''The Blue Lagoon'' is a 1923

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

adaptation of Henry De Vere Stacpoole's 1908 novel of the same name about children who come of age while stranded on a tropical island. It is the first screen adaptation of the story and was followed by two other adaptations that were released in

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

and

1980 Events January * January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission. * January 6 – Global Positioning System time epoch begins at 00:00 UTC. * January 9 – In ...

Plot

The story follows the journey of two children, Dick and Emmeline Lestrange, who are shipwrecked on a desert island with an old servant named Paddy Button. Paddy takes care of the children until he discovers a stash of rum, which leads to his death from alcohol poisoning. As the children grow up on the island, they remain ignorant of sex until a chance blow awakens their sexuality. Eventually, they have a child and are discovered by Arthur Lestrange, the guardian of the girl and the parent of the boy, who has been searching for them.

Cast

* Molly Adair as Emmeline Lestrange *

Arthur Pusey Arthur Pusey (July 1896 – 1965) was a British stage and film actor. He was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, and died in London. Selected filmography * '' The Barton Mystery'' (1920) * '' The Bachelor's Club'' (1921) * '' The Other Person'' ...

as Dick Lestrange * Dick Cruikshanks as Paddy Button * Doreen Wonfer as younger Emmeline * Val Chard as younger Dick

Crew

* W. Bowden - Director of Photography

Production history

In January 1919, ''The Bioscope'', a popular publication on the film industry in London, announced that African Film Productions (AFP) had secured the filming rights for Henry De Vere Stacpoole's famous novel, ''The Blue Lagoon''. The novel had been a commercial hit, selling hundreds of thousands of copies, and the head of AFP, I.W. Schlesinger, had reportedly paid a substantial sum of money to acquire the rights to it. Schlesinger had ambitious plans for ''The Blue Lagoon'', hoping to turn it into AFP's first major blockbuster since their earlier successes with ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1918) and '' Allan Quatermain'' (1919), both based on novels by

H. Rider Haggard Sir Henry Rider Haggard (; 22 June 1856 – 14 May 1925) was an English writer of adventure fiction romances set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the lost world literary genre. He was also involved in land reform t ...

. However, he knew that careful preparation was necessary to ensure the film's success. AFP would have to assemble a talented cast and crew, secure suitable locations for filming, and invest in high-quality production values to do justice to the story's exotic and romantic setting. They would also need to carefully adapt the novel for the screen, making sure to capture its essence while also making necessary changes to fit the visual medium. With all this in mind, Schlesinger set to work on bringing ''The Blue Lagoon'' to life on the big screen. It would be a challenging task, but one that he believed would pay off handsomely if done right. According to ''Film Renter'', this kind of story required to be captured on film, but it was necessary to find the appropriate setting, performers, and producer. AFP's production was delayed for almost three years due to conflicting rights issues between stage and cinema adaptations. Basil Dean, who produced a successful stage version of ''The Blue Lagoon'' in England, had hoped to turn it into his debut film. However, he first presented the play at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London from October 1920 to February 1921, followed by a provincial tour to

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. This sparked interest in the ''

Glasgow Evening Times The ''Glasgow Times'' is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Called ''The Evening Times'' from 1876, it was rebranded as the ''Glasgow Times'' on 4 December 2019.South Sea island could be portrayed on stage. Dean went on to have a long and distinguished career in the British film industry. Basil Dean announced his intention to create a film adaptation of ''The Blue Lagoon'' in January 1920 and predicted that it would be released in December of the same year. The casting of Madeline Robinson as the child Emmeline and

Faith Celli Faith Celli (27 November 1888 – 16 December 1942), born Dorothy Faith Standing, was an English actress, particularly associated with the plays of J. M. Barrie and A. A. Milne. She had a 20-year career from 1907, after which she retired from the ...

