day. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinkin ...
, Houston and Simmons were almost injured in Fiji when their car was overturned.
The crew initially filmed scenes around Suva's capital, lodging at the
Grand Pacific Hotel on the southeastern shore of
Viti Levu
Viti Levu (pronounced ; ) is the largest island in Fiji. It is the site of the country's capital and largest city, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.
Geology
Fiji lies in a plate tectonics, tectonically complex area betwe ...
. Filming on coral reefs in rough seas resulted in injuries for almost every member. After a stop in Lautoka, they traveled to the
Yasawa Islands via motorboats from Australia. Jean and her dresser Irene Williams had a cabin to themselves but later shared it with four other crew members. Despite the challenges, the director praised Jean's cooperative attitude in a lengthy article about their experience. During the production, challenges arose in the form of mosquitos, sandflies, snakes, and sharks, which posed threats to the crew's well-being. While Jean managed to escape unscathed, Donald Houston found himself hospitalized after sustaining a severe injury while swimming through a rock-bound water chute. Similarly, Launder suffered a broken wrist towards the end of the shooting, requiring him to wear a sling. These incidents underscored the hazards encountered during the filming process.
Due to bad weather conditions, the filming process was prolonged for three months. By mid-March 1948, the production unit achieved 90% of its objective in Fiji, accomplishing 222 camera set-ups, equivalent to around 37 minutes of screen time, or roughly one-third of the completed film. Following three months spent on location, Jean prepared to return to London where filming was set to resume at
Pinewood Studios
Pinewood Studios is a British film and television studio located in the village of Iver Heath, England. It is approximately west of central London.
The studio has been the base for many productions over the years from large-scale films to t ...
in April. Demonstrating astute planning, Rank arranged her journey back, incorporating stops in
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood ...
and
New York. This strategic decision was made to promote Jean, who remained relatively unknown in the United States, through local publicity efforts. Arriving in
San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
on 17 March with a bandaged foot after cutting it on a piece of coral on the last day of shooting in Fiji, Jean was warmly welcomed by her long-separated sister Edna. A horde of reporters awaited her at the
Mark Hopkins Hotel and again at
Union Station
A union station, union terminal, joint station, or joint-use station is a railway station at which the tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway company, railway companies, allowing passengers to connect conveniently bet ...
in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, where she proceeded after a day. Collecting clothes sent from England and meeting bigwigs
Walter Wanger and
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American Aerospace engineering, aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor. He was The World's Billionaires, one of the richest and most influential peo ...
marked her first day at
the Beverly Hills Hotel, followed by a star-studded cocktail party in her honour. Hollywood offered her a lead role soon, however, she sought advice from her mentor
J. Arthur Rank before taking a decision. Her most remarkable moment was attending the
20th Academy Awards
The 20th Academy Awards were held on March 20, 1948, to honor the films of 1947 in film, 1947. It is notable for being the last Oscars until 78th Academy Awards, 2005 in which no film won more than three awards.
Rosalind Russell was highly fav ...
as an official receiver and collecting the award for
Best Cinematography on behalf of
Jack Cardiff
Jack Cardiff (18 September 1914 – 22 April 2009) was a British cinematographer, film and television director, and photographer. His career spanned the development of cinema, from silent film, through early experiments in Technicolor, to film ...
, among several others. The prestigious night ended at the
Mocambo nightclub socialising with celebrated winners.
The remaining film production took place at Pinewood, with an interruption in late July 1948. Upon the resumption of filming, the studio's make-up artist, George Blacker, was tasked with harmonizing the skin tones of Jean Simmons and Donald Houston, as their natural tones were swiftly diminishing. The official opening of the
Olympic Games
The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a Multi-s ...
at
Wembley
Wembley () is a large suburbIn British English, "suburb" often refers to the secondary urban centres of a city. Wembley is not a suburb in the American sense, i.e. a single-family residential area outside of the city itself. in the London Borou ...
necessitated the urgent use of all of Rank's Technicolor cameras. The final sequences were completed after the Olympic Games, with filming concluding by the end of September.
Reception
Commercial
''The Blue Lagoon'' was the seventh-most popular film at the British box office in 1949. According to ''
Kinematograph Weekly
''Kinematograph Weekly'', popularly known as ''Kine Weekly'', was a trade paper catering to the British film industry between 1889 and 1971.
