Island of Lost Men
Encyclopedia
Island of Lost Men is a 1939 American movie directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Anna May Wong
, J. Carrol Naish
, and Anthony Quinn
. It tells the story of the daughter of a general who goes to look for her father after he disappears. The film received mixed reviews and was the last that Wong made for Paramount Pictures
.
and meets Chang Tai (Anthony Quinn), who is undercover investigating Prin's activities. Together they manage to discover Ling's father and the money, as well as identify several known fugitives. After the arrival of Tex Ballister (Broderick Crawford
), who reveals Tai's true identity and attempts to blackmail Prin, ignites a local rebellion, Ling, her father, and Tai escape.
The original title for the movie was Guns for China. However, the US State Department implored studios to avoid referencing or alluding to the then-ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War
. After discussing with its sales manager in Japan, Paramount Pictures
changed the title to Island of Lost Men.
Wong sang "Music on the Shore", composed by Friedrich Hollaender
and Frank Loesser
. The song was written especially for her.
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Island of Lost Men received its American release on August 16, 1939. Critical reception was mixed. Variety
praised the general production, acting (especially Wong's), and sets; however, it considered the plot to be "trite". The Daily Variety noted that Wong's singing was "pleasing". The English magazine Kinetographic Weekly was dismissive of the film, but was pleased by Wong's acting. Frank S. Nugent of the The New York Times
wrote that the "kindliest" thing one could say about the movie is that Naish is in it, "only this time with a slant to Mr. Naish's villainous eyes", and that the jungle setting was so unbelievable that it implied that "if the camera were swung no more than a frame or so to either side it would reveal a filling station, or a roadside food dispensary in the shape of a hot dog".
Island of Lost Men proved to be Wong's last movie with Paramount. The studio did not renew her contract afterwards, possibly because of the budget overruns in Island.
Anna May Wong
Anna May Wong was an American actress, the first Chinese American movie star, and the first Asian American to become an international star...
, J. Carrol Naish
J. Carrol Naish
Joseph Patrick Carrol Naish was an American character actor born in New York City. Naish was twice nominated for an Academy Award for film roles, and he later found fame in the title role of CBS Radio's Life With Luigi , which was also on CBS Television .Naish appeared on stage for several years...
, and Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
. It tells the story of the daughter of a general who goes to look for her father after he disappears. The film received mixed reviews and was the last that Wong made for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.
Plot
Kim Ling (Anna May Wong), the daughter of a general accused of embezzling $300,000 of government money, goes to investigate his disappearance. She eventually discovers a labor camp run by Gregory Prin (J. Carrol Naish) to the north of SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and meets Chang Tai (Anthony Quinn), who is undercover investigating Prin's activities. Together they manage to discover Ling's father and the money, as well as identify several known fugitives. After the arrival of Tex Ballister (Broderick Crawford
Broderick Crawford
Broderick Crawford was an Academy Award-winning American stage, film, radio and TV actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his starring role in the television series "Highway Patrol."-Early life:...
), who reveals Tai's true identity and attempts to blackmail Prin, ignites a local rebellion, Ling, her father, and Tai escape.
Production
Island of Lost Men was filmed in the spring of 1939. Production was delayed by cost overruns. Among the most expensive scenes were those involving the jungle and the river scene; the total cost overruns were approximately $25,000. Wong's salary was $6000 with another $1000 paid for overtime, while Quinn only earned $750.The original title for the movie was Guns for China. However, the US State Department implored studios to avoid referencing or alluding to the then-ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. After discussing with its sales manager in Japan, Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
changed the title to Island of Lost Men.
Wong sang "Music on the Shore", composed by Friedrich Hollaender
Friedrich Hollaender
Friedrich Hollaender was a German film composer.He was born in London, where his father, operetta composer Victor Hollaender, worked at the Barnum & Bailey Circus...
and Frank Loesser
Frank Loesser
Frank Henry Loesser was an American songwriter who wrote the lyrics and scores to the Broadway hits Guys and Dolls and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, among others. He won separate Tony Awards for the music and lyrics in both shows, as well as sharing the Pulitzer Prize for...
. The song was written especially for her.
Release
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
praised the general production, acting (especially Wong's), and sets; however, it considered the plot to be "trite". The Daily Variety noted that Wong's singing was "pleasing". The English magazine Kinetographic Weekly was dismissive of the film, but was pleased by Wong's acting. Frank S. Nugent of the The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that the "kindliest" thing one could say about the movie is that Naish is in it, "only this time with a slant to Mr. Naish's villainous eyes", and that the jungle setting was so unbelievable that it implied that "if the camera were swung no more than a frame or so to either side it would reveal a filling station, or a roadside food dispensary in the shape of a hot dog".
Island of Lost Men proved to be Wong's last movie with Paramount. The studio did not renew her contract afterwards, possibly because of the budget overruns in Island.