JLRMovieReviews

Claudette Colbert, Herbert Marshall, William Gargan and Mary Boland star in this fascinating Cecil B. DeMille flick about 4 people thrust together when they escape from a boat with the bubonic plague on it. They eventually wind up on an island, where they battle wild animals, natives, each other and themselves. A lot of people think a Cecil B. DeMille movie is plain hokum and not to be taken seriously. Maybe not. But I can say this. It's entertaining hokum. There's so much foliage to make it look like a real island, that it's plain it's not. DeMille can really tell a good story, though, and all of the stars are good in their roles, but Mary Boland really steals the film. Today, the Academy would honor an actress in that showy role, like they did with Ingrid Bergman in "Murder on the Orient Express." If you have never seen this little gem, watch and enjoy and see Claudette Colbert transform from a wallflower to a blossom in this unbelievable DeMille picture.

In the beginning, I actually enjoyed this rather strange little film and then it seemed to run out of gas. Dudley wants to marry before 30 (in a few weeks.) So he proceeds to pursue this new girl, with time taken out to perform to the camera, musical numbers which I enjoyed very much. Then when she leaves the country, he takes off after her. Then a private investigator is hired to follow him. It all is very unbelievable, but enjoyable due to Dudley's childish charm. My main criticism is that the film kind of peters out by the end. But all in all, to forget your own troubles, you can be entertained by Dudley Moore's looney antics here.

Jack Lemmon is about to end it all when an old friend he hasn't seen in 15 years saves him, well not really. Peter Falk never really noticed that in this very bizarre film. When Peter comes up with a brilliant idea to set up his wife (who he's leaving) with Jack Lemmon, things start to get a little more interesting. Elaine May and Peter Falk are great in this film, especially Elaine May. I watched this for Jack Lemmon, who is one of my favorite actors ever. But here, I never really could get into his character. Jack was his usual funny and quirky self with abrupt seizures. But all in all, I never really felt that much sympathy for his character. Outlandish movies like this either tend to end with a whimper or just don't know how or where to end, and this is no exception. While this is no "Some Like It Hot," this is not the worst film I've ever seen either. The acting of Elaine and Peter are far better than the material. Watch if you like the actors.