as the adolescent Emmeline was announced in September, with the promise of a high-quality film. In his autobiography, Dean stated that his version of ''The Blue Lagoon'' was always more suited to the medium of film than to the stage, and that the play's transfer to New York in 1921 was a failure. Consequently, the film's production was postponed following an exchange of messages with London. Stacpoole himself was doubtful about the suitability of the stage for his story, suggesting that film was better able to capture the natural world and lacked the depth of emotion and humor that was possible through expression and movement. William Weston Bowden meticulously revised the script for the AFP movie, which was based on Stacpoole's original narrative that focused on the organic progression of two youngsters who mature into teenagers without any knowledge of human matters such as birth, death, and marriage. The movie's success relied on the acting abilities of two young children and two young adults who played the roles of cousins, Dick and Emmeline.

Casting

The filmmakers chose two child actors, Val Chard and Doreen Wonford, from South Africa. Despite the initial assumption that Dick would hold the main character position, it turned out that Emmeline, who was supposed to be played by a star, was more significant in the end. This was because the story revolved around her love for Dick, which began when she was only eight years old, leading to her pregnancy and childbirth. As noted at the time, the role of the girl was challenging because of the character's young age at the start of the movie. Molly Adair was only 17 years old when she was cast as the grown-up Emmeline, which was a significant achievement for her, showcasing her impressive acting skills at a young age. Her exceptional talent and dedication to her craft enabled her to secure this coveted role. Adair's precociousness and versatility as an actress were already evident in her impressive resume of seven recent movies, despite her being just a teenager. Some of her notable roles included starring in '' Stella'' (1921), a screen adaptation of H. Rider Haggard's '' Stella Fregelius'', portraying a character in ''Married to a Mormon'' alongside Clive Brook (1922), and taking on the lead role in the film adaptation of

Compton Mackenzie Sir Edward Montague Compton Mackenzie, (17 January 1883 – 30 November 1972) was a Scottish writer of fiction, biography, histories and a memoir, as well as a cultural commentator, raconteur and lifelong Scottish nationalist. He was one of th ...

's ''Sinister Street'' (1922). Adair was widely admired for her natural poise and grace, making her a sought-after actress in the industry. She possessed what many believed to be the most essential qualities of a successful film actress: a filmable face and a heart that wouldn't easily break, combined with an eagerness for wild adventures at a moment's notice. Her exceptional acting abilities, coupled with her poise and adventurous spirit, made her an asset in the British film industry.

received the part of the grown-up Dick. Pusey was an experienced actor who had already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He had recently acted with Sibyl Thorndyke, a celebrated actress, in London's West End, a prestigious venue for theatrical performances. Apart from his success in the theatre, he also appeared in several films. His film credits included ''

The Bachelor's Club ''The Bachelor's Club'' is a 1921 Cinema of the United Kingdom, British silent film, silent comedy film directed by A. V. Bramble and starring Ben Field, Ernest Thesiger and Mary Brough. It was based on the 1891 novel ''The Bachelor's Club'' by ...

'' (1921), ''The Barton Mystery'' (1920), ''

The Lonely Lady of Grosvenor Square ''The Lonely Lady of Grosvenor Square'' is a 1922 British silent romance film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Betty Faire, Jack Hobbs and Eileen Magrath. Cast * Betty Faire - Jeanne Marney * Jack Hobbs - Duke of Monaghan * Eileen M ...

'' (1922), and ''Stable Companions'' (1922), alongside Clive Brook. M. A. Wetherell played the role of Paddy Button, the drunken old sailor who teaches the children how to survive.

Filming

In May 1922, Liverpool's ''Trade Show Critic'' published a report stating that Molly Adair and Arthur Pusey had departed for

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a Megacity#List of megacities, megacity, and is List of urban areas by p ...

on the S.S. Kinfauns Castle. According to the report, the primary locations for the film's shooting would most likely be in a tropical area close to South or West Africa, potentially the coral-reefed coast of

Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label= Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It ...

or the

Seychelles Seychelles (, ; ), officially the Republic of Seychelles (french: link=no, République des Seychelles; Creole: ''La Repiblik Sesel''), is an archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, ...

