ISLANDS IN THE STREAM

US, 1976, 105 minutes, Colour.
George C. Scott, David Hemmings, Claire Bloom, Gilbert Roland, Susan Tyrrell, Brad Savage, Michael John Wixted.
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.

Islands in the Stream is a beautiful film with wide appeal but was unfortunately not very popular at the Box Office on its first release. It is based on a story by Ernest Hemingway and represents the Hemingway type of American hero - (rugged but sentimental). George C. Scott is a very fine embodiment of the Hemingway hero.

The film follows the episodic nature of the novel and has three sections: the boys, the woman, the journey. Each of the episodes makes quite some impact, especially the first with the sympathetic treatment of the relationship between
father and sons. The film is beautiful to look at and was directed by Franklin Schaffner who also directed George C. Scott in his Oscar winning role as Patton. Schaffner also directed Nicholas and Alexandra and Papillon.

1. Hemingway's reputation, style? American sentiment and toughness? Literary reputation? Transition from novel to film? Audience expectations from Hemingway, his themes and style?

2. The combination of the work of Franklin Schaffner and his re-creation of atmosphere, characters? George C. Scott as embodying the Hemingway hero? Sentiment, strength, confrontation of himself for conscience and decision?

3. The opening and the illustrating of the title? Colour photography of the Bahamas? Landscapes, seascapes - the Caribbean in daylight, at night, during the adventure sequences?

4. Tom Hudson as a Hemingway character? Middle-aged, an artist, tough, sentimental, living in exile? Leaving relationships? Two wives, children? At home in the Bahamas? The sea, the elements? American hero?

5. The film followed the structure of the novel and used episodes. How well did it do this? The impact of each episode? The coherence between them?

6. The feeling of the film, human relationships, achievement? Human communication? How well was this communicated? The purpose of the film in presenting these people and these issues? How were each of the characters islands in the stream?

7. The first episode: The Boys, Hudson as we first saw him, as a character in himself, his artistic work? At home on the island? His love of the sea -the varying moods of the sea as presented in the film? Relationship with Lil? The sculptures, the way of life? The 1940 setting and war on the horizon? His relationship with Eddie and Eddie's devotion to him? Eddie as alcoholic? Captain Rolf and the other sailors in the Bahamas? The preparation for the arrival of the boys, meeting them? Each of the boys in himself? What they had in common, their differences, age, temperaments? Their hesitation, their sharing his way of life? The encounter with L11 and her view of their father? Their differing mothers? The adventures with the boys? On the sea? The sequences in the house? The importance of David's hostility? The episode of the catching of the fish and David's courageous endurance? His motivation? The effect on David with his father? Tom and the danger with the shark? The friendship with Eddie and the discussion about his being alcoholic? These weeks as holiday? Idyllic? The build-up to their leaving and the emotional farewell of the sons and father? What was communicated about family relationships, fatherhood?

8. The second episode: The Woman. The arrival of Audrey, the explanation of her background in the first sequence? As Tom's mother? Tom's second wife and her absence visually from the film? Audrey's arrival, her summing up of the situation? Her seeming disdain and judgment of his way of life? The past love between the two, the experience shared? The memories of an American in Paris in the 20s? The importance of their talk, the seeming inconsequentiality of it? The preparation of the drink, and the sudden realisation that his son was dead? The effect on him? The shared grief of mother and father? Audrey's plans to remarry? The importance of her place in the final memories of Tom as he was dying? The fact that he really did love her and the sons?

9. The third episode: The Journey. The preparations for leaving the Bahamas, the return to America? The’ reasons for Tom's decisions? Eddie wanting to go and their clash? Tom leaving him behind and Eddie's presence on the boat? The importance of Eddie's problem as an alcoholic and Tom's strong words to him? The irony of his presence, his help, the pathos of his death? The significance of the journey in Tom's mind and the way it turned out? Captain Rolf and his help for the migrants? The atmosphere of the sea, sailing? The torpedo and the intrusion of the war? Danger, shooting and death? The refugees being smuggled? Their fears and on the move for so long? ( authorities, the flares and the gunning? The humour as well as the adventure of the boat trying to outwit their pursuers? The scenes in the river, the elusive nature of the ship? The ruses in order to avoid detection?

10. The journey as leading to Tom's death? The impact of his death? The visual style of his memories - white and pure? Audrey in her happiness, the sons present? Audrey as mothering the sons who were not her own? The nostalgia and the regret for what might have been?

11. The values that the film stood for? Its presentation of the achievement of the human spirit?