Island of Lost Women

What a strange film from director Frank Tuttle, his final movie.... It is not a disgrace, no, let's not exagerate, but just strange. I would have bet on a director as Richard Cunha, Roger Corman or any psychotronic film maker, but certainly not Frank Tuttle. It is funny, light hearted. Plus, it is a short film, so it can't be boring. This stuff is destined to teen audiences I guess, because of those bunnies presence. It is impossible to take it seriously, it is just entertaining, that's all. I don't know any of those second rate actors, chosen I guess, only because they are handsome, good looking. Watch it just by curiosity.

Two men are forced to crash-land their plane on an uncharted island in the Pacific. They soon discover an atomic scientist and his three pretty daughters live on the island. The three girls have never seen a man besides their father. To say they're excited would be an understatement. When the men threaten to expose the scientist upon returning to civilization, he takes steps to ensure they never leave the island.

Weak film that bears a few similarities to Forbidden Planet but, make no mistake, this cheapie isn't in that film's league. Jeff Richards and John Smith are the bland leads. Alan Napier is good as the scientist, easily the meatiest part in the movie. Venetia Stevenson, Diane Jergens, and former Playmate June Blair are the girls. All three are nice to look at but ultimately forgettable. I admit I was rooting for Napier in this one. The 'good guys' were pushy jerks. Richards wants to force the scientist to go back and build more bombs, even if that's not what Napier wants. The only reason Napier decides to prevent their leaving is because Richards threatens him. So I had a fundamental problem with the premise and found the protagonists unlikable. Also nothing much happens that's exciting. There's no real action, like most movies of this type. Usually there are wild animals or monsters to fight off. But not here. It's all pretty dull without even the obligatory camp value these things usually have.

A scientist with his three shapely daughters leaves behind threats of nuclear war and escapes to a desert island. But then two hunky fliers crash land and unexpected movie boredom begins.

In my hormonally vulnerable mind, I never thought a skin show could be boring, but this one is. Three scantily clad girls and two bare-chested guys stand around and talk for 70 inert minutes. That is, if you ignore the nuclear explosion coming at the end, a cloud whose kill range is about that of a firecracker.

The only point of interest is how a homoerotic sub-current is worked into the non-existent storyline. Other reviewers are right, it's unmistakable—catch the brief back rub Joe (Smith) gives Mark (Richards), when you'd expect one of the shapely girls on hand would do. But then this is 1959 and tip-offs have to be done subtly, (see reviewer gg1947 for a more complete list).

I guess aristocratic Allen Napier (Batman, the TV series) was added to lend some class, but it's got to be the nadir of his lengthy career. Anyway, the youngsters are all good-looking and okay actors. But unfortunately, that's not enough to lift this super-cheapo from the pits of ennui. Thank goodness, I didn't pay to see it.

This movie is one of the B&W semi-horror films of the 50's and early 60's. Granted, the premise is totally absurd.....2 hunka hunka's running around an island with 3 babe-a-licious honeys and not one case of hanky-panky? The guys seemed more interested in each other and themselves -- swimming in those horrid 1950's spandex trunks (is that a potato in your swimwear or are you just happy to see me?), rubbing lotion on each other's backs, reminiscing about close friendships, --- hmmm --- maybe this should have been called "BROKEBACK ISLAND?" I liked the movie although it is totally predictable. I DID keep waiting for Godzilla or some other camera enlarged creature to come around and scare the swimwear off the guys, (looks like the girls would have defended the island against the killer beast while the boys were screaming little pansies scampering off into the forest), but no monster. Heck, enjoy it for what it's worth, a piece of B&W film history.

"Island of Lost Women" is a bit silly...I won't deny that. But, surprisingly, it's very watchable and entertaining.

The story begins with a TV newsman and his pilot flying from the USA to Australia. The plane begins having engine problems and is in the middle of the Pacific and they appear to be totally screwed. However, a lone island is ahead and they'll try to land there. But then something weird happens....a loud voice booms out (not over the radio) telling them NOT to land...or else. Well, considering they either land or die, the plane, naturally, lands.

Upon landing, they are met by an odd older man (Alan Napier) and his three very sexy daughters. It seems long ago, the man and his now deceased wife left civilization and moved to this island....and the guy has created a neat futuristic cave-home. Eventually, they realize the guy is the famed Professor Lujan...a man who is a top atomic researcher who disappeared years ago. The Professor begs the men to keep his location a secret...but the newsman insists that not only will he leave the island but he'll report about everything he's seen! What a jerk!! In response, the Professor uses his cool flamethrower pistol to destroy the plane and stand them there. Now his hot to trot daughters don't mind this at all...they LIKE the two guys and want them to stay. But this island paradise is about to have bad things happen...see the film to see what's next.

While the film is cheap and a bit cheesy, it is entertaining...and the pretty women make viewing even easier. Overall, a decent film...made a bit better by Napier's excellent (as usual) acting.

By the way, the film seems to portray the Professor as a bit of a jerk. But I felt the opposite...the guy deserved his privacy and the reporter was the jerk. See the film...see if you agree.