DEAD MAN'S ISLAND

US, 1996, 85 minutes, Colour.
Barbara Eden, William Shatner, Christopher Atkins, Morgan Fairchild, Roddy Mc Dowell, Traci Lords, Jameson Parker, Olivia Hussey, Christopher Cazenove.
Directed by Peter Hunt.

Dead Man's Island is a plush, modern version of a very (very) old story: a group of people assembled on an island where there is a threat of murder. The boat is destroyed, they cannot escape, a storm rises and destroys the house and the victim is killed.

The film was done in the popular CBS American telemovie style, a cast of veteran (old) television stars. The audience might be able to see where the twist will be - there are some clues but, again, at the end the central character, this time a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, played by Barbara Eden, explains whodunnit and why.

1. Popular telemovie? Popular story, the isolated island, the group on the
island, the murder threats, the clashes, the clues, the resolution?

2. The island itself, the mansion, the old Indian and his explanation of the curses, the arrogance of the Prescott family building the house?

3. The cast and their background on screen and, especially, on television?

4. Barbara Eden as Henry O., investigative journalist, her voice-over explaining things, her good ol' Southern accent? The fear in Prescott's voice, the talk with the Indian, her determination, not wanting to be dominated, meeting the group, interactions, the meal, the shots and murder threats, the discussions with Prescott, the deaths, her pretending that Burton was still alive, the unmasking of the killer, the truth?

5. Prescott, his arrogance, domination, relationship with Henry O., gathering everybody to the island, his explanation of why they were there, the poison in the chocolates? His empire, its moving towards insolvency? His young wife, relationship with Valerie, with the financiers, his son and stepson? His arrogance, his death? The revelation of the truth?

6. Roger and his stepbrother, their role, potential suspects? Miranda, her age, relationship with Prescott, her attempted suicide, revival, her muttering about his love for her and lack of it, her knowing the truth?

7. Valerie, the glamorous actress and her relationship? Lyle, Trevor and the financial and legal aspects of the company? Trevor and his overhearing the truth, attacking Burton, being shot?

8. Burton, his place in the household, his knowing the truth, wanting to reveal it, the discussions with Trevor, Trevor killing him?

9. Rosie and Milo, the domestic staff - suspicions or not? Their role in the saga, Milo shooting Trevor?

10. The storm, the rescue, the neat ending? The perennial popularity of this kind of murder mystery?