A Ilha do Pecado

Continuing to write reviews of people of color in film in chronological order for Black History Month, we're now at 1958 with the second movie in a row from the previous year that featured Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and John Cassavetes, all having appeared in Edge of the City before this one. Joining them here is British actress Virginia Maskell. The story mainly concerns Ms. Maskell and Cassavetes as Tina and Evan, respectively, as they decide to reside on a part of the British Virgin Islands they want to own. But they have some legal problems coming up...Despite what I just described, this was a mostly a romantically entertaining look at how island life make people feel happy most of the time as evidenced by Poitier's mostly happy-go-character of Marcus. Why, not once does he get angry or look somber throughout! We do, however, see him work hard at anything he feels needs fixing and not lazing around like a Stepin Fetchit stereotype so that's a definite plus. Plus, while Ms. Dee's part of Ruth is pretty small and she doesn't have too many lines, she radiates good chemistry with Poitier even here which is probably why she eventually was paired with him many times over. Oh, and Viriginia and John as the leads are wondrously appealing through the whole picture. So on that note, Our Virgin Island comes highly recommended. P.S. Among other supporting players of color, besides the extras, are Edric Connor as Captain Jason and Julian Mayfield as a band leader.

For John Cassavetes and Virginia Maskell, it's love at first sight. She's been on a small sailing party, but John convinces her to leave her friends, marry him, and live on the island on which they met. It seems like an ideal life, and after John buys the island and comes up with blueprints for a house, they settle in.

If you like movies that don't have much conflict, you'll be very pleased with Our Virgin Island, because the newlyweds really don't have many obstacles in their path of marital bliss. Sure, there are meddling in-laws, but what's a little argument with your mother when you live on a deserted island with your husband and helpful island natives? Among the latter are Sidney Poitier and his girlfriend Ruby Dee, who were previously paired together in Edge of the City, also with John Cassavetes. Sidney takes on a very un-Sidney-Poitier-like role, as he dons a Jamaican accent and enjoys all aspects of island life. So, if you want to hear him talking differently, and if you want to hear him sing the most horrendous off-key rendition of "The Wedding March" in history, rent Our Virgin Island. It's harmless and sweet, like a better version of Blue Lagoon.

Filmed in the beautiful British Virgin Islands, a charming fairy-tale type story of guy who meets girl, seemingly loses her, then gets her to literally jump overboard and marry him! After buying a small, uninhabited island, Cassavetes and his "Man-Friday" (Poitier) build a dream house for???? The newlyweds? Their family? Poitier? Really a truly enjoyable little picture: you buy the premise, you "buy" the island--and the story!

While traveling with her mother Mrs. Lomax (Isabel Dean) in a cruise in the Virgin Island, the young Tina (Virginia Maskell) meets the treasure hunter and aspiring writer Evan (John Cassavetes) and they immediately fall in love with each other. Evan buys a small island and they get married and move to the place. Evan's friend Marcus (Sidney Poitier) helps the couple to build their house in the island until the day that they are completely broken. They receive an ice box from Mrs. Lomax but they do not have how to pay for the transportation; however Captain Jason (Edric Connor) tells that it would not be a problem provided they lighted a lamp every night to give directions to his boat. Soon Tina finds a box of champagne on the beach and they conclude that it might be a compliment from the captain. Out of the blue, a publishing house buys Evan's novel and they celebrate the received money. But they are also informed that Mrs. Lomax will visit them. She misses the comfort of a modern life and when the Commissioner (Colin Gordon) pays a visit to the couple, she speaks too much and tells the story of the lamp and the champagne. The Commissioner tells that he shall report the story to the British authorities and Tina and Evan will certainly lose their house. What will they do to keep their paradise on Earth?

"Virgin Island" is a naive but delightful romance and adventure. The feel-good story is appropriate for a matinée, and the dramatic part is shallow with the troubled situations easily resolved like in a fairytale. The chemistry between John Cassavetes and the lovely Virginia Maskell is impressive and Sidney Poitier has also an important participation in the role of a friend of the young couple. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Ilha do Pecado" ("The Sin Island")

This overlooked film is a tiny, charmingly-told story of an unlikely couple who get married and set up housekeeping on an uninhabited Virgin Island. I don't know how they got Poitier and Cassavetes with what it obviously a minimal budget, but get them they did, and both turn in delightful performances.