Dead Man's Island

I knew nothing about "Dead Man's Island" when I started watching it, other than the casting of Barbara Eden and William Shatner (whose famous shows aired during the same years on NBC in the '60s), and the setting on an island. As it progressed I noticed a little similarity between the movie and Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". In the end the movie turned out to be OK, not great. What caught my eye throughout the movie was that Eden's reporter stood out from the rest of the characters: most of them wear neutral colors most of the time, but she almost always wears bright colors, as though she's an anomaly in this group.

What I mainly say about the movie is that the casting of Barbara Eden, William Shatner, Roddy McDowall, Olivia Hussey and Don Most means that a beautiful genie meets a captain traveling through space meets an intelligent ape meets drama's most famous lover meets a 1950s goof-ball.

A fine movie with a rather unusual plot. William Shatner who plays Chase Prescott , a man with a business empire is very well cast. Barbara Eden as his designated detective is excellent and very convincing. It seems that everyone on the island except Barbara Eden (Henri O) is suspected of trying to murder him. Many mysterious occurrences makes the viewer wonder what is going to happen next. Henri O (Barbara Eden) as the detective is also in great jeopardy. William Shatner and especially Barbara Eden are very convincing. As in all her movies Barbara is always in control and courageous.

Based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Carolyn Hart, which is in itself inspired by the Agatha Christie's masterful mystery/thriller novel called 'And Then There Were None' (1939), 'Dead Man's Island' features an entertaining 'whodunnit' story starring the charismatic and lovely Barbara Eden as Henry 'O', William Shatner, and Southern belles Morgan Fairchild and Traci Lords. Traci Lord's acting was mediocre at best, but she was definitely stunning.

I did not really appreciate the ending, however. Without spoiling anything, I think that the story could have gone in a different direction, I think that it was slightly exaggerated.

I enjoyed every minute of this, sure there were cliches, but who cares. The only thing which would have improved it is if (Henri O')Barbara Eden was in danger instead of Chase (Shatner).That would have increased the suspense. Also she should have worn a pink, purple or orchid pant suit instead of green, which would have suited other hypercritical viewers better but that is just an unimportant preference. I felt there was a lot of mystery as to who was trying to kill Chase (Shatner). He wasn't especially likeable. Mystery, suspense, surprise, all the good ingredients for a good movie. Would make any normal viewer happy.

William Shatner is a millionaire convinced someone is trying to kill him and Barbara Eden is a journalist and an old girlfriend of his trying to solve the mystery on a creepy island mansion. Whodunit plows along and some secrets from his past add to confusion. Ending surprises but somewhat disappoints, too. The underemployed stars playing the parts help keep it watchable. An Indian giving boat rides also mentions a little history behind the real Dead Man's Island in Vancouver.