Lost Lagoon

'Lost Lagoon' is a movie inextricably trapped in its own identity crisis. The quirky, sometimes banal calypso interludes: LIGHT COMEDY. The narrative, of an unhappily married middle aged man (Jeffrey Lynn) 'lost' at sea, clambering ashore on a remote island, having swallowed most of the ocean and finding love with a much younger woman (Leila Barry): FANTASY. The unwelcome arrival of a former boyfriend: LOVE TRIANGLE. The even more unwelcome arrival of the wife: er.... LOVE QUADRANGLE. A most unwelcome visit by the no stone left unturned, dog with a bone, insurance investigator: DRAMA.

'Lagoon' strives to be all of the above, but succeeds in being none of them. Curiously unfocused, unsatisfactorily flaccid and unconvincingly acted, it's little more than a featherweight ball of fluff. Somewhere along the way, 'Lost Lagoon' has lost its marbles.

Made around the time when Calypso music was very popular, LOST LAGOON is a mixed bag of Caribbean romance and melodrama. Jeffrey Lynn plays a 40-something lawyer who is harried by the demands of an opportunistic wife and weighed down by financial problems, who is presumably lost at sea in a hurricane and seizes upon the chance to live a less hectic existence when shipwrecked on a small island near Bermuda. He is nursed back to health by the small island's population, including a lonely spinster (well played by Leila Barry). Unfortunately, the man's life insurance policy requires proof of death, which introduces a snooping insurance adjuster character (Peter Donat) looking for that proof. The authentic island and music atmosphere is countered by improbable dialog that deprives the story of the conviction it might have had.

missing English accent on Leila Barry and missing accents on Bahamians mostly no-name actors (though Lynn appeared in quite a few films) small island in Bahamas Bermuda Studio Production

"Lost Lagoon" is a very low-budget film that still is very much worth seeing. Sure, it's got a few faults--but it also does amazingly well for what it is. Think about it--this is the only production by Bermuda Studio Production and the leading lady never appeared in another show or movie according to IMDb--yet it is very satisfying to watch.

The film begins with Charlie (Jeffery Lynn) approaching his brother-in-law for a loan to pay off his insurance premium. But instead of just giving him the money, the brother-in-law takes him aboard his fishing boat and they head out to sea from Miami. He does give him the money--but soon after, a huge storm hits and Charlie is washed overboard. He is assumed dead but actually washes up on an obscure island in the Bahamas (and there are LOTS of obscure little islands there). Here he is nursed back to health by a nice young lady, Elizabeth (Leila Barry). Eventually, he catches a ride back to Miami and when he returns home, no one realizes he's returned...and he starts to wonder why he returned! So, he quickly returns to the island and decides to continue letting everyone think he's dead and live out his life with Elizabeth. But, of course, there's a lot more to the story.

Perhaps this story appealed more to me because I am middle-aged and because I have recently been to the Bahamas. All I know is that although I am very happy, I could see how such a situation could be very tempting for a vaguely disaffected man. It makes for a compelling story and moral quandary. It also happens to be well made and interesting throughout. Because of the tiny budget and how effective the film is, I'm scoring this one an 8. It is currently available for streaming live through Netflix--otherwise I doubt if you'll be able to find such a small film.

Of the three World War I returning veterans in Raoul Walsh's prohibition-era gangster classic THE ROARING TWENTIES, two roared like lions while one purred like a kitten...

The latter being Jeffrey Lynn, who played the third banana that James Cagney liked (even after snaking his dame) and Humphrey Bogart despised: Of course these two became huge stars and eventually legends while Lynn remained a lanky, sophisticated character-actor who never reached genuine leading man status...

Though decades later he'd make an attempt in a very low-budget, Bahamas set, Calypso-exploitation romance melodrama centering on an unhappily married middle-aged father of two, Lynn's Charlie Walker, and for the record: Neither Bogart or Cagney had a calypso song named after and sung about any of their characters: one of a small handful of natives on a small Bahamas island provides a sporadic Roman Chorus, just in case we get lost within the extremely simple plot...

That we're quickly thrown into as Lynn's Charlie takes a boat ride with his cynical brother-in-law when a big storm hits... Charlie grabs a wad of cash as the boat's about to crunch beneath the superimposed tempest waves. And although wearing a life jacket, he doesn't get to the life raft in time. Meanwhile, all three (including a crewman) survive...

But what matters is the not-so-deserted island Charlie gets washed up on, and especially who's on it. And you might wonder why the young and gorgeous Leila Barry didn't appear in any other films: or anything else for that matter. She's a good enough actress with a sleek and natural dream girl/girl-next-door quality, and LOST LAGOON is a middle-aged man's fantasy. Not just for Charlie, but the target audience: When she gives him a back rub, you can almost feel it...

As a matter of fact, the entire picture... while no classic and without even a cult following to back up its almost deafening obscurity... has a palpable vibe throughout: the island's as real as the couple's chemistry that, while seemingly remote, safe and sublime, has enough obstacles to provide a little suspense and a few twists so LAGOON doesn't feel like what it actually is deep down: an hour-long short story, or what this kind of vehicle's actually called, a programmer... as well as a guilty pleasure...

Which doesn't always refer to a bad film someone feels guilty about liking. Co-written by Lynn, who resembles an awkward and floppy-footed David Niven, LAGOON delivers in deliberately light entertainment. Especially the second half, flowing beyond a somewhat clunky, far-fetched setup when Charlie gets a second wind after his already uncaring family thinks he's dead. And with the company he's got, who needs anyone else?

Leila Barry's docile yet independent character, Elizabeth Moore, who wound up on the island after her semi-rich grandfather died, or something, has more going on than a backstory of being screwed over by an ex-boyfriend back in England...

Enter an 11th hour square-jawed Peter Donat, showing up right when our hero has fallen head-over-heels in love, which is mutual but not equal. And since the plot was headed into Harlequin paperback territory, it's good that her beau and his wife (and brother-in-law along with an insurance investigator) show up. Bad timing for him is great for us: Making LOST LAGOON the opposite of a missed opportunity as it mostly avoids the guilty and revels in lightweight, time-filling, intentionally soap operatic, May-December romantic pleasure.

"Lost Lagoon" is a must watch for fans of offbeat movies!

There are no evil people, just good people cast into very unusual situations. The movie reveals how they handle these unusual circumstances.

Interestingly, Leila Barry, who radiantly plays the love interest, is never seen again in another movie. She presents a strong screen presence that is coveted by producers.

Calypso/Reggae fans will appreciate the considerable music interludes as the Bahamian employees of the resort act as a greek chorus explaining the fate of their employers in their music.

I highly recommend this movie for 79 minutes of fine entertainment.