"Fantasy Island" (1978) TV series 1978-1984

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Creator:

Gene Levitt

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

28 January 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Tales of visitors to a unique resort island that can fulfill literally any fantasy requested.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Resort | Midget | Dwarf | Dream Comes True

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 9 nominations

Cast

Ricardo Montalban	...	Mr. Roarke (70 episodes, 1978-1984)
Hervé Villechaize	...	Tattoo (42 episodes, 1978-1983)

Runtime:

60 min (157 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

Whenever guests were arriving on Fantasy Island, Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize) would run up to the bell tower, ring the bell, and announce "de plane!". After he left the show, Mr. Roarke (Ricardo Montalban) would simply push a button next to him, which would ring the bell.

Quotes:

Mr. Roarke: Smiles, everyone... smiles!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Andy Richter Controls the Universe: Crazy in Rio (#2.7)" (2003)

When "Fantasy" meets reality..........

The bloom has worn off this fondly remembered series of which the memories do not match up to the reality seen during reruns. When the show first aired, it seemed like a lush, star-laden piece of wonderment and entertainment. With its tropical setting, unique lead characters, eventful and varied stories and the parade of name actors each week, it was a hit that lingered in the memory for decades. However, now, after so much has changed in television, the series often looks cheap, seems trite and inane and, worst of all, comes off as pretty dull! Montalban (the essence of class, dignity and charisma) was forced each week to react to the unintelligible, unfunny ramblings of Villechaize (a freakish persona who looks like the dwarfed love child of Freddie Fender and Charo.) These forced, ludicrous scenarios (shown just before the guest stars' names appear) are downright painful to watch (and even more painful to listen to with Villechaize seemingly deliberately placing emphasis on all the wrong words and syllables in his dialogue.) Then the "stars" arrive and it is criminally clear that all of the shots of the leads were done separately at different times. The primary characters never even met during the legendary opening arrival scenes! (Even worse, the SAME shot of the SAME dancer and musicians is shown over and over and OVER week after week!) Even though it is always fun to catch a glimpse of once-famous or almost famous celebrities in their waning years (or also to spot up and comers who often don't even get billing in these episodes), the storylines are, for the most part, beyond lame and hugely predictable. Additionally, the cheap-jack production values (aside from the location filming that was used again and again and AGAIN) spoil a lot of the effect of the guest appearances. Many times the celebs are lit with worse lighting than Donna Reed complained about when she was given the shaft on "Dallas". The show is worth checking out if one is a completist for seeing a favorite guest actor or if almost nothing else worthwhile is on, but unfortunately the show simply doesn't hold up today. Still, even this beats the wrong-headed, flop, 1998 remake version that starred Malcolm McDowell. Oh well, at least the customized red and white station wagons were fun.