. In July 1922, it was reported that a small group of around fifteen people were working hard on the East African Coast near

Pemba Pemba may refer to: __NOTOC__ Places * Pemba Island, in Tanzania * Pemba, Mozambique Pemba is a port city and district in Mozambique. It is the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado and lies on a peninsula in Pemba Bay. The town was found ...

, a place with many Arabic legends. Later, it was confirmed that a whole colony of workers had camped on a desert island off the coast of

Portuguese East Africa Portuguese Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique) or Portuguese East Africa (''África Oriental Portuguesa'') were the common terms by which Mozambique was designated during the period in which it was a Portuguese colony. Portuguese Mozambique originally ...

near Porto Amélia (

) for four months with the producer and his team. The company had chartered the "tiny island," which was part of the

Quirimbas Islands The Quirimbas Islands lie in the Indian Ocean off northeastern Mozambique, close to Pemba, the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado. The archipelago consists of about 32 islands, including Ibo, Matemo, Medjumbe, Quirimba, Metundo, Quisiv ...

chain off the northern coast of Mozambique. Dick Cruikshanks managed the actors, while Bowden was responsible for the camera and crew. Cruikshanks had a difficult time convincing the child actors that they couldn't spend all their time playing around the island, as they had to work with the sun and cameras. A large statue of a man made of stone was built in Johannesburg for the movie. The statue was about 50 feet tall, had a scary face, and huge stone hands. It was meant to represent a savage and violent idol. However, the ''South African Review'' criticized the statue, saying that compared to the millions of people who were sacrificed to the "Money Gods" of "Civilization" during the war, this small-scale depiction of savagery was insignificant. Toward the end of November 1922, it was reported that ''The Blue Lagoon'' was almost finished and promotional photos had been sent to England. As soon as filming for ''The Blue Lagoon'' was finished, production for the next movie, called ''The Reef of Stars'', began immediately. This movie also featured Molly Adair and was based on another story written by Stacpoole. During filming, Molly Adair met Arthur James Siggins, a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

-born policeman. They fell in love and got married. Molly then decided to leave her film career behind and accompany her husband on his numerous expeditions, which included long journeys across the country. Their daughter, Jillian, who later changed her name to

Jill Adams Jill Adams (22 July 1930 – 13 May 2008) was an English actress, artist and fashion model. She featured or starred in over 25 films during the 1950s and 1960s. Life Jill Adams was born Jill Siggins in London in 1930, the daughter of the sil ...

after getting married in 1951, became a well-known model and actress, often referred to as "Britain's

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

Release

In February 1923, the Bijou cinema in Johannesburg experienced great success with their screening of the romantic drama film, "The Blue Lagoon." Originally scheduled for only three days, the movie's popularity led to an extension of its run to a full six days. Audiences were captivated by the storyline, and word quickly spread, drawing in a sizable crowd. The Bijou cinema, located in the bustling city, played host to a diverse audience, all eager to experience this captivating film. Its extended run was a testament to the power of cinema to bring people together and provide them with a shared cultural experience. On 27 February 1923, the London trade show presented the film to the attendees, and the famous author, Henry De Vere Stacpoole, was present. During the movie's screening, nobody left until the end, which proved how entertaining it was. Stacpoole, who had authored the novel on which the movie was based, was extremely pleased with the film's production and praised the acting and scenery. He believed that cinema was an ideal medium for romantic fiction and conveyed his thoughts during his speech at the post-show luncheon. He expressed his admiration for the film's acting, scenery, and particularly the management of the native crowds, which he believed was done exceptionally well. Stacpoole was impressed with the love scenes in the movie and considered them to be the best he had ever seen. He refused to write a sequel that would bring the movie's main characters, Emmeline and Dick, back to civilization. Instead, he believed that leaving them on the tropical island they had come to consider their world was the right thing to do. Despite the modest promotion of the film, F.W. Kilner, who had exclusive distribution rights for the Midlands, praised it as an outstanding British production. The film's success at the Bijou cinema and the positive feedback from the trade show and Stacpoole indicate that it was a highly entertaining and well-produced film that captivated audiences. ''The Blue Lagoon'''s regional trade shows began on 6 March 1923, at Manchester's Theatre Royal, and continued through English cities, Cardiff, and Glasgow, ending on 11 April at Dublin's La Scala theatre. On 8 October 1923, ''The Blue Lagoon'' was released in eight London cinemas. Although there are no specific box office numbers to determine the financial success of the movie, it is clear that the film did not generate enough profit to persuade AFP to continue making feature films.

