Enchanted Island (1958)

Set in the 19th century, two sailors (Dana Andrews, Don Dubbins) jump ship to escape retribution from their tyrannical Captain (Ted De Corsia). But their escape is halted when they are taken in by a tribe of cannibals. Matters get complicated when the older sailor (Andrews) falls in love with the cannibal chief's granddaughter (Jane Powell). Loosely based on TYPEE by Herman Melville and directed by Allan Dwan (SLIGHTLY SCARLET). Attempts to make a film of Melville's TYPEE went back as early as 1944 and for awhile John Huston was interested in directing with Gregory Peck to star. Eventually, this cliched mish mash that no one was happy with was the result. Dana Andrews was often so intoxicated he couldn't work and the producers later sued him! A terribly miscast Jane Powell plays the cannibal princess and no amount of brownface could hide her inadequacies. By the time the movie was finished, RKO went bankrupt and Warners took over the film's distribution. However, he cinematographer Jorge Stahl Jr. does a good job of making Mexico look like the South Seas. Not bad enough to be camp and pretty sad all around. With Arthur Shields and Friedrich von Ledebur.