mark.waltz As senseless as an episode of "Gilligan's Island" (and possibly the film where Sherwood Schwartz got some plot ideas for that cult sitcom), this Technicolor Paramount musical focuses on three American pilots shipwrecked on a deserted island who manage to escape after overpowering three Japanese pilots and stealing their plane. Of course, they are shipwrecked once again after the American navy sees the approaching Japanese plane (its painted on American flag dissolved in a rainstorm) where one of them (Eddie Bracken) is believed to be their God after the local natives notice his resemblance to his totem pole likeness (the same thing which happened to Gilligan). Handsome Barry Sullivan falls in love with the not so native girl Dorothy Lamour, still wearing a sarong, but shipwrecked as a child along with her father (Forrest Orr), and every bit as tan as the natives. As for Bracken, his "Godly" identity is questioned by the native queen (Anne Revere), high priest Reed Hadley and warrior Marc Lawrence, and when the queen is given a sleeping poison, Bracken is set for execution, either by being burnt alive or eaten by a huge carnivorous plant, all to see if he really is a God. While my numerical rating indicates the fact that I consider this to be a substandard film, it is still an entertaining piece of nostalgic hokum that has to be seen to believed for really how bad it is, stereotypical in pretty much every way and cast with actors whom you know were embarrassed by their participation in it. Lamour and Bracken could play their parts in their sleep, but I really felt bad for the future Oscar Winning actress Anne Revere who in dark make-up looks ridiculous, even if she gives a very commanding performance. The songs by Burton Lane and Ted Koehler are instantly forgettable, and even if the Technicolor photography is superbly beautiful, the sets are extremely artificial looking. It's obvious to me that the best way to view this is with tongue firmly planted in cheek, but when you compare these with the Road pictures made at Paramount around the same time, you can see why they stand the test of time, even in black and white, while this is much closer to the Universal series of colorful adventures starring Maria Montez.

BRDMBR04 Curious -- those are the scenes that I recall, too. What I remember, in particular, was the vivid color! But then, that was only 60 years ago. Another movie that I remember from that time (ca 1943) was a combat documentary, "The Fighting Lady," about a US carrier in Japanese waters. It was released as a DVD in 2001. According to the descriptive material: "See the ship and its pilots undergo their baptism of fire, -- Kwajalein, Truk, and the Marianas Turkey Shoot." The film is quite educational -- and not simply a wartime motivational piece. It, too, is in striking color.Interested viewers may want to check it out (the same time frame and roughly covering the same historical interval) simply to compare it to the fictitious and humorous "Rainbow Island."

owenrussell I am working from a very vague and indistinct childhood memory of a film which I think is Rainbow Island, but cannot be certain. My most vivid memory of this film, which I recall as being in technicolor and having a large number of native-type people in it, is of a kind of idol which was worshipped by the natives and had a curious expression on its face - the most distinct feature being an underlip that stuck out. If I recall the scene correctly, the natives never looked at this idol, believing that it caused death. Eddie Bracken (if it was he), not knowing of this custom looked at the idol and found himself assuming the same expression of face, complete with protruding underlip. On seeing this, the natives began to worship him instead of the idol. Was I watching Rainbow Island? Or was it a different film altogether? Does anyone know?

porter77 I was six years old when I first saw this movie in the 40's. Over a period of six months, I saw it 8 times. In the 70's, I happened to catch the last half of the movie on TV as part of a Late/Late Show so I know it's not lost. I don't think it ever came out on VHS but I search the data bases from time to time. I would love to have this movie. In it's time, I think it was one of the best and was enjoyed by both kids and adults.