Reception

Overall, the film was well-received by critics. ''Kinematograph Weekly'' praised the movie for its faithful portrayal of the novel's charm and atmosphere, especially in the scenes featuring child actors who were natural and well-cast. The lead actor, Val Chard, was particularly charming and authentic. While the film lost some of its appeal as the children aged, it regained some of it towards the end, where the portrayal of sexual awakening was delightful. ''The Bioscope'' found the ending contrived but appreciated the magical setting of a real desert island. The ''Rand Daily Mail'' reviewed it as an improvement over the novel and stage production due to the actual tropical scenes captured on the screen. The Johannesburg ''

Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, w ...

'' appreciated the natural acting, particularly in scenes with the two children and Paddy Button on the coral island, and the attention given to the casting of small roles, such as the whaler's captain and crew who looked like real seamen. ''The Bioscope'' magazine praised the actors for their lack of theatricality. The actors were so natural in their performance that it seemed like they were not acting at all, especially during the island scenes. Even the children in the film were very natural and free in their movements. In addition, the extras who played the savage characters in the movie were very convincing in their dance around the ancient idol, adding to the eerie realism of the scene. The London press was enthusiastic about the movie and noted the increasing popularity of films that realistically depict passion in foreign places. They believed that creating such films was becoming a more daring profession. The reviewers predicted that the film adaptation of Stacpoole's book would surpass the success of the book and stage production in conveying the story's beauty. The film was commended for its use of natural locations, which emphasized the message that nature is beautiful and humans are lovely when they live naturally. Additionally, the acting was lauded for its understated approach, avoiding being overly flashy. One critic concluded that this film was exceptional because it was unlike any other movie they had seen before and relied on natural settings rather than studio tricks to achieve its effects. G.A. Atkinson, a reviewer for the ''

Daily Express The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first published as a broadsheet ...

'', was extremely impressed with the film. Atkinson felt a sense of discomfort when surrounded by buildings, but this feeling disappeared when watching the movie's stunning visuals of silver beaches, lagoons with palm trees, tropical sunrises, and moonlit nights. He wrote that the film includes exciting scenes such as a fire at sea, a shipwreck, a fight with an octopus, a confrontation with cannibals, and a tropical storm, and alongside these scenes, the movie portrays one of the most beautiful love stories ever told with tasteful and charming interpretation. The ''

Daily Mail The ''Daily Mail'' is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper and news websitePeter Wilb"Paul Dacre of the Daily Mail: The man who hates liberal Britain", ''New Statesman'', 19 December 2013 (online version: 2 January 2014) publish ...

'' found fault only with Pusey's hair, which they described as "beautifully waved," given that he had supposedly lived on a desert island for seven to ten years. However, they found the film otherwise to be fresh and original. Other critics were annoyed with the makeup used on the cast. '' The Daily News and Leader'' criticized the young castaways for having "white skins" and well-groomed hair after living almost naked for so long. Jympson Harman from the '' London Evening News'' also commented on Pusey's hair, suggesting that it should have been more disheveled. He added that the movie was faithful to the book but could be slow at times. According to a critic from the ''

Evening Standard The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format. In October 2009, after be ...

