L'Admirable Crichton

J.M. Barrie's 1902 play, THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON, illogically and crudely renamed for its U.S. release PARADISE LAGOON in reference to the setting of Barrie's transformative second and third (of four) acts, treats such universal themes of natural leadership that it may well be one of the most successfully copied - dare one say plagiarized? - plots extant. It has been speculated that Barrie himself filched the idea of a group of privileged persons stranded on a deserted island from an 1896 German play, ROBINSON'S EILAND, where a secretary emerges as the leader.

In 1947, French playwright Andre Roussin (claiming to trace his story from a 1921 Catalan play, NEVERTHELESS CIVILIZED) reduced Barrie's assortment of shipwrecked privileged Britons and their servants to a mere handful to focus on one romantic triangle but retained Barrie's essential structure for his THE LITTLE HUT which proved almost as successful (and as frequently filmed) as the Barrie classic on both sides of the Atlantic. From 1964 to 1967, CBS Television in the U.S. mined essentially the same territory (if decidedly Americanized - transmuting a failed South Seas cruise to a disastrous "three hour cruise" out of Hawaii and reducing the sexual competition to favor the status/qualification competition humor which could be infinitely stretched out) with a situation comedy called GILLIGAN'S ISLAND.

While this 1957 (British) Columbia Pictures adaptation of the Barrie play inexplicably softens the overt sexual competition on the island for Kenneth More's Crichton's attentions between "name" performer Sally Ann Howes' Lady Mary and second billed Diane Cilento as the lower class "Tweenie" (a maid in training), it admirably presents the essentials of Barrie's play with the "perfect" British butler holding his "master's" household together both in England and on an isolated South Sea isle - while exploring how different qualities may bring different people to the fore under different circumstances.

The always perfect foil Cecil Parker as Lord Loam is excellent as the titular head of the British household who becomes a better man as he naturally falls into Crichton's role on the island and suffers great pangs when "normality" is restored on their return home. As uniformly solid as the entire cast is however, for many the standout performance will be Martita Hunt's (Lady Bracknell influenced) Lady Brocklehurst - a clear homage from Barrie to Oscar Wilde's greatest play, the 1895 IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Lady Brocklehurst, protecting her "family name" before allowing her son to announce his engagement to Lady Mary, is determined to find out what *really* happened on the island. Her questioning - and the comic obfuscation which parries it - is right up there with Lady Bracknell's inquisition of Earnest prior to his engagement to Cecily in Wilde.

The final curtain of the film nicely preserves the tension for the audience Barrie wished as to how Crichton will actually wind up. It is said that Barrie himself toyed with an alternate ending with Crichton ending up in a more "romantic" liaison. Barrie came to the conclusion however, that his audience "would not stand it." It's hard to say today - either way it's a warm, bittersweet finish fully worthy of the journey getting there.

It is also worth noting that the recent British DVD reissue of the film restores Kenneth More to the cover - the previously most available VHS release mistakenly boasted the handsomer supporting player (as the author Ernest Wooley) Gerald Harper on its cover as the "admirable Crichton" - at the moment a rescuing ship is sited. That "pan and scan" Columbia/Tristar VHS Home Video release also only offered the U.S. "PARADISE LAGOON" release, even though clearly labeled THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON (the better known original title).

Either way, it's well worth a look - and inexcusable that this classic isn't more readily available for broad viewing today.

This movie pokes fun at the English class system, using a shipwrecked cast as a backdrop. Kenneth More plays a typically English Butler with plenty of savvy, and reverses roles with his Master, Lord Loam, played rather nicely by Cecil Parker. More's character shows wit and some creativity in adverse circumstances, and is charmingly played. Kenneth More looks distinguished in a dinner jacket however on the island scenes, he actually was photographed from the waist up, to disguise the fact that he was wearing shorts to help him deal with the heat on location. Great movie, and one I would very much like to own a copy of. If anyone knows how I might obtain one, please get in touch. My e-mail is firehouse5@gmail.com.

The 1957 version of the classic J.M. Barrie play -- yes, he wrote something besides Peter Pan -- benefits from its opening up, with a lot of shooting in Bermuda. Kenneth More is the butler who, when the yacht sinks, becomes the leader of the aristos by dint of his understanding that work must be done and how to do it; by the time they are unwillingly rescued, he's got the island organized and built up like a Buster Keaton set.

Cecil Parker plays his fuddy-duddy upper-class twit, but here clearly takes pleasure in playing against type in the scenes where he's Kenneth More's manservant. I thought it a bit odd that Diane Cilento played 'Tweenie' and Sally Ann Howes Parker's daughter; were I casting it, I would have switched those roles. Both ladies acquit themselves well. Martitia Hunt has a great small role as Lady Bracknell..... I mean Lady Brocklehurst.

Fabulous film with a moral to please all. Great cast, great story, great filming. One for everyone to enjoy and not as hammy as some of these older films. See it and judge for yourself !!

Wow what a great film, I can't believe this isn't considered one of the great classics of all time! More is perfect as Crichton, super-butler (and inspiration for the Red Dwarf character), who takes charge when the nice(-ish) but (very) dim family he serves are shipwrecked. Lots of hilarity in the early stages - (especially the classy dialog between Crichton and the ship's captain - "Will she sink?", "Not unless the engine blows up" (BOOM) "What, like that?" - hilarious), then a really nicely worked role-reversal sequence after they have settled in to their island paradise (although the whole "guv"-"daddy" thing sounds a bit strained and weird). Some interesting ideas about people's roles in society, the importance of leadership and heirarchy, in a gorgeous looking movie, with beautiful people in lovely period/desert island clothing, stunning scenery and a great beachhouse rivalling Swiss Family Robinson's. All the characters blossom under the sun and question their own attitudes and status in life, and show some really eye-opening attitudes (for the time) as the blokes start getting frisky. Poor little Tweeny's predicament nearly had me in tears! Looks like it's heading for a sad ending but works out almost lovely, a really enjoyable, heartwarming adventure/romance yarn with a nice chunk of social commentary and toff-bashing thrown in. Thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes a bit of old-fashioned, old-world entertainment now and again.