Outcast of the Islands | |
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original movie poster
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Directed by | Carol Reed |
Produced by | Carol Reed Hugh Perceval Alexander Korda (uncredited) |
Written by | William Fairchild |
Based on |
An Outcast of the Islands 1896 novel by Joseph Conrad |
Starring |
Robert Morley Trevor Howard Ralph Richardson Wendy Hiller |
Music by | Brian Easdale |
Cinematography |
Edward Scaife John Wilcox |
Edited by | Bert Bates |
Production
company |
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Distributed by |
British Lion Films Lopert Pictures |
Release date
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15 November 1951 |
Running time
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102 min |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | £149,335 (UK) |
Outcast of the Islands is a 1951 film directed by Carol Reed based on Joseph Conrad's novel An Outcast of the Islands. The film features Robert Morley, Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson, and Wendy Hiller.
Peter Willems (Trevor Howard), a selfish and ambitious man, is accused of stealing in his position as manager of a shipping port operation near Singapore. After he is terminated for his offense he reacquaints himself with the trading ship Capt. Lingard (Ralph Richardson) who befriended him as a 12-year-old boy. Lingard agrees to help Willems regain his reputation by taking him to a trading village located up a difficult-to-navigate channel near the coast of Batam. Lingard's son-in-law, Elmer Almeyer (Robert Morley), operates a trading operation for Capt. Lingard in the village. Lingard asks Almeyer to take Willems under his wing and teach him the business. While Lingard is gone on one of his sea trips, Willems abuses his trust, seduces the village chieftain's daughter Aissa (Kerima), attempts to steal Almeyer's business operation, humiliates Almeyer before the villagers, and shares the navigation secrets of the channel with a trader who competes with Capt. Lingard. Lingard returns to discover the mess Willems has made and confronts Willems — who has now been condemned by the villagers because of the shame he brought to the frail and dying chieftain. He abandons Willems to live in isolation and exile.
Outcast of the Islands was filmed on location in Sri Lanka and at the Shepperton Studios in England.
Outcast of the Islands was nominated for best British film and best film from any source at the 1953 BAFTA awards.