Age Of Consent (1969)

An Australian artist (James Mason) lives in Manhattan where he has a successful career but he feels the need to go back to his roots and get inspired to create again. He goes back to Australia and rents a shack on a secluded island on the Great Barrier Reef. Into his life comes a young girl (Helen Mirren) who brings back his desire to create. Based on the semi autobiographical novel by Norman Lindsay and directed by Michael Powell (BLACK NARCISSUS). The film was a huge success in Australia, both critically and at the box office but fared less well with the rest of the world where it was cut in many countries (Mirren's nude scenes). Personally, I wouldn't count the film as one of Powell's best but there's a certain charm and the cinematography of Hannes Staudinger is stunning, making the Great Barrier Reef look like a paradise. Mason, no surprise, is excellent and in one of her earliest movie roles, Mirren is delightful. I could have done without the annoying scheming leech played by Jack MacGowran, who serves no real purpose in the story other than provide comedy relief (I didn't laugh). With Peggy Cass, Frank Thring and Clarissa Kaye, who would marry James Mason two years later.