Island in the Sun - James Mason

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Robert Rossen
USA 1957

Set on a fictitious island in the Carribean during colonial British rule. It focuses on the life of a young charismatic and handsome black male with political aspirations. He finds himself confused on returning home when his romantic liaison with a white female tends to conflict with his political views. As rumor has it an interracial screen kiss caused quite a commotion in the U.S. when the film was released. The plot is further strengthened by a look at the lives of a white ex-pat family also living on the island. The family has to deal with problems of infidelity, racism and murder.

Gary W. Tooze

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Theatrical Release: June 12th, 1957

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DVD Review: 20th Century Fox - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	20th Century Fox Home Video - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:58:48
Video	2.34:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 4.0), DUBs: French (Mono) , Spanish (Mono)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 2.34:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by John Stanley Featurette: Dorothy Dandridge: Lost Little Girl (44:00) Trailer • Fox Flix • South Pacific trailer • Carmen Jones trailer • 6-page liner notes essay with essay by Sylvia Stoddard • Envelope with 4 Lobby Card reprints DVD Release Date: January 10th, 2006 Keep Case inside cardboard slipcase Chapters: 28

Comments:

Very nice anamorphic and progressive image - tight to the frame - glorious widescreen 'scope' ratio preserved and vibrant colors. Like many Fox's releases I always feel things could be a tad sharper but as they tend to avoid any manipulations this is probably very close to the theatrical appearance. I wouldn't say this is the most worthy film of the trio that are simultaneously 'themed' released DVDs (other 2 being Pinky and Stormy Weather) but it is possibly the best known - if only for the Harry Belafonte/Joan Fontaine canoodling.

I'm quite happy that Fox are bumping up their packaging to include, most recently, commentaries and featurettes and although the reprinted Lobby Cards are a bit useless - its a start towards giving films their proper due, aka Criterion. The cardboard slipcases are quite well-done.

Gary W. Tooze

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