Black History Month: Island in the Sun

ISLAND IN THE SUN
Directed by Robert Rossen
Written by Alfred Hayes
Based on the novel by Alec Waugh
Starring James Mason, Harry Belafonte, Joan Fontaine, Joan Collins, Dorothy Dandridge and Michael Rennie
USA, 1957

Continuing with Harry Belafonte starrers but moving on to more epic Hollywood fare, we come to ISLAND IN THE SUN, a big Cinemascope exploration of the tensions between the then-contemporary descendants of colonists and slaves on a fictional Caribbean island. Most of this plays out through standard soap opera stuff, with one controversial difference for the time -- a few of the relationships are interracial.

The interracial romance stuff comes off as tame by today's standards, and might not even be noticed by some viewers who don't watch the movie in a historical context. By the same token, some of the then-progressive stuff in the movie is probably a little naive or wrong-headed now, while most of the hate-filled, bigoted stuff remains as detestable as it always was.

On the side of the progressives we have Harry Belafonte as a young member of the lower class of the island (read: Black people) is rising in the ranks of political influence as a popular spokesman for his people and symbol of hope and change on the island. On the side of the deplorables we've got James Mason as a plantation owner's son whose every move drips with insecurity, jealousy and hatred -- a man born into the ruling class (read: white people) who feels he hasn't had his fair shake of what he feels entitled to. Both have eyes on a political prize for clearly different reasons, and butt heads because of it.

I mentioned soap opera stuff earlier -- it's a little too convoluted to waste too many words on, suffice it to say there are a few core couples and their relationship struggles either help move the plot along or attempt to make commentary on the socio-economic and racial climate of the island. A spoiled rich white family finds out their heritage might not be as white as they once thought, which leads to scandal. A crime of passion is committed. Harry Belafonte finds himself dating a rich white woman (Joan Fontaine) while a white aide to the governor played by John Justin finds himself dating a Black shopgirl (Dorothy Dandridge). 

For its time, it is nice this film tries to come to terms with some of these issues, or at least addresses them -- you could argue whether or not this film has a great message or whether or not that message comes across or works, at least it's a step in the right direction and probably paved the way for greater works later. But what it's really worth today is the beautiful cinematography and scenery, using real island locations in Barbados and Grenada, to show the audiences of yesterday (and probably even today) some sights they've never seen before.

All the performances are great, and the movie's worth a watch if not for the scenery than at least for a climactic scene in which Harry Belafonte takes James Mason on, man to man, in verbal warfare, in front of a huge crowd of locals who cheer him on. This movie needed more of that and less of the soap opera stuff.