Castaway (1986)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writers:

Lucy Irvine (book)
Allan Scott (written by)

Release Date:

11 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Plot:

Middle-aged Gerald Kingsland advertises in a London paper for a female companion to spend a year with him on a desert island...

Plot Keywords:

Island | Desert Island | Personals Column | Erotica | Storm

Cast

Oliver Reed	...	Gerald Kingsland
Amanda Donohoe	...	Lucy Irvine
Georgina Hale	...	Sister Saint Margaret
Frances Barber	...	Sister Saint Winifred
Tony Rickards	...	Jason
Todd Rippon	...	Rod
John Sessions	...	Man in Pub
Virginia Hey	...	Janice
Sorel Johnson	...	Lara
Len Peihopa	...	Ronald
Paul Reynolds	...	Mike Kingsland
Sean Hamilton	...	Geoffrey Kingsland
Sarah Harper	...	Swimming Teacher
Stephen Jenn	...	Shop Manager
Joseph Blatchley	...	Registrar

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Fujicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:12 | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Charles House, Kensington High Street, Kensington, London, England, UK

Company:

Cannon Group

Trivia:

UK singer Kate Bush was initially asked to star in the film, but she was put-off by the sexual material of the screenplay. Instead she provided a song.

Movie Connections:

Features The Pumpkin Eater (1964)

Soundtrack:

SLEEPY LAGOON

Roeg's most accessible and Reed's career best.

Based on Lucy Irvine's memoir, Nicolas Roeg here presents us with a surprising conventionally-told work, beautifully shot and perfectly paced. It works for a variety of reasons, not least the subject matter - eccentric, charming middle-aged Englishman advertises for a female companion to be 'shipwrecked' with him. A gorgeous, intelligent young woman takes him up on his offer but, once on the island, makes it clear that this is a 'hands off' deal.

From here on in this is an engrossing character study of both the young woman - Irvine - impressively played by Donohe in her leading debut, and the man ... a brilliant, brutally honest turn from Oliver Reed. Reed gave many fine performances throughout his career, both comic and dramatic, but none as complete as this. Hailed as a great comeback at the time, it probably would have been if not for the fact that Reed himself didn't seem to really want to come back!

All in all, this is easily the most digestible of Roeg's films, made downright special by that Oliver Reed performance.