IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
This drama set during the 1950s on a British-ruled Caribbean island deals with local politics, interracial relationships, social inequality, racism, adultery, and murder.This drama set during the 1950s on a British-ruled Caribbean island deals with local politics, interracial relationships, social inequality, racism, adultery, and murder.This drama set during the 1950s on a British-ruled Caribbean island deals with local politics, interracial relationships, social inequality, racism, adultery, and murder.
Jack Armstrong
- Snooker Player at Santa Marta Club
- (uncredited)
Patrick Halpin
- Santa Marta Club Member
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJoan Fontaine received hundreds of hate letters, containing dimes and quarters, which read, "If you're so hard up that you have to work with a nigger..." They were post-marked from various parts of the country, but they seemed to be dictated by one organization, as many of the phrases were identical. Fontaine turned the letters over to the FBI.
- Quotes
Mavis Norman: Do you care what stupid, prejudiced people think?
David Boyeur: You've never had to fight stupidity or prejudice.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Biography: Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker (1995)
Featured review
A soapy film about an island in the final days of colonialism
"Island in the Sun" was filmed in Barbados and Grenada, though it's about a fictional British colonial island...roughly like Barbados or Grenada! In many ways, it's a film about the racism inherent in colonialism and in other ways is a soap opera set on a tropical island. It also features something shocking for its time...and interracial romance between Joan Fontaine and Harry Belafonte...something which, sadly, caused a bit of a commotion when it debuted.
The movie is odd in that it seems to have many, many plots...too many for my taste. Much of it involves the Fleury family-- especially the incredibly strange character played by James Mason. But in addition to the Fleurys, there are many others--and the common thread to all of this is soapy romance. Many of the romances are interracial and the stories thrust seems to be that with the ending of colonialism comes the elimination of racial boundaries in love.
As I mentioned, I actually think the film has too many plots. I also thought Mason's character was enough for one film....so either the film should have been all about him OR they should have eliminated him completely. Regardless, it's a confusing sort of film--with many excellent moments but not nearly enough focus. Decent but the film could have been so, so much better...especially since so many things that are brought up in this film are important and deserve a better presentation.
The movie is odd in that it seems to have many, many plots...too many for my taste. Much of it involves the Fleury family-- especially the incredibly strange character played by James Mason. But in addition to the Fleurys, there are many others--and the common thread to all of this is soapy romance. Many of the romances are interracial and the stories thrust seems to be that with the ending of colonialism comes the elimination of racial boundaries in love.
As I mentioned, I actually think the film has too many plots. I also thought Mason's character was enough for one film....so either the film should have been all about him OR they should have eliminated him completely. Regardless, it's a confusing sort of film--with many excellent moments but not nearly enough focus. Decent but the film could have been so, so much better...especially since so many things that are brought up in this film are important and deserve a better presentation.
helpful•94
- planktonrules
- Feb 19, 2017
- How long is Island in the Sun?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,250,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 59 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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