Island in the Sun (1957)

Set during the 1950s on a British-ruled Caribbean island, this drama deals with local politics, interracial relationships, social inequality, racism, adultery, and murder.

Director:

Robert Rossen

Writers:

Alfred Hayes, Alec Waugh (novel)

Stars:

James Mason, Joan Fontaine, Dorothy Dandridge

Cast

Credited cast:
James Mason	...	Maxwell Fleury
Joan Fontaine	...	Mavis Norman
Dorothy Dandridge	...	Margot Seaton
Joan Collins	...	Jocelyn Fleury
Michael Rennie	...	Hilary Carson
Harry Belafonte	...	David Boyeur
Diana Wynyard	...	Mrs. Fleury
John Williams	...	Colonel Whittingham
Stephen Boyd	...	Euan Templeton
Patricia Owens	...	Sylvia Fleury
Basil Sydney	...	Julian Fleury
John Justin	...	Denis Archer
Ronald Squire	...	Governor Templeton
Hartley Power	...	Bradshaw
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Barbara Upton	...	Colonel's Secretary

Storyline

Set on a fictitious island in the Carribean during colonial British rule, it focuses on the life of a young charismatic and handsome black male with political aspirations. He finds himself confused on returning home when his romantic liaison with a white female tends to conflict with his political views. As rumor has it, an interracial screen kiss caused quite a commotion in the U.S. when this movie was released. The plot is further strengthened by a look at the lives of a white expatriate family also living on the island. The family has to deal with problems of infidelity, racism, and murder.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | adultery | based on novel | caribbean island | kiss | 

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Taglines:

The place is the West Indies . . . the sun hides many things.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final theatrical movie of Diana Wynyard (Mrs. Fleury).

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Quotes

Jocelyn Fleury: Tell me about Egypt. Was it madly dull?
Euan Templeton: Too many pyramids.
Jocelyn Fleury: And not enough girls?
Euan Templeton: None to write home about.

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Connections

Featured in Sing Your Song (2011)

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Soundtracks

Mama Look a Boo Boo
(uncredited)
Written by Fitzroy Alexander (as Lord Melody)

User Reviews

Worth sitting through the racial tensions to hear Harry Belafonte sing

The wealthy whites are the hissable ones once again, lording their money-driven power over the black Caribbean field workers in this timely but talky issue-film. The Barbados locations are just beautiful, and so is Harry Belafonte's buttery voice, crooning Jamaican songs at sunset (his acting isn't bad either, and his relationship with Joan Fontaine is surprisingly chummy--if not especially romantic). The love story sidebars are soapy but not dull, and they give the film what passion it has. The heated racial debates haven't dated, giving the film some relevance, but who needs them? (Certainly not the principal audience targeted for this windswept travelogue). What we really want to see is more of Belafonte. He was at a peak here, and since he didn't get to use his own singing voice in "Carmen Jones", this is a great chance to watch and hear him perform unfettered. **1/2 from ****

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 August 1957 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Island in the Sun

Filming Locations:

Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago

Box Office

Budget:

$2,250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Darryl F. Zanuck Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1