Customer Reviews

Islands in the Stream [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

some things you don't want to share with the world, you want to keep them hidden for yourself, alone. this is one of those things. this is my favorite george c. scott movie, subtle and complex and always powerful. the scene as he watches his son's hands bleed while trying to land the big fish and has to conceal his own dismay always moves me deeply. the island culture, the outdoor sculpting, david hemmings' portrayal as the lonely alcoholic, eddie, the awkardness of the relationships between the father and sons, all combined to make a beautiful and sad movie.

as a bonus, the rich and haunting score by jerry goldsmith is one of my favorites (as well as his). i think that i'll listen to it right now.

Ernest Hemingway was the all time master of tales about real men who go down fighting. The twist, however, is that so many of his heroes recognize the futility of their struggle, and in writing them this way Hemingway taps into something ancient, something epic on the level of Greek Tragedy.

George C. Scott's performance in this film is perhaps his greatest, and while the film does lose continuity in its final 3rd, probably due to overzealous editing, this is a film that is more about the journey/tale than about the destination/conclusion. My only regret is that it isn't yet available on DVD, to put its tropic vision and hauntingly surreal quality on full display.

Islands In the Stream does an especially good job of capturing the air of general anxiety and uncertainty that America felt during the time leading up to World War II, and the story parallels this impending tragedy by building a growing sense of all that is lost as a family, nation and world reel toward war. In this sense, the movie can be compared to the novel "Alas Babylon" in its ability to capture an apocalyptic danger held ever closely and uncertainly at hand. Deeply moving.

Set against the backdrop of the second World War, "Islands in the Stream" tells the story of painter Thomas Hudson (George C. Scott in a terrific performance) who has escaped to the Bahamas in hopes of isolating himself from the world. The world still finds him in the form of the storm clouds of war and the visit of his sons from his two marriages. Hudson tries to reconnect with his young sons in particularly his middle boy who habors anger towards being adandoned by his father. The late David Hemmings gives a terrific supporting turn as Eddy a British ex-patriot who works for Hudson and is his closest friend. The veteran and young cast do a terrific job with the economical screenplay by Denne Bart Petitclerc (creator of the old TV show "Then Came Bronson")based on Ernest Hemingway's posthumously published novel.

Director Franklin J. Schaffner ("Patton", "Papillion", "Planet of the Apes" and "The War Lord")was made to direct this material. His lyrical direction helps the cast give transcendant and powerful performances. Scott as usual puts his all into his portrayal of Hudson. The print used here looks exceptionally good.

Paramount has done a exceptionally nice job in transferring this classic film to DVD. While not a perfect transfer, the bright vivid colors and crisp, sharp clear images perfectly capture the lazy ambience of the Bahamas. Although the source material isn't the best novel Hemingway ever wrote it was, perhaps, his most honest. One can detect more than a whiff of autobiography in Hemingway's Hudson and that element is strengthened by Scott's performance.

The film comes sans extras which is a pity (I wish that Paramount would look at the terrific job Warner Home Video has done with some of their smaller cult classics and follow suit)but it does feature a beautiful widescreen transfer of the film. Highly recommended.

I own and watch this film about evey two years.It never fails to move me to both tears and laughter. From the painting of the soles of Eddie's feet by the younger of the three boys, up to the burial of Eddie at sea, after a gunfight with the Cuban Coast Guard,the film always brings me back to a platform from which life's essentials can be viewed.
The small deaths throughout never fail to catch up to and envelope the larger ones that comprise the body of the work. Hemingway's belief that "all true stories end in death" is once again played out in this lively emotional tale. But not before he allows you to feel the full force of a father's love for his son, the special love that comes only through friendship, the reunitng of man and wife, aand finally, the love that comes through personal sacrfice, bound up in a reaching out to those whose desperation is greater than one's own.

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Super adaption of Hemmingway's novel. The latter third is a bit weak. It amlost feels like Schaffner is trying to take us over into "To Have and Have Not". There is a powerful theme in Thomas Hudson's time in Cuba hunting German submarines and his isolation and despair over the loss of his sons. It carries well into the emotion of his relentless hunt throughout Cuban waters for the Germans in the novel. This should have been used to finish off the movie. Instead Schaffner switches over into late 50's Cuba??? It weakens the end. Excellent first two thirds, though. The casting of George C. Scott as Hudson is brilliant. It fits him like a glove. If you didn't like the movie end, PLEASE read the book, Papa H would have wanted you to.

George C. Scott portrays a metal sculptor in the islands duringWorld War II. His sons three of them come for a visit that brings them all closer together. Very life like. I originally saw this movie at the theatre years ago when it first came out i believe in the 70s, i loved it then and love it now, i own this video and watch it frequently. Eddie one of his friends on the movie as well as Joseph are definitely friends i always dreamed of having. Get this video its incredible, the more i watch it the more i love it, must have seen it 100s of times. Enjoy!!!!!

I came across this movie by accident and was surprised that I had never heard of it. This is a first class tragic drama, that held my interest thoughout. With a superb performance in the "made for him" role, George C. Scott portreys the main figure of this story with sensitivy and just the right amount of apathy. A movie not to be missed.

A very relaxing movie to watch. Picturesque landscapes, great characters!!!! This movie had some great character actors Hollywood never fully utilized. A great human story of life, love, war and peace, tragedy and death. Oh and the soundtrack is wonderful! So calming and soothing. Always a great family movie! When I'm away from family I appreciate this film the most. You feel like your right there with George C. Scott. I cant explain it. Again, great for the whole family!!!

What more can I say about this classic that others hav'nt mentioned yet? The hammerhead shark attacking is one of many highlights of this film. Farewell to David Hemmings who died a few months ago(Eddie the Rummy) I'm listening to the excellent Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack as I write this! (Spoiler next line) I only wished George C. Scott and Eddie did'nt have to die at the end.Damn the Cuban Coast Guard!! How many out there besides me would love to have the dream job of being a sculpturer on a Carribean Island?

This is a very good movie but something in the formating to DVD is not correct. The sound track, although sincronized, has something lacking. The musicical background of the sound track does not flow fluently.