Island of the Blue Dolphins

Out of the gate, I'd like to start by describing this as an awfully simple "snippet" of someone's life, not so much a story.

But for something from the 60s, it's refreshingly grim situation and cruel developments manage to entertain for its duration. Still, it is dreadful slow in some parts, but still structurally okay. The lead is somewhat charming and her relationships are touchingly cute at times. And while we see her struggle a bit (sanity), I bet the novel provides deeper insight into her thoughts and emotions during this ordeal. Sadly, this movie could have done so much more with the plot!! Also the novel spans 18 years worth of abandonment.. but the film makes time-passage quite ambiguous.

This is probably a "bad" adaptation of the source material.. but an interesting entrypoint to what might be a richer story to those interested.

Personally, I liked what I saw, but would be reluctant to recommend it.

I am biased, I suppose, as I got to be an extra in this movie which was filmed at Anchor Point, California. I was an Airman, stationed at the Point Arena Air Force Station. Us Air Force guys got into the act because the Universal production company was seeking local native Americans to play the part Indians in the movie. They were to play the part of poor, starving people but the local natives were of large stature, and they could not get a full compliment of Indians so they came to the Airbase and enlisted some of us poor,staving G.I.'s to be Indians. We met at Anchor Point, where we went into tents and were sprayed with brown stain, given dark, long haired wigs, and loincloth es. I have a picture standing next to the female lead, Celia Kaye. By gosh, I really looked like a native. I really enjoyed my experience as an extra as the production crew was ever so nice.

When the Aleut ship shot it's cannon and blew up all the Indians, I wanted to be able to see myself from amongst all the other bodies, so I didn't die instantly, as I was supposed to, but rose up on one elbow, before dying. This trick allowed me to see myself when I got to see the movie. I don't think anyone noticed but me.

Many years later I got a chance to be an extra in Fire in the Sky, a story about an alien abduction. In this one I was a Doctor, and got about 15 seconds of film time, plus a 1/2 second full face shot. Another company, but still all very nice people. I have never worked in any job to this day that treated everybody so well and these people from Hollywood.

Don Timmons

Dillingham, Alaska

Director James B. Clark, producer Robert B. Radnitz and everybody involved must have had very good intentions in adapting Scott O'Dell's book, based on what happened to Juana María, a Nicoleño Native American who was abandoned on an island in California when she was 12 years old, and lived there for 18 years during the 19th century; and I also guess there was something attractive in the way it was told because I had never forgotten about it, after seeing it in 1964. For this version, the character must be at least 18 years old, she is pretty and called Karana, played by Celia Kaye (once married to director John Milius). The movie did very well at the box office then, but understandably nobody knows about it today. A tale of human persistence and survival, it was given "the Disney touch" after a strong first act in which the chief of Karana's tribe (who happens to be her father, a handsome man who also recites the cosmogony of the tribe) is killed by white hunters led by an ugly Russian captain (George Kennedy). Once she is by herself, Karana goes hunting and fishing, argues with dogs, becomes friends with parrots and a seal, talks to herself and is neither sick, hurt or swollen, nor must suffer storms, droughts, or tremors in 18 years. She meets a girl from another tribe, Tutok (Ann Daniels, in her only screen appearance, it seems), and this time in 2021 I thought "oh, how modern to insinuate a lesbian relationship in a Hollywood 1964 movie", but, no, Karana treats her dog as passionately as she begs Tutok to stay with her in the island. (Karana neither ages, now that I think of it...) However, and despite the glamourization of Juana María's hard true story, the 1964 movie corresponded well to the ways of the hippie generation, so I suppose that is why it was well received. It might be appealing to millennials too, I think, for all the animals, healthy diets, open door activity and (forced) uprightness around.

This movie had a profound impact on me when I saw it as a child. The strength, resolve, and intelligence, as well as dealing with isolation, was so inspiring. I've drawn on it throughout my life to emulate the same when faced with difficulties. The bonding with the wild dog, unconditional love, devotion and encouragement was a gift from the creator of all life. Highly recommend for young kids.

I remember seeing this movie years ago. It was based on the book, which was a true story. However, it is true that when Europeans came along, they did bring along diseases, and sadly enough murdered innocent natives. Those people tried hard to defend their territory, but were outnumbered. This movie tells the story of a girl who survived after her tribe left the island. It's too sad to think about much more. I would only recommend it if you like true stories about history. Otherwise, all you will see is a lot of people dying, and sad stuff along the way.