Islands In The Stream (1977)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: D Film: B-
After triumphs like the original Planet Of The Apes
(reviewed elsewhere on this site), Patton (soundtrack covered on this
site) and Papillon, director Franklin J. Schaffner was one of
Hollywood’s hot journeyman filmmakers and was still on a role. Islands In The Stream is based on the
Ernest Hemmingway classic (and has nothing to do with the Dolly Parton/Kenny
Rogers duet of the same name) and reunited Schaffner with Patton star
George C. Scott. Though the results
were not as strong, the project was still ambitious just the same and Scott is
impressive in the role of a surrogate Hemmingway.
In the beginning, he is acting wild and crazy, then his
three sons from a divorce arrive. What
is especially charming about this segment is that they are played like real
life children of their age, before the “Spielbergization” of children, suddenly
precocious know-it-alls. Here, they are
real and three-dimensional. It is a
fascinating segment that could and should have gone on a bit longer at least,
but the film moves on to other aspects of Tom Hudson’s (Scott) adult life and
daring dealings. Denne Bart
Petitclerc’s screenplay adaptation is still mature and intelligent. This is supported by a cast that includes
David Hemmings (Blow-Up), Julius W. Harris (Live & Let Die, Black
Caesar), Claire Bloom (The Spy Who Came In From The Cold), Gilbert
Roland and Hart Bochner. Though it gets
as choppy as some of the waters shown in the film, the film holds up nicely
enough that you will want to run out and get the book when you finish watching.
The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image was shot in
real Panavision, but the color on the print is a bit off throughout, as if it
were just at the beginning of turning into the colors not intended. This was processed in Metrocolor, but that
processing can look better than what is seen here. The film looks good otherwise, thanks to Fred J. Koenekamp,
A.S.C., with fine location shooting and full use of the scope frame. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is adequate, but
with a Jerry Goldsmith score, one wishes the film had been remixed in at least
simple stereo. There are no extras, not
even a trailer or section on Hemmingway, but the DVD is finally here and
overdue.
- Nicholas Sheffo
