Sinners in Paradise (1938) User Reviews

SINNERS IN PARADISE (James Whale, 1938) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 28 April 2006]

I was very much looking forward to this one, mainly due to Michael's favorable comments but, while I enjoyed it quite a bit, I also thought the material unworthy of its director (who happens to be one of my all-time favorites)! Featuring multiple characters (though the cast itself is rather second-rate!), the film evokes memories of GRAND HOTEL (1932) and LOST HORIZON (1937) but also looks forward to FIVE CAME BACK (1939) and STAGECOACH (1939). FIVE CAME BACK is especially comparable in view of its plot similarities but, while probably no more elaborate a production, that RKO film - directed by John Farrow and featuring one of the best performances by Maltese actor Joseph Calleia - is considerably more compelling and a much better film in every way.

Given Whale's customary lavishness, then, it's distressing to see how his fortunes dwindled at the change in the studio's management and the miniscule budget and B-movie status afforded SINNERS IN PARADISE hurts the film considerably! Still, the opening scenes (featuring an uncredited cameo by Whale regular Dwight Frye) are nicely handled and the airplane crash, while an obvious model, is nonetheless exciting. However, once on the island (and the introduction of its 'master' John Boles, who's miscast but not bad), the film kind of stops dead in its tracks; while it provides a couple of villains, there is no real menace a' la the headhunters closing in on the stranded party in FIVE CAME BACK - and the film merely relies on the obligatory if tepid romance (which mainly revolves around two separate couples) and some resistible comic relief to prod the story along (though Gene Lockhart's typical fooling in the role of a pompous politician is amiable enough)!

Having so far watched four non-horror films by James Whale, it's interesting to note that two were set in stylish surroundings and the other two in exotic locales; still, while equally ramshackle, I found GREEN HELL (1940) - due, in no small measure, to its remarkable cast - to be a lot more satisfying than this one!

Sundry characters thrown together far from civilization

[csteidler · 7/10 · 23 March 2012]

An airplane sets out for China but doesn't make it: struck down in a storm, it crashes at sea and the passengers wash ashore on an apparently uninhabited island, where they are seemingly without hope of rescue or escape…until they discover John Boles, a mysterious American living on the island in relative luxury. He has a boat—but for reasons of his own, refuses to let the castaways use it to escape.

Boles is solid as the island's primary inhabitant; he has run away from a murder charge, accompanied by a servant (Willie Fung) whose loyalty is complete. His uninvited visitors are a diverse group of characters on this journey for a variety of reasons—some pursuing shady business deals, others running away from personal issues. On the island, events develop and allegiances form; we learn, in bits and pieces, the stories behind some of the main characters.

Boles strikes up a relationship with Madge Evans, an unhappy wife heading to China to escape via a nursing career. Gene Lockhart is a blustery senator and Charlotte Wynters is an heiress—these two stuck up characters are quickly elected by the others to perform the most menial chores.

Marion Martin gives the best performance as a tough young woman on the run from life. "This is pretty funny," she comments on reaching shore and looking around, "I was trying to run away from a nervous breakdown." She pairs up with Bruce Cabot, who has a stack of stolen money (useless on an island) and a pistol (that may come in handy).

The plane crash scene that opens the action is very well done—a great example of a director creating chaos and excitement despite obviously limited resources. Otherwise, the production is solid but nothing out of the ordinary...if there is such a thing as a run of the mill tropical island, this would be it.

Overall, it's entertaining if not great. The characters are interesting but never develop much; the performances are solid; the plot moves fast but rarely surprises.

Not a hospitable host

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 27 April 2014]

This film Sinners In Paradise was an interesting find. It's a combination of The Lost Horrizon, Stagecoach, The Admirable Crichton with a bit of Gilligan's Island thrown in.

An interesting mix of people are passengers on a sea plane bound for China which crashes in the Pacific and the surviving passengers plus a steward from the crew are tossed into the sea. They make it to a tropical island where John Boles and his servant Willie Fung have set up house. He's not a very hospitable host and forces these people to work for their keep. Some of them like Senator Gene Lockhart and heiress Charlotte Wynters are not used to manual labor. In this new society that is forming on the island they're at the bottom of the pecking order and resent it.

The rest of the survivors include steward Don Barry from the crew, recent divorcée Madge Evans bound for China to serve as a missionary, mob hit man Bruce Cabot, working class girl brassy Marion Martin, widow Nana Bryant looking to join her son in Shanghai, and a pair of munitions manufacturers Milburn Stone and Morgan Conway looking to make some money off the various wars going in China. It's quite an interesting group of castaways here on Boles' Island.

The iconoclastic Boles is a man of mystery. Their host has good and sufficient reason for not wanting to return to civilization. In point of fact those who want to get back the most are the ones that civilization could do without.

Lockhart is the most interesting character of the bunch. He can't figure out why a natural born 'leader' and man of the people isn't just handed responsibility to lead the castaways. He's not a great advertisement for our political leadership.

James Whale directed this film and it was a reunion of sorts with Boles who was in the cast of his most acclaimed work, the original Frankenstein. Although by now Whale was directing B films and Sinners In Paradise is definitely in that category, it's still an interesting piece of work and worthy of more than one look.

Fun Film

[Michael_Elliott · 28 February 2008]

Sinners in Paradise (1938)

*** (out of 4)

Universal drama directed by James Whale about a plane load of people who crash on an island ran by a loner (John Boles). This one here doesn't have a very good reputation but I found it to be highly entertaining until the last fifteen minutes when things started to drag a bit. Whale's direction is right on the mark mixing some nice drama with some comedy and using the oddball characters to full effect. Boles, from Whale's Frankenstein is very good in the lead and the supporting players are good as well. The plane crash is handled with a master's touch. Madge Evans and Bruce Cabot co-star.

