Bahama Passage

Plot synopsis:

Sterling Hayden is a salt farmer on an island in the Bahamas. When his father dies in an accidental fall, it pushes his unstable mother (Flora Robson) over the edge. She believes he was murdered by the natives of the island. She asks to leave the island and takeup residence on another island.

Leo G. Carroll and his daughter Madeline Carroll (no relation) arrive at the island and help them out. Sterling Hayden is married and does not reveal this fact to Madeline Carroll, and she falls in love with him. When she finds out he is married she is upset and feels like a fool for falling for him.

Meanwhile, Flora Robson has gotten Leo G. Carroll worked up and he believes as well that the islanders are out to kill them. In a weak moment he shoots and kills a native boy, and the trouble begins for everyone.

The film was shot on location in the Bahamas and the scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. The film was shot in technicolor and the colors originally must have been bright and vibrant. Watching the movie made me wish I was there.

Madeline Carroll is breathtakingly beautiful in this film. Dressed most of the time in white she gives off a inner glow. Sterling Hayden will surely make female hearts flutter (and a few men too) he seems to spend the better portion of the film shirtless.

The supporting cast is good and able. Mary Anderson plays Hayden's wife, though she appears in only one brief scene. Dorothy Dandridge appears as a maid in this film, early in her career, and is only in a few scenes.

This film is still under copyright and is not available on VHS or DVD. If you can get a copy of this film I suggest you watch it. The scenery and the cast alone make it worth while.

I found this dull production of 'Bahama Passage' a test of endurance in order to see the 18 year old Dorothy Dandridge at work. She was lucky to act in Hollywood films during her teens, and although she wasn't incredibly famous, she did earn a living out of acting in films.

I saw Bahama Passage in the Avon Theater in Providence, Rhode Island in 1941 or 1942. The film, with the Bahama's incredible water shown in Technicolor made a lasting impression on me. I have traveled throughout the Bahamas for many years never tiring of the beauty of these islands. I have not seen the film in sixty years and I am unsure if a print still exists. If anyone knows if a copy of the film exists and where a copy can be purchased I wouild greatly appreciate hearing from you. Many years ago I was able to make a color VCR tape of "Virginia" which is also a fine film starring Madeline Carroll, Sterling Hayden and Fred MacMurray. I believe Madeline Carroll and Sterling Hayden were married during the filming of either Bahama Passage or Virginia. Thanks for your help.

The above quote is from the introduction to "Bahama Passage" and a rather ill-named location it certainly is!

1941 was an eventful year for young Sterling Hayden. He had the distinction of starring in the first two films in which he appeared. Both of which his co-star was Madeleine Carroll...and they both soon married in 1942. Sadly, the marriage didn't last...but it did result in "Virginia" and "Bahama Passage".

When the film begins, Adrian's father is found dead on the beach. Adrian Ainsworth (Hayden) accepts that his father's death was an accident. His mentally ill mother insists that the natives murdered him. However, on this small island of Dildo Key, the natives are friendly and loyal to the Ainsworth family....and they'd have no reason to kill anyone...yet. I say yet because the overseer that Adrian soon hires (Leo G. Carroll) is a harsh and wicked man. Again and again, the overseer provokes the natives until ultimately disaster happens...and Adrian is left to care for the man's daughter, Carol (Madeleine Carroll).

Paramout spent a lot of money on this production, with a location shoot in the Turks & Caicos as well as filming it in color. Despite this, the story is weak due to the writing and some of the acting. While I love Hayden and his films, when he finds his father dead he was simply terrible...with zero emotion and making for a very unconvincing scene. Additionally, Ms. Carroll's character is very poorly written. While you are supposed to like her and cheer for a romance between her and Adrian, she is wishy-washy in dealing with her irresponsible jerk of a father. It makes no sense for her to adore Adrian yet again and again to side with her father against him when clearly her father is not only wrong but created all the problems. She is too weak...and unlikable as a result. Overall, a nice looking film that doesn't quite hit the mark.

As I understand it, both of these films are among the Paramount films purchased by Universal. They are both fabulously beautiful films with wonderful casts and it is a shame that UNIVERSAL does not issue them as one of their DOUBLE FEATURE dvds. It is a shame that two films of this quality and historic interest are not available. Both of these films are exceptional. They have color photography and location filming unusual for the time (1941). Both have big name supporting players of interest, especially Dorothy Dandridge. Mr Hayden was encumbered with the irksome title 'the most beautiful man in the movies' at this time. Fortunately for his employers, he is a good enough actor that his annoyance does not show.