The Blue Lagoon (1980)

In the Victorian period, two children are shipwrecked on a tropical island in the South Pacific. With no adults to guide them, the two make a simple life together, unaware that sexual maturity will eventually intervene.

Director:

Randal Kleiser

Writers:

Henry De Vere Stacpoole (based on the novel by), Douglas Day Stewart (screenplay)

Stars:

Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins, Leo McKern

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Brooke Shields	...	Emmeline Lestrange
Christopher Atkins	...	Richard Lestrange
Leo McKern	...	Paddy Button
William Daniels	...	Arthur Lestrange
Elva Josephson	...	Young Emmeline
Glenn Kohan	...	Young Richard
Alan Hopgood	...	Captain
Gus Mercurio	...	Officer
Jeffrey Kleiser	...	Lookout (as Jeffrey Means)
Bradley Pryce	...	Little Paddy
Chad Timmerman	...	Infant Paddy (as Chad Timmermans)
Gert Jacoby	...	Sailor
Alex Hamilton	...	Sailor
Richard Evanson	...	Sailor

Storyline

On a journey to San Francisco, Richard, his father and cousin Emmeline find themselves on a ship about to explode. Rushed to a lifeboat with Paddy Button, the two children escape while their father (and uncle) are on another lifeboat. In the chaos following, the lifeboats are separated. Paddy, Richard and Emmeline find themselves with no food and no water stuck in the middle of nowhere. After some time, the three come across an uncharted paradise, where Paddy quickly teaches the children fishing, hunting and building. After maybe a month or two, Paddy gets very drunk off a barrel of rum found on the island when they first arrive, and drowns in the middle of the night. Emmeline and Richard, now alone and very scared, move location and rebuild their island home. Many years later, the two young teenagers have developed a very real home, but hormones and feelings between the two strain their friendship, until Richard, who is still very determined to reach San Francisco, is let down by ...

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Plot Keywords:

island | poison | coming of age | teenage girl | teenage boy | 

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Taglines:

Two children are shipwrecked alone on a lost tropical island. Nature is kind to them. They thrive on the bounty of the jungle and the lagoon. The boy grows tall. The girl beautiful. They swim naked over coral reefs. They run in a cathedral of trees. And the warm winds, the tropic moon, the silk sand conspire to enchant them. When their love happens, it is natural as the sea, and as powerful. Love as nature intended to be.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Sony movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

La laguna azul

Filming Locations:

Fiji

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Gere turned down the lead male role. Coincidentally, the lead male role is called Richard.

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Goofs

The night Em has the baby, Richard hears the drums and it's daylight. He goes to the other side of the island, it's night time. Then Emmeline has the baby and it's daylight again as it turns to dusk.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Young Emmeline: Richard, don't go out too far.
Young Richard: Em's a fraidy cat!
Arthur Lestrange: Richard! Emmeline! Come back here! This minute! And be careful!

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Connections

References Thunderball (1965)

User Reviews

Never Forget!!

This is one of my favorite films. I was 14 when it was released and I could really relate to it. It's really hard to describe but it just brings me back to a time in life when everything was new and exciting. The storyline is something that you dream about especially when you're 14 years old. The beautiful scenery and sound track just puts you in the perfect mindset. Sure there are some things in the movie that are a little hard to believe but that's all part of the whole "fantasy" thing. I've probably watched it every chance I've had. I've always thoroughly enjoyed this movie and always will. It makes me feel like I'm 14 years old again. The Blue Lagoon is probably the most beautiful film ever made. I just love the movie! Just give it a chance sometime. But I guess that's just my opinion.