Pagan Island (1961)

Such a frustrating disappointment

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Best movie ever!

As Good As It Gets

After his tanker catches fire and sinks somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, "William Stanton" (Eddie Dew) drifts for days in a lifeboat until he finds himself on an island populated entirely by women. At first the women plan to kill him but after he saves them from some male warriors from another island they agree to let him stay long enough for him to gather his strength and eventually return to the sea in his boat. However, his stay is complicated by the fact that he has fallen in love with a Polynesian woman named "Nani Maka" (Nani Maka) who is pledged to be sacrificed soon to the "Sea God". Anyway, rather than spoil the film for someone who hasn't seen it I will refrain from revealing what happens next. I will say, however, that this is a short movie (67 minutes) that features some beautiful tropical scenery and attractive native women wearing sexy attire. Unfortunately, the movie is filmed in black and white which fails to take full advantage of the situation . Not only that but the acting was very basic and the overall story was quite predictable due in large part to the opening sequence. All things considered, I rate the film as slightly below average.

The reason I rented this DVD from NetFlix was because it was directed by Barry Mahon--one of the worst directors of the 1960s. I must be a masochist because I recently have watched a bunch of grade-z movies by Mahon, Al Adamson, Ray Dennis Steckler, Ted Mikels and many other horrible film directors of the era. Believe it or not, many of the films these folks made make the Ed Wood films look amazingly good! Surprisingly, PAGAN ISLAND was not that bad a film, though it became obvious the real reason this film was made was to get away with showing sexy women's breasts back in 1961. That's because the film was set on a Polynesian island (even though the women looked very European in descent). But, to get by local censors, Mahon had the ladies wear leis over their boobs. Of course they occasionally "accidentally" showed a boobie here and there--though it was also funny watching some of the more prudish ladies holding the leis across their chests! As far as the plot goes, it's about a guy who is shipwrecked and happens upon an island entirely inhabited by bare-chested women all under age 25. While they explained that the men are on another island, I don't know why there are no kids or oldsters--one of those mysteries in life you'll just need to accept, otherwise you'll stay up all night.At first, the man is taken prisoner as the women have long believed that white men are bad. But, when he gets free and saves the ladies, he's given anything...ANYTHING he wants. I think you are supposed to use your imagination here, as the guy does seem amazingly chaste. He also seems really stupid, as he can have any woman on the island except for one who is to be sacrificed to their god--so naturally you can guess which one he wants! If you really care about what happens next, give it a look--but it certainly isn't a "must-see".Overall, watchable and with decent acting from the male lead and a few of the women. Oddly, the queen (one of the important roles) seemed to have the most difficulty reading her lines. For Mr. Mahon, this is one of his better and more watchable films.

I rented the DVD to get "Fiend of Dope Island", but "Pagan Island" turned out to be more fun.The best part of the "action" is the plethora of lovely island girls running around topless but covered by numerous huge leis. I can hear Barry Mahon directing them "okay, girls, we don't wanna go too far here, so whenever you move, I want you to hold on to them leis, okay?".And, darned if they don't.And what a surprise -- Nani Maka is played by -- Nani Maka!!! What are the odds?Too cute even if the acting is God awful.

Edward Dew is shipwrecked on an island populated by topless beauties that pray and sacrifice to a big fish-like sea god. They first want to kill Dew because the "white man is bad." Soon; however, Dew changes their minds by an act of heroism and promises to not make advances toward the one girl promised to the sea god for sacrifice. Naturally, Dew, with a bevy of bra-less beauties abounding, chooses the one girl he can't have and that plot strand begins a quick resolution to his and her problem. Sounds fishy, but true! Pagan Island is one of those so-bad-it's-good movies that really surprised me. The acting is God awful, the action almost non-existent, and the dialog does not get any more inane then in this one. The girls are primarily "white" so it is somewhat odd that such a fuss is made at Dew as he could easily be most of the girls' brother. The top non-acting award must go to Trine Hovelsrud(she is just brimming with Polynesian flair right? Yeah you bet!)as the queen of the island with the worst dialog. She made me wince a time or two, but have no fear as most male viewers will never give their full attention as they are probably trying to see what hangs and sways under all the leis that the girls wear. Maybe that is why I am a little lenient on this film, but it was funny and therefore entertaining, and as an added bonus very short. As for the sea god, the statue looks ridiculous - I wouldn't want to blow the big surprise at the end. I really was surprised with the sea god at the end. The director, producers, and all accountable really went all out with it.