Post #808495 by TIKIGIKI on Thu, Mar 23, 2023 6:33 PM

(Apologies in advance if this has been posted before. Somebody is bound to say I should have used the search function and this movie was referenced back in 2001...?)

Anyway, the movie is called "Island of Desire" 1952, which pretty much sums up the story. It was titled "Saturday Island" in Britain, but the name changed for the USA release, obviously to play up the sex angle. Tab Hunter (a young Marine) and Linda Darnell (a navy doctor) escape on a raft from a ship that has hit a mine during WWII in the Pacific. Seemingly the only survivors, they argue and bicker constantly while drifting, (which of course signifies they'll be sharing very "deep" embraces before the movie ends), until they are washed up on a small deserted island supposedly somewhere near Fiji. (Although the movie was filmed in Jamaica.)

Now they spend what turns out to be a year there, during which time Linda Darnell, who earlier didn't know port from starboard (Navy training?), manages to create a loom and weave flax into a fetching set of swimming trunks for Mr Hunter., who spends most of the movie with his shirt off, ....naturally!

In something of a cosmetic miracle, during the ensuring year plus, Ms Darnell's red lipstick and "cocktails at five" makeup remain absolutely flawless at all times! Impressive when you consider she's been washed over a reef in the rough waves, almost attacked by a shark, and having arrived on the island with no luggage? Her hair too somehow magically retains that "just out of the salon" perfection at all times, and despite having no razors, neither man grows a beard....ever!.

Now of course Tab falls romantically for Ms Darnell, despite the obvious fact she's obviously old enough to be his mother, but she's the only shop in town, so what's a red-blooded Marine to do? Then comes the aforementioned coupling, after Tab falls prone to a short moody depression due to a lack of nookie.

All goes well for a bit, until a plane crashes with a pilot much more Ms Darnell's age. Oh and she manages to amputate his seriously damaged arm without any medical equipment, but of course he survives to set up the old "eternal triangle".....until the "noble" thing to do, is done!

Anyway, it's freely available on YouTube in fair definition, but it becomes immediately apparent Tab was cast for his looks and NOT any mastery of the Dramatic Arts. (Apparently his audition consisted of simply taking his shirt off, and he was hired!) The island scenery is good though.

Now to the Tiki. At approx. 34.16, they discover what looks like a stone heiau and Ms Darnell uncovers a Tiki, which she rubs, despite being half-heartedly warned not to do so. She then leaves it atop the heiau. Here's a screen capture of the moment.

[ Edited by TIKIGIKI on 2023-03-24 17:29:11 ]