Let it be known: I adore CAST AWAY by Robert Zemeckis. Probably seen it 15-20 times. In fact, I'm watching it again tonight. It continually battles with BTTF as my favourite Zemeckis film.
My favourite part is the middle part, from the panning shot of Hanks in his airplane seat to when he finally gets away from the island and when we first hear the glorious Silvestri music. These days, I tend to turn the film off after that.
Anyways, in desperation I wanted to ask the savvy crowd here if you know of any other Robinson Crusoe-type films that retain the verisimilitude of this middle part of CAST AWAY -- the sense of "being there"; the survival part of it. Without any melodrama, flashbacks or other nonsense. Just being there. (I should point out that I've seen a few films in this category, including the wonderful THE RED TURTLE from a few years back).
"The Black Stallion" is a classic and a gorgeous looking film.
THE BLACK STALLION? Does the horsie end up on a deserted island?
As expected, not the most popular topic around, but it's something that has always fascinated me.
I just adore island-centered films. There are some others I could recommend myself, even if they aren't exactly Robinson Crusoe stories. Like the Georgian film CORN ISLAND or the Japanese classic NAKED ISLAND. But I'm primarily looking for those that retain the feel of that middle act in CAST AWAY. I think I tried to sample the Kamen-scored CRUSOE once, but it wasn't quite there. Nor other Crusoe adaptations, like the Norwegian HAAKON HAAKONSEN aka SHIPWRECKED (with one of Doyle's best scores).
Yes Thor, THE BLACK STALLION does feature a boy and a horse on a deserted island, for a period of time anyway. It's gorgeously shot and scored, almost like a nature/docu-drama at times.
Also, it's a bit cheesy at times, but THE BLUE LAGOON from 1980 is a coming of age love story about two young kids growing up in isolation on a tropical island. And the Basil Poledouris score...one of his earliest efforts...WOW!!
Also, two versions of LORD OF THE FLIES. I'm more familiar with the Kevin Hooks 80s version, with the very fine Philippe Sarde score.
Although I agree with you that CASTAWAY is in a class of its own in this genre. And none I have seen capture that docu-realism Zemeckis realised for his Tom Hanks pic. The lack of score plays a big part in that.
There was also a film starring Oliver Reed and Amanda Donohoe in which Reed pays Donohoe to come live on a deserted island with him, as some kind of social experiment, also titled CASTAWAY Lots of t&a ensues. And some Myers and Zimmer too. But I don't remember that much about it, other than it's not very good.
And don't forget the Madonna film, which I've never seen.
I have a similar fascination with desert sequences, where the character is lost or stranded, and the film-maker makes an opposing character out of the environment, emphasizing thirst, heat, despair and everything else that goes with it.
Let it be known: I adore CAST AWAY by Robert Zemeckis. Probably seen it 15-20 times. In fact, I'm watching it again tonight. It continually battles with BTTF as my favourite Zemeckis film.
My favourite part is the middle part, from the panning shot of Hanks in his airplane seat to when he finally gets away from the island and when we first hear the glorious Silvestri music. These days, I tend to turn the film off after that.
Anyways, in desperation I wanted to ask the savvy crowd here if you know of any other Robinson Crusoe-type films that retain the verisimilitude of this middle part of CAST AWAY -- the sense of "being there"; the survival part of it. Without any melodrama, flashbacks or other nonsense. Just being there. (I should point out that I've seen a few films in this category, including the wonderful THE RED TURTLE from a few years back).
It is quite good. I recommend the little seen film Crusoe with Aidan Quinn and a very nice score by Michael Kamen. It was directed by Caleb Deschanel. It is superb
It's not exactly an island movie, but Nic Roeg's Walkabout (1971) deals with a very similar subject (kids stranded in an Australian desert) and it has one of John Barry's greatest scores. The use of experimental shots in capturing the wild outback is also absolutely stunning.
Ironically, though, the children's return to the "civilized" world is portrayed as a return to dystopia.
The classic children's novel "Island Of The Blue Dolphins" based on the true story of an early 19th century Indian woman surviving all by herself on an island off the California coast after the rest of her tribe left was made into a movie in 1964 and was just released on Blu-Ray. Those who like "Cast Away" should give it a look.
This thread made me dig out my CASTAWAY CD* today, which I hadn't played in quite some time. Yes, it's just 16 minutes of THAT theme, played by differing lines, but it really is a gorgeous and soothing melody. Trademark Silvestri and it suits the film when it finally appears, offering up some real emotional warmth. Thanks Thor.
*I know it's never been officially released, but the FYC was leaked and shared quite openly.
Also, it's a bit cheesy at times, but THE BLUE LAGOON from 1980 is a coming of age love story about two young kids growing up in isolation on a tropical island. And the Basil Poledouris score...one of his earliest efforts...WOW!!
THE BLUE LAGOON was originally made in 1949. I wonder how different it is, and whether either will suit Thor.
There is no shortage of desert island movies, but the important thing is to capture the tone of CAST AWAY. If I remember correctly (I only saw a few episodes decades ago), SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON was a LOST IN SPACE-type show that didn't really capture the visceral survival aspect. THE BLUE LAGOON -- old version or Poledouris-scored 80s version -- I remember as a love/coming-of-age story that just happens to take place on a deserted island.
But yeah -- I know it's a very narrow niche I'm after. As others have said, it might just be that CAST AWAY is the only desert island movie that captures the realistic/visceral/"being there" aspect of it all that well.
(The original 1974 film) 
