Movies have had castaways stranded on so-called desert islands for decades before ABC’s “Lost” put it on the small screen, even there preceded decades before by CBS’s comedy favorite “Gilligan’s Island.” The top contenders in the island castaway movie category:
Mysterious Island (1961). Escaped POW’s catch a Confederate balloon tethered near the prison yard and are swept clear across the country during a tremendously destructive storm and come down on a South Seas island where they encounter giant creatures provided by Ray Harryhausen. It turns out a benign Captain Nemo is watching over them from the Nautilus as he breeds his experimental creatures to feed the world’s hungry from a Nautilus anchored in an underground passage. They, of course, know of the famous Nemo, even though “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was set after the American Civil War. Like ABC’s Lost, this movie has some strangeness with it’s huge crab and gigantic prehistoric chicken, even if it lacks the creep factor.
Cast Away (2000). Tom Hanks’ character is a castaway in the true sense: he has only his wits and the clothes on his back. It did take him a long time to get around to lighting a fire, andl he missed a chance to signal a passing ship before doing so. The fire-starting experience seemed realistic: it can be very labor-intensive by all accounts, even with practice. His island was tiny, but seemed to have all he needed. Based on the apparent size, one wonders if there was sufficient island vegetation to really sustain a single man for so long, even if supplementing his diet with plenty of fish.
Pirates of the Carribbean (2003). Captain Jack Sparrow was actually on a near-desert island for a spell in this one with Keira Knightley and for some reason couldn’t wait to be rescued. Both were shortly thereafter.
Swiss Family Robinson (1960). The classic lost castaway tale with a terrific treehouse which you can explore yourself at Disney World. Always in print, the book tells of a family of settlers who encounter every tropical animal known to man from Asia and Africa on this unique island along with a cave that provides an alternate home. Might’ve spent more time in the movie on the early stages of life on the island rather than jumping from floating ashore to finishing the treehouse. The pirate attack is a lot of fun. There’ve been other movies based on the book and a TV series.
Crusoe (1989). I should probably list this Aidan Quinn movie although I have not seen it, if only because the tale is a classic that led to a string of knock-off books about shipwreck survivors featuring characters named Robinson or Crusoe, the only one remembered today being Swiss Family Robinson.
Six Days, Seven Nights (1998). A romantic comedy in which Harison Ford and Anne Heche survive on an island when his plane is downed.
The Blue Lagoon (1988). Teens Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins are stranded on a desert island where they fall in love.
Rescue from Gilligan’s Island (1978). Gilligan makes the list because of the three TV movies. And, besides, despite the slapstick approach, it is a TV predecessor to Lost, although the Lost crew might find the comparison bothersome. Right, little buddy?
Reference:
- Last Call: Science Fiction and Horror Obituaries November 2007 www.associatedcontent.com/article/473841/last_call_science_fiction_and_horror.html