Snappy little programmer

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 9 March 2017]

Snappy, quick little programmer which packs adventure, comedy, drama, romance and even political messages (!) about division of labor and the relative value of money, in just a little over 63 minutes. The short running time does not allow for much character development (most of the characters remain "types"), but it does not allow for any boring moments, either. It's one of the last starring roles for the warm-voiced Madge Evans (a personal favorite of mine), though in this occasion the standout in the cast is Marion Martin as the brash, sarcastic Iris. **1/2 out of 4.

Paradise in Sinners.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 6/10 · 13 July 2015]

Getting set to write my 800th IMDb review,I decided to search around on Amazon UK for titles by directing auteur James Whale.Getting near the end of the listings for his famous Horror movies,I was surprised to stumble upon a near-forgotten Adventure Drama that Whale's had made,which led to me getting ready to pay a visit to paradise.

The plot:

Desperate to each get away from their troubled lives,a group of people get on board a luxury sea plane to China.On the way to China,the plane gets caught in the middle of a tropic storm,which causes it to crash in the ocean.Barely surviving the crash,the handful of survivors spot an island near the wreck,and decide to swim to the shore.

Reaching the island,the survivors start to fear that they will not be found,due to the island appearing to be completely deserted.Searching round the island,the survivors are shocked to discover 2 inhibitions:one called Jim Taylor and the other one being his loyal servant Ping.Placing their hopes on him helping them to get off the island,Taylor reveals that he has other plans,as he uncovers each of the survivors hidden pasts.

View on the film:

Filmed when the change in studio head had led to him losing his main supporters,directing auteur James Whale is only about to show the edge of his past, eye-catching, stylised canvas.Whale & cinematographer George Robinson (who had worked with Whale on the interesting The Road Back) cleverly use a minimal amount of flames to create a scorching hot atmosphere on the island.Despite working on a low budget,Whale's is impressively still able to continue on some of the main themes featured in his work,thanks to the survivors trying to keep their shady upper-class backgrounds hidden,by each giving themselves a "humble" appearance on the island,which the lower-class Taylor is able to reveal as a facade.

Taking a scatter-shot approach in their focus of the island residences ,the screenplay by Harold Buckley/Louis Stevens/ Lester Cole & Robert Lee Johnson is disappointingly unable to give each of the characters "their moment" to shine,which whilst allowing Jim Taylor to stand out as a boo-hiss baddie,leads to most of the survivors not being given any distinctive features.Along with a fun cameo from Dwight Frye, John Boles gives a marvellous performance in his reunion with Whale,as Boles curls Taylor's lips on every order that he barks to his fellow islanders,as the crash survivors discover that this is an island far from paradise.

A 30's "Lost" and "Gilligan's Island"

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 24 December 2009]

A group of totally different people on a plane to China are stranded on a desert Island during a storm, where they meet the Island's only two inhabitants, handsome Jim Boles ("Stella Dallas") and the as-always comical Willie Fung. They include slimy politician Gene Lockhart, tough-as-nails Marion Martin, tarot card reader Nana Bryant, rich business woman Charlotte Wynters, and nurse Madge Evans, as well as several business men of a rather shady nature. Boles doesn't want them there, and forces them to make their own way. Several of the men finally make their way off the Island on Boles' boat with the reluctant (but formidable) Mr. Fung, who may seem like he may not have what it takes to stand up to them, but ultimately he does. Boles, in the meantime, falls for nurse Madge, while tough-as-nails Ms. Martin lets her guard down with an ex-con who isn't all that bad, either. It turns out that Boles has a reason for being away from society, which ties in with another one of the castaways.

James Whale was one of the best directors at Universal in the 30's. He had an eye for detail and could always be counted on to add a lavishness to his films not usually found at Universal during its day as one of the lower "A" studios. By 1936, Universal was prospering thanks to the Deanna Durbin musicals, although the horror genre of the early 30's was beginning to fade thanks to the legion of decency and the production code. While there may be some cheap special effects in this film, there are some riveting action sequences, particularly the plane crash and the ship fight between two men and Mr. Fung at sea. Like "Gilligan's Island", there are constant jokes about "fish for dinner again?". This is a handsome "B" film to look at, if one can get past the story flaws that aren't quite plausible.

As far as the cast is concerned, Boles is a bland hero, and Evans does best as she can with her not well defined character. She has a great scene at the beginning telling her husband (Alan Edwards) at the airport that she is leaving him, but after that, her spunk all but disappears. Ironically, Ms. Wynters resembles Tina Louise ("Gilligan Island's" Ginger) to some degree, but doesn't get anything really substantial to do but act snooty and above the rest of the riffraff she is unfortunately stuck with. Gene Lockhart is insufferable, as usual, typecast as he was in many films, as a shady politician and businessman. He would be doing roles like this well into the 40's. I always confuse him with another similar character actor of the era, Grant Mitchell. They were never given the chance to expand their portrayal of these characters by making them more sympathetic or understandable like a Charles Coburn or Edward Arnold would. I'd hate to think that people like Lockhart's character are being elected into public office today, let alone when this movie was made.

The one actor who stands out to me is Marion Martin, who is so lovably tough that I bet it would be fun to try and melt the exterior to find the warmth inside hidden by years of disappointments. Actors like Ms. Martin, Barbara Pepper and Iris