'', the movie missed some anachronisms in its attention to detail, such as Arthur Pusey's well-groomed appearance, which no one seemed to notice. However, by using straightforward acting and photography on a real desert island, the film successfully captured the true atmosphere of the popular novel. The critic also praised the film for retaining the delicate, poetic charm of the original while including realistic and thrilling scenes that any American director would be proud of. Alder Anderson from the ''Daily Telegraph'' stated that everyone who attended the private screening agreed that the movie was one of the best British films made by any production company. He also praised the movie for combining poetic charm with realistic and thrilling scenes that would impress any American director. This critic was also championing German imports like ''Dr. Mabuse'' and '' The Golem'' as "impressionism" or expressionism, which he preferred over the "realism" of Anglo-American cinema at the time. '' Reynold's News'' praised Bowden and Cruikshanks for doing an excellent job of keeping "the spirit of the story" in their film adaptation, although they found some captions at the end to be "rather absurd." '' Lloyd's Sunday News'' also praised the film, stating that it retained "the beauty and simplicity of the original story" by using child actors Doreen Worfor and Val Chard, who performed their roles with refreshing naivety. ''The Bioscope'' remarked that it is rare for a film to receive such unanimous praise from the entire press. The ''Films'' weekly magazine expressed happiness about how a movie adaptation portrayed the love, marriage, and baby of a couple beautifully and delicately, similar to the original book. The directors were praised for their ability to use the children's emotions to convey the story effectively. The boy, played by Val Chard, and the girl, played by Doreen Wonfor, acted naturally and without awareness of the camera, showcasing the male's strong instincts and the girl's gentle and reflective nature subtly and believably. Ernest W. Fredman, the editor of the ''Manchester Film Renter'', expressed his great delight in watching the film on screen, praising the wonderful cast, including two charming and natural child actors. He remarked that the film is filled with interest and emotion in every scene, and it is evident that a lot of care and attention has been put into it, and the scene where Emmeline gives birth to a baby is particularly delicate and praiseworthy. The ''

Glasgow Herald ''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...

'''s London correspondent reflected on how ''The Blue Lagoon'' introduced Freudian psychology to movies. The writer focused on how the two young characters were influenced by the worship of a stone idol, and how this led them to explore their sexuality. However, the ''Herald'' cautioned against going too far with this emotional trend. The ''Manchester Guardian'''s critic wrote a fanciful introduction to ''The Blue Lagoon'' film after it was previewed at Manchester's Piccadilly Picture Theatre and Café. The critic described the film's opening scene as a smooth and silent journey through a coral reef into a beautiful lagoon The critic believed that the film's charm was further enhanced by the enchanting music chosen for it. '' The Weekly Dispatch'' praised the film as a delightful escape from the unpleasant October weather, and commended African Film Productions for being the only film company in the British colonies that regularly contributed to English cinema programs. ''

The People The ''Sunday People'' is a British tabloid Sunday newspaper. It was founded as ''The People'' on 16 October 1881. At one point owned by Odhams Press, The ''People'' was acquired along with Odhams by the Mirror Group in 1961, along with the ...

'' recommended the film as a good example of how a subject can be treated delicately and with restraint, and praised its innocence and charm. The film received high praise from E.G. Kendrew, a critic at ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

''. Kendrew commended the producers for creating one of the best films ever made. Despite the potential for crude or inappropriate scenes given the story and nudity of the actors, he praised the adapter, who approached the subject matter with tact and skill, ensuring that the film did not come across as vulgar or indecent. The realistic depiction of the ship scenes and the well-executed fire scene were particularly noteworthy. Additionally, he wrote that the tropical island setting was beautiful, and the fight with the octopus was believable. He praised the film for having generally stayed true to the original novel. A year after its release, ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' ( ...

''' British Empire Section praised ''The Blue Lagoon'' as a remarkable film due to its use of British actors and outdoor settings.

Preservation status

As no surviving copies have been found, ''The Blue Lagoon'' is now considered a

lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy ...

References

Citations

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Blue Lagoon (1923 film), The 1923 films Films based on British novels Films based on works by Henry De Vere Stacpoole Films set on uninhabited islands British silent feature films British black-and-white films Films about children British coming-of-age films 1923 drama films 1923 lost films 1920s teen films Juvenile sexuality in films 1920s British films