Saturday Island (1952)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

A bit of preposterousness set in the South Seas with beautiful Technicolor scenery. Linda Darnell, incredibly lovely, does what she can with the lackluster script. This was Tab Hunter's first film, he was discovered working on a ranch and had no prior experience acting and it definitely shows but he tries and looks great even saddled with the unfortunate nickname Chicken. He tells some interesting stories about the making of the film in his autobiography and Linda's kindness to him as a raw beginner, the book is worth checking out if you have the chance. The movie is fine for a rainy Saturday morning just don't expect art.

Underrated little obscurity that's almost a minor gem. Sure, dramatically it's a bit naive, and the pro-British ending in which the Brit gets the girl - not the American (after all, the movie is British) - is rather "off". The American kid is supposedly much too young for the gal (who's around 30 only) but the one-armed slimy British character who's already 38 steals the gal! This is a happy ending only for other British one-armed, slimy guys. To makes things even more absurd, this gal was frigid to begin with: she barely had interest in men before she got stranded, but suddenly she falls in love with a slimy British officer who isn't half as good-looking as the blond American kid. However, the location is terrific, and the movie was filmed in (more-or-less) early colour which gives it a very special sort of feel. It's very much worth seeing alone for its visuals.

I enjoyed this 1952 movie. It never tried to be anything but what it was. Shipwreck, stranded on an island, beautiful Linda Darnell and handsome young Tab Hunter in his first film. The star never looked better and the story was not difficult to understand. Enter Donald Gray as the other part of the triangle and you have conflict amongst the natives.Linda Darnell, every inch a movie star, graced the screen with her alluring and dark looks. She never gives you the idea of anything else but what she is. True better films came her way, but listen, just watching the glamor of the star system was enough in those days. See her in LETTER TO THREE WIVES or UNFAITHFULLY YOURS, ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM, even that clinker FOREVER AMBER for more meaty roles. But sometimes it's refreshing to see that stars as themselves in romantic and sometimes far fetched plots. Remember in the 40s and 50s the studios ruled the films and the stars. It was their mission to expose their glamor and popularity. How many films did it take for Elizabeth Taylor to turn into a decent actress?Tab Hunter took a lot of slack for this film from the critics. But the studios had other thoughts in mind and thankfully they took him under their wings and turned him into a top teen aged heart throb. He too learned his craft along the way. Watch him in GUNMAN'S WALK, BATTLE CRY, THE AROUSERS and LUST IN THE DUST. He again was just a pleasure to watch on the screen with his blonde hair good looks and well toned physique.It was the time of the stars. It was their films, their popularity and faithful fans that kept the movies alive in those days. Now days it's the violence and spectacle that hold court in films. Sadly, the days of glamor have long gone. And the stars with them.

What a stinkeroo this turned out to be!!! At one time, much earlier in her career, Linda Darnell was one of my favorites - no great shakes as an Actress, but very beautiful and pleasant (particularly in films like "The Mark of Zorro" and "Blood and Sand") but when I saw this monstrosity, the memories of her golden days faded quickly. The story is unbelievable and farcical, the acting second-rate, the supporting cast insufferable. I cannot think of a more immature performance by anyone when compared to Tab Hunter, and Donald Gray had to be the most boring leading man they could have picked. Added to this, was the terrible photography (and I am not just referring to the color!) Everyone associated with this, must have shuddered whenever it was shown.