Etymology
The word Kinematograph was derived from the Greek ' Kinumai ', (to move, to be in motion, to ...
'', the 'biggest winner' at the box office in 1949 Britain was ''
The Third Man
''The Third Man'' is a 1949 film noir directed by Carol Reed, written by Graham Greene, and starring Joseph Cotten as Holly Martins, Alida Valli as Anna Schmidt, Orson Welles as Harry Lime and Trevor Howard as Major Calloway. Set in post-Worl ...
'' with "runners up" being ''
Johnny Belinda'', ''
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'', ''
The Paleface'', ''
Scott of the Antarctic'', ''The Blue Lagoon'', ''
Maytime in Mayfair'', ''
Easter Parade'', ''
Red River'', and ''
You Can't Sleep Here''.
The film generated producer's receipts amounting to £186,500 within the United Kingdom and £164,900 in overseas markets,
ultimately yielding a profit of £40,300 by 24 December 1949 primarily driven by its international earnings.
Critical
Contemporary
Writing for
the ''Spectator'',
Virginia Graham praised the film by deftly navigating the potential pitfalls of a South Seas romance, anticipating a clichéd spectacle of tropical excess but finding instead a charming narrative. She commended the film for its restraint from sentimentality, noting the poignant early scenes with child actors Susan Stranks and Peter Jones. She criticized Donald Houston's acting, albeit acknowledging his aesthetic fit for the role while praising Jean Simmons for her performance. Graham also highlighted the film's visual appeal, particularly the scenery. Despite the film's potential for tropical clichés, Graham found it pleasantly devoid of such excesses, making it rather charming.
Writing for the ''
New Statesman
''The New Statesman'' (known from 1931 to 1964 as the ''New Statesman and Nation'') is a British political and cultural news magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first c ...
'', William Whitebait offered a disparaging perspective, likening the arrival of popular novels and plays to the screen to the unanticipated appearance of a heavily advertised product on a store shelf. He stated, "Best-sellers from the circulating library and the stage have an awful way of looming up on the screen like some toothpaste or pickle which, threatening for years from advertisements, at last, confronts us as the only brand on the counter." Whitebait described the film as a "sad, absurd little idyll" of two castaways, a boy, and a girl, on an island, criticizing the lack of character growth, the film's reliance on the idyllic setting, and the charm of its leads, Donald Houston and Jean Simmons. He noted, "They do a good deal of hopping about beaches instead; and since Mr. Donald Houston and Miss Jean Simmons make a charming pair, and the beach is real Pacific in Technicolor, this is a dream of a film for the snowy evenings." Whitebait concluded his review with a critique of Houston's performance, suggesting that the actor may have taken liberties with his character's dialogue. He wrote, "I don’t know, by the way, that Mr. Houston had been playing quite fair, because when the revelation comes he quotes very pat to the moment
Donne">ohnDonne’s 'I wonder, by my troth, what thou and I Did till we loved?'"
According to
A. H. Weiler, a reviewer from
the ''New York Times'', the film depicted a tranquil Polynesian utopia accurately but was lacking in excitement. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the leisurely-paced events were juxtaposed against a picturesque backdrop of Technicolor sunsets, gorgeous beaches, and verdant vegetation. Additionally, he commended the competent performances of the limited cast. Nevertheless, Weiler believed that the movie's most noteworthy feature was its magnificent Technicolor scenery.
In his review for ''
Variety'', Harold Myers expressed that the Technicolor cinematography of a stunning South Pacific setting was an appropriate and romantic setting for the movie. However, he found fault with the weak plot and stated that the tale of two children marooned on a South Sea island lacked a cohesive storyline. Although he praised the movie's visual beauty, he criticised the leading actors for not being challenged beyond their physical appearances.
A ''
Harrison's Reports'' critic gave a mixed review. The reviewer praised the film's aesthetic qualities and its visually appealing elements. However, the critic had reservations over the plausibility of the narrative and the predominantly sluggish tempo of the picture.
''
The Monthly Film Bulletin
The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...
'' offered a nuanced perspective, noting initial interest and action in the narrative before a decline in momentum. While praising Noel Purcell's excellent portrayal of the sailor and the standout performance of Cyril Cusack as a trader, it found the lead actors, Jean Simmons and Donald Houston, competent but not outstanding. The review acknowledged the film's visual appeal, citing beautiful Fijian locations and impressive cinematography, but criticized its length and perceived lack of depth.
Mandel Herbstman, a critic for the ''
Motion Picture Daily
''Motion Picture Daily'' was an American daily magazine focusing on the film industry. It was published by Quigley Publishing Company, which also published the '' Motion Picture Herald''. The magazine was formed by the merging of three existing Q ...
'', however, gave a positive review of the movie. He liked how the film used Technicolor to show both beautiful and violent scenes of nature. Herbstman thought that the movie would appeal to a wide range of viewers and could fit into different types of adventure and romance stories. He also mentioned that the film's tension and violent moments added to its dramatic impact. Herbstman praised Jean Simmons' portrayal of the lead female character for her physical grace and innocence. Lastly, he thought that Donald Houston did a good job as the male lead.
Jay Carmody of
the ''Washington Star'' called it a summertime love cinema must-see. Carmody praised Jean Simmons' film star performance. The film's sensitive and tasteful depiction of two youngsters stranded on a beautiful South Pacific island was praised. Carmody liked the film's unexpected emotional and event depth. He also appreciated the well-used comedy, which enhanced the story. Simmons and Donald Houston's portrayals of Emmeline and Michael, the film's adult characters, were Carmody's highlights. Carmody called ''The Blue Lagoon'' a great film, praising Simmons' charming and innocent performance and the supporting cast's work.
The ''
Newsweek
''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...
'' reviewer offered a critical perspective. While praising the genuine portrayal of the children's arrival on the island and the film's visual appeal, its loss of credibility and slow character development were criticised. The reviewer also pointed out the contrived nature of the romantic plot and its reliance on coincidences. Despite these flaws, the reviewer acknowledged the film's effectiveness as a form of tropical escapism.
''
Time
Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'' criticised the picture for its weaknesses and wasted opportunity. The reviewer found the film's South Sea romance tedious and emotionally sluggish, like a Norse saga. The review praised the film's Technicolour cinematography and delightful props but criticised the absence of character dialogue. Contrived catastrophes like an underwater struggle with an octopus and a delayed sex exploration were unsatisfying attempts to make up for this shortfall. The reviewer also criticised the plot, notably the representation of a child's birth, which they considered unsuitable for Jean Simmons.
Lesley Morris of ''
The Advocate
An advocate is a professional in the field of law.
The Advocate, The Advocates or Advocate may also refer to:
Magazines
* The Advocate (magazine), ''The Advocate'' (magazine), an LGBT magazine based in the United States
* ''The Harvard Advocate' ...
'' criticized the movie for its childish and dull plot, stating that despite its visually stunning scenes and beautiful locations, extensive publicity, and efforts such as shooting in Fiji, the film couldn't escape failure, hinting at mismanagement of resources and indirectly holding J. Arthur Rank accountable for the flawed execution.
Mae Tinée for the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
'' praised the film's picturesque setting and captivating beginning, with skilful scenes of survival on a deserted island. She commended the performances of the cast, particularly the child actors and Noel Purcell. However, she noted a loss of momentum in the narrative as it transitions into a routine romance. Tinée highlighted the film's superb cinematography, including stunning shots of nature and a dramatic hurricane scene. She criticized the pacing in the later reels, suggesting it could have concluded more effectively.
The ''Sydney Sunday Herald'' appreciated the film's visual depiction of adolescent reading material and romantic entertainment value, noticing its lack of novelty but noting its commercial success. The critic praised the Technicolour cinematography and sensitively depicted sensual awakening between the heroes. The two villains' temporary disturbance and the couple's baby-rearing difficulty are discussed. The performers performed well, and the reviewer said the film's choice fit Stacpoole's romantic literary style.
In his review for ''
The Age
''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria (Australia), Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Austral ...
'',
Erle Cox
Erle Cox (15 August 1873 – 20 November 1950) was an Australian journalist and science fiction writer.
Life
Cox was born at Emerald Hill, Victoria, on 15 August 1873, the second son of Ross Cox, who had emigrated from his native Dublin, Ir ...
expressed disappointment over film producers' interference in adapting literary works to the screen, sympathizing with the original authors and criticizing the alterations made by producers, particularly in the story's ending. However, he acknowledged the film's faithful use of the source material, praised the lead actors' performances, and highlighted the film's scenic tropical setting. He also pointed out memorable scenes, such as an underwater battle and a fortuitous hurricane during filming.
Philip K. Scheuer of the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'' commended the film for its enchanting use of cinematography to depict a tropical romance. He praised the development of Jean Simmons and Donald Houston's characters, who evolve from castaways to parents over a decade on a South Sea island. Scheuer noted the film's portrayal of life's extremes, including birth, death, and the struggle for survival, culminating in the characters' rescue by a passing ship. He compared the narrative favorably to stories by
Powell and Pressburger
The British film-making partnership of Michael Powell (1905–1990) and Emeric Pressburger (1902–1988)—together often known as The Archers, the name of their production company—made a series of influential films in the 1940s and 1950s. T ...
and acknowledged the British team's affectionate treatment of the plot. The review succinctly covered dramatic moments, character development, and production insights, all the while applauding the film's romantic and adventurous spirit, standout performances, and directorial prowess.
Richard L. Coe of ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' portrayed the film as a consequence of an unexpected encounter with a how-to-behave manner book, deeming it a pleasant watch, despite its narrative shortcomings. Coe observed the film's struggle to define its narrative focus, appreciating the characters' survival skills and instinct for proper attire, highlighting a thwarted attempt to lure the characters into civilization and emphasising the significance of a book of etiquette in guiding the girl's behaviour. Despite an uncertain objective and leisurely pace, the film was commended for its cool escape quality, an attractive central duo, and visually appealing Technicolor cinematography.
The China Mail's review praised the film for its captivating portrayal of two characters stranded on a Pacific island, commending the expert colour photography, vibrant visuals, and sincere performances while acknowledging minor pacing issues and deeming it likely to appeal to a broad audience appreciating its engaging narrative and unusual climax.
The ''
Hong Kong Telegraph'' lauded the movie as a genuine escape, with the picturesque setting of Jean Simmons and Donald Houston as castaways, featuring real footage of a hurricane in Fiji, and delivering refreshing entertainment through their enjoyable performances, particularly Noel Purcell's effective portrayal of the sailor landing with them on the island as children.
The film was praised by ''
The Voice'' for its charm and exquisite visuals. Jean Simmons received praise for her fitting performance as Emmeline, while Donald Houston impressed as the young man. Noel Purcell's portrayal of the sailor was highly regarded, and James Hayter and Cyril Cusack were praised for their effective portrayal of two deceitful characters.
In his review for ''
The New Republic
''The New Republic'' (often abbreviated as ''TNR'') is an American magazine focused on domestic politics, news, culture, and the arts from a left-wing perspective. It publishes ten print magazines a year and a daily online platform. ''The New Y ...
'', Robert Hatch characterized the film as a "monument to unbecoming innocence," depicting the challenges faced by two English children stranded on a tropical island as they navigated the complexities of adulthood, with additional elements like an octopus, pearl hunters, and a treetop apartment left unspecified in terms of their impact on the overall film.
Myles Standish from ''
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' lauded the film's stunning Technicolor visuals of the South Seas, while criticizing the weak storyline which did not match its visually striking setting. Standish pointed out the film's failed attempt to contrast island life with societal chaos, especially in its portrayal of English renegades. While he praised actress Jean Simmons for her performance, he lamented the film's inability to give her a significant role and lack of artistic camera work. Standish concluded that the film did not effectively leverage its visual and casting strengths, leading to a narrative that fell short of its vibrant setting.
Roberts Dunstan of the
Melbourne ''Herald'' provided a critical review of the film, noting significant deviations from the source material. Dunstan expressed confusion about the film's aspirations, criticizing the tepid and unconvincing portrayal of the central love story between two shipwrecked characters. Terms such as "underplayed" and "lukewarm" were used to emphasize the perceived lack of passion and intensity in the romantic elements. The review highlighted the panoramic photography depicting the South Sea setting as the sole positive aspect. Overall, it presented a scathing assessment of a film that failed to capture the essence of the novel and fell short of delivering a compelling cinematic experience, with its visual aesthetics standing as the only redeeming quality.
F. Keith Manzie of ''
The Argus'' conveyed an overall positive assessment, lauding the lead performances of Jean Simmons and Donald Houston. He described Simmons as "youthful, easy-mannered, and altogether charming," highlighting her as J. Arthur Rank's most promising screen player. The film was commended for its visual appeal, with particular praise for the exciting quality of the early scenes featuring the shipwreck and the marooned children, likened to ''
The Swiss Family Robinson''. Manzie noted that ''The Blue Lagoon'' stood out among island-themed films of the time, positioning it as the only one deemed acceptable, especially when compared to others featuring
Dorothy Lamour
Dorothy Lamour (born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton; December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was an American actress and singer. She is best remembered for having appeared in the ''Road to...'' movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing C ...
and
Jon Hall. The lead characters, Emmeline and Michael, were positively appraised, with Simmons being hailed as the most attractive island girl in the film. The supporting cast, including Susan Stranks, Peter Jones, and Noel Purcell, were also recognized for their performances. Despite a noted shift in tone as the characters grew up, the review concluded that ''The Blue Lagoon'' provided an agreeable experience as a piece of escapism, successfully offering a visually pleasing and immersive break from reality.
The July 1949 issue of ''Movieland'' magazine presented a positive review of the movie, capturing the film's enchanting and visually captivating essence. The reviewer, in a whimsical tone, celebrated the movie's ability to fulfil the universal fantasy of a tropical island shipwreck and the allure of a ''
Robinson Crusoe
''Robinson Crusoe'' ( ) is an English adventure novel by Daniel Defoe, first published on 25 April 1719. Written with a combination of Epistolary novel, epistolary, Confessional writing, confessional, and Didacticism, didactic forms, the ...
''-like existence, especially with a romantic interest in the opposite sex. Applauding the use of Technicolor and the superb scenery that heightened the cinematic experience, the review highlighted the exquisite portrayal of the character's growth by Jean Simmons and the fitting depiction of the hero by Donald Houston, who was appropriately described as "browned and muscular." Despite acknowledging a lack of narrative coherence, the reviewer maintained an optimistic stance, asserting that the film's overall fascination, beauty, and romantic charm would contribute to audience enjoyment, making ''The Blue Lagoon'' a compelling cinematic venture.
Helen Hendricks of ''
Screenland'' appreciated the film's adventurous plot and the convincing transformation of the protagonists from children to adults, played by Donald Houston and Jean Simmons. However, she subtly criticised their desire to leave their paradise, indicating a conflict between nature's allure and societal constructs.
Paul Jones of
''The Atlanta Constitution'' positively reviewed the film, lauding the unique storyline and the vibrant use of Technicolor, and expressed confidence in the cast's capability to deliver compelling performances, particularly highlighting Jean Simmons' previous memorable role in ''
Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
''.
In his ''
Film Review
Film criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films and the film medium. In general, film criticism can be divided into two categories: Academic criticism by film scholars, who study the composition of film theory and publish their findin ...
'',
F. Maurice Speed expressed disappointment, deeming it the least interesting work Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder had produced up to that point. The film failed to captivate Speed, who conveyed a sense of dissatisfaction with the outcome of Gilliat and Launder's ambitious cinematic endeavour.
Pierre Robin of ''La Cinématographie Française'' critiqued the film as long and static, though he acknowledged the well-executed dramatic scenes, adequate staging, aesthetically appealing colour palette and locations, and recognized the performances of Susan Stranks, Peter Jones, Jean Simmons, and Donald Houston while deeming Noel Purcell's portrayal of a grumpy sailor as perfect.
M.J. McMahon of
the ''Australian Women’s Weekly'' had appreciated the film's aesthetic appeal, noting the 'naive charm' and 'lovely' scenery, a result of the location work in Fiji, and the characters' development, from shipwrecked children to mature adults. The plot had been described as 'light and fragile', suggesting it was not the film's main strength. McMahon had also highlighted the performances of Jean Simmons and Donald Houston, the romantic leads, with a slight critique of Houston's performance as 'stilted at times'.
Sydney Tomholt from the
Australian Broadcasting Commission
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is a ...
criticised the film's non-traditional narrative about two shipwrecked children, citing a weak script devoid of realism and incident. The initial part was praised for character portrayal but introducing island traders shifted the narrative to melodrama, lessening engagement. The ending, differing from the book, was noted. Despite an exciting octopus fight and stunning tropical scenes, the film's dull portrayal of castaways' life, acted by Jean Simmons and Donald Houston, was criticised.
Edwin Miller's review in ''
Seventeen'' magazine describes the film as a captivating English production. Despite its unhurried pacing, Miller highlighted the movie's appeal through its vivid color photography and inherent simplicity. The cinematography not only enhanced the visual experience but also complemented the film's straightforward charm, making it an enjoyable and pleasant viewing experience.
Retrospective
In 1952, Paul Rotha called the film "an escape into empty romanticism." In his 1964 book ''Where We Came In'', C.A. Oakley criticized the film, calling it a 'pot-boiler', suggesting that it lacked creativity and critical acclaim despite being financially successful. In the ''
Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
Guide to Movies on Television'', Angela Allan called the film "slow-moving but ultimately pleasant idyll on desert isle." Despite the narrative potential that its source material offered, George Perry wrote in his book ''The Great British Picture Show'' that the movie ultimately fell short of expectations and provided a rather underwhelming cinematic experience.
Steven H. Scheuer gave it a two-star rating, suggesting a lukewarm reception, and noted the picturesque scenery but asserted that it failed to compensate for the film's narrative weaknesses. Described as a "moderate adventure drama," his review provides minimal commentary on the cast and director, emphasizing the film's shortcomings in storytelling despite its visual appeal.
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Michael Maltin (born December 18, 1950) is an American film critic, film historian, and author. He is known for his book of film capsule reviews, '' Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide'', published from 1969 to 2014. Maltin was the film criti ...
called the film "slowly paced but refreshing."
In a 2007 analysis, Shane Burridge compared the 1949 and 1980 film adaptations of ''The Blue Lagoon''. Burridge faulted the 1949 version for its superficial treatment of survival and abrupt maturation while praising the 1980 remake's explicit sexual content. He commended the 1949 film's innocence and performances but noted unsettling hints of a grim finale. Burridge suggested that audience preference might swing between the original and the remake based on these elements.
Robin Holabird wrote in 2021 that the movie "captures the tone using less salaciousness than the 1980 interpretation." He praised it as a respectable endeavour owing to the involvement of a director who once worked with Alfred Hitchcock, an Academy Award-winning cinematographer, and talented actress Jean Simmons.
Legacy
David Cronenberg
David Paul Cronenberg (born March 15, 1943) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He is a principal originator of the body horror genre, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and ...
has stated to
David Breskin that it was the scariest movie that he ever saw as a kid, and he holds it in high regard. Cronenberg explained that the apprehension represented in this particular film stemmed from the disconnection between the two teenage protagonists and their parents. According to Cronenberg, the concept of parental separation constituted the most fear-inducing factor, as he hypothesised that neonates are universally fearful of such separation. In addition, the individual remarked that adults frequently interpret children's fear of movies based on their perspective, ignoring the fact that children can endure far more frightening circumstances than adults may believe.
An interview with Susan Stranks for the BFI channel on
YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
in 2021 revived interest in the film.
Other versions and sequel
* The novel was adapted into a motion picture by a Hollywood studio (
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...
) for the first time
in a version that was released in 1980 starring
Brooke Shields
Brooke Christa Shields (born May 31, 1965) is an American actress. A child model starting at the age of 11 months, Shields gained widespread notoriety at age 12 for her leading role in Louis Malle's film ''Pretty Baby (1978 film), Pretty Baby ...
and
Christopher Atkins. The updated version, directed by
Randal Kleiser
John Randal Kleiser (born July 20, 1946) is an American film and television director, producer, screenwriter and actor. He is best known for directing the films ''Grease (film), Grease'' (1978), ''The Blue Lagoon (1980 film), The Blue Lagoon'' (1 ...
and written by
Douglas Day Stewart
Douglas Day Stewart (born January 1, 1940) is an American screenwriter and film director. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, for the 1982 film ''An Officer and a Gentleman''.
Early life
Stewart was born on Jan ...
, included nudity and sexual content, although not as much as the book. According to Kleiser himself, it was the book and not the 1949 film that inspired his version of the story. However, because it used the same locations and kept some features as the 1949 film, it could be considered a remake.
That version was followed in 1991 by the sequel ''
Return to the Blue Lagoon'', starring
Milla Jovovich
Milica Bogdanovna Jovović; ; ( ; born December 17, 1975), known professionally as Milla Jovovich (), is an American actress and former fashion model. Her starring roles in numerous science fiction film, science-fiction and action films led th ...
and
Brian Krause. Although the sequel bears a strong similarity to the 1980 film, it bears little resemblance to Stacpoole's second novel, ''
The Garden of God''. The pearl-greedy traders do not appear in Stacpoole's original novel, but in the third novel, ''
The Gates of Morning'', a pair of sailors attack the people of a nearby island for pearls after seeing a woman wearing a double pearl hair ornament, as Emmeline does in the 1949 film.
* A "contemporary remake" of ''The Blue Lagoon'' was made for television in 2012. Called ''
Blue Lagoon: The Awakening'', it depicts two teenagers Emmaline Robinson (
Indiana Evans
Indiana Rose Evans (born 27 July 1990) is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles in ''Home and Away'' as Matilda Hunter, '' H2O: Just Add Water'' as Bella Hartley, and '' Blue Lagoon: The Awakening'' as Emmaline Robinson.
Early li ...
) and Dean McCullen (
Brenton Thwaites) being stranded on a tropical island. The male lead from the 1980 film,
Christopher Atkins, appears in this film as one of the teachers on the shipborne field trip where Emma and Dean are lost at sea and end up on an island.
Availability
''The Blue Lagoon'' made its television debut in the United States on
ABC's ''
Famous Film Festival'' on 18 December 1955. By the 1960s and 1970s, it became a television staple but, due to tighter broadcast schedules and several royalty disputes, its last appearances on broadcast television were in 1980 on
WOR-TV in New York, in 1981 on
TCN-9
TCN is the flagship television station of the Nine Network in Australia. The station is currently located at 1 Denison Street, North Sydney. The licence, issued to a company named Television Corporation Ltd headed by Frank Packer, was one of the ...
in Sydney, and in 1982 on
Tyne Tees Television
ITV Tyne Tees, previously known as Tyne Tees, Channel 3 North East and Tyne Tees Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV television franchisee for North East England and parts of North Yorkshire.
Tyne Tees launched on 15 January 1959 from stu ...
. As a result, the film remained unseen on television due to rights conflicts between the estate of the novel's author Henry De Vere Stacpoole, who died in 1951, and controlled the motion picture rights to the story in every English-language-speaking country except for the United States, where the novel has already become part of the
public domain
The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work to which no Exclusive exclusive intellectual property rights apply. Those rights may have expired, been forfeited, expressly Waiver, waived, or may be inapplicable. Because no one holds ...
, and the Rank Organisation, who controlled the rights to the 1949 film, rendering the movie as a virtual
orphan work. Due to these issues, the film has not yet been released formally on home video.
However,
Carlton Communications
Carlton Communications plc was a British media company. It was led by Michael P. Green and listed on the London Stock Exchange from 1983 until 2 February 2004, when it was bought by Granada plc in a corporate takeover to form ITV plc. Carlton s ...
, later merged with
Granada plc
Granada plc (previously called Granada Ltd., Granada Group plc, and Granada Media plc) was a British conglomerate best known as the parent from 1954 to 2004 of the Manchester-based Granada Television.
The company agreed a corporate takeover of ...
to form
ITV plc
ITV plc is a British media company that holds 13 of the 15 regional television licences that make up the ITV (TV network), ITV network (Channel 3), the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom.
ITV plc ...
, which inherited Rank's film library, licensed clips of the film to
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Inc. (abbreviated as SPHE) is the home entertainment distribution division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony.
Background
SPHE is responsible for the distribution of the Sony Pictures libra ...
for their 2003 DVD release of the 1980 film adaptation of the book.
Preservation
One 16mm copy is held at the
UCLA Film and Television Archive. The film could be viewed at the
BFI National Archive.
See also
*
State of nature
In ethics, political philosophy, social contract theory, religion, and international law, the term state of nature describes the hypothetical way of life that existed before humans organised themselves into societies or civilisations. Philosoph ...
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Lagoon (1949 film), The
1949 films
1940s adventure drama films
1949 romantic drama films
British adventure films
British romantic drama films
Films about children
Films about survivors of seafaring accidents or incidents
Films based on British novels
Films based on romance novels
Films directed by Frank Launder
Films scored by Clifton Parker
Films set in Oceania
Films shot at Pinewood Studios
Films shot in Fiji
Romantic period films
Films with screenplays by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat
Universal Pictures films
Films set in the 1840s
Films set in 1841
Films set in 1849
Films set in the 1850s
Films set in 1852
Films set in the Victorian era
Films set on uninhabited islands
Films about juvenile sexuality
1940s British films
Films based on The Blue Lagoon (novel)