Thunder Island

Great story about an assassination plot in Puerto Rico. A lot of the climax scenes were shot at El Moro Castillo where we see most of the layout as the gun battle ensues. Unfortunately FAY SPAIN died at the early age of only 50. Such a beautiful actress taken from us far too soon. Larry Anderson.

Notable mainly for being Jack Nicholson's maiden attempt at writing screenplays, Thunder Island tells the tale of clean-cut American day-tripper captain Vincent Dodge (Brian Kelly), blackmailed into helping hired killer Billy Poole (Gene Nelson) assassinate a South American ex-dictator now settled on an anonymous Caribbean island.

Token wife and annoyingly upbeat child are provided by Faye Spain (who went on in later years to play a bit-part in The Godfather: Part II) and Evelyn Kaufman (who went on to do precisely nothing else, which was probably wise).

Unfortunately, wooden acting throughout and a rather predictable "Boy's Own" adventure comic storyline make this something of a plodding and instantly forgettable affair, and the 65 minutes running time is mercifully short. Not much to see here.

Gene Nelson did everything well. Very cool that his career overlapped Nicholson on some level. Still prefer to see Gene dance, but this is an entertaining little movie that prompted me to find more Gene Nelson movies...including some where we get to see his killer, athletic dancing style.

Reminiscent of an extended episode of Sea Hunt without Lloyd Bridges..Scenery is nice, acting and dialogue suffered.

This tiny feature happens to be the first fruit of Jack Nicholson's brief screenwriting career. It's a surprisingly effective and well written story of political intrigue and suspense, with outstanding Puerto Rico location work and a talented cast headed by Miriam Colon (Lone Star) and renowned TV director Gene Nelson as a professional assassin who watches what he eats. The film peters to a predictable conclusion but the first 50 plus minutes are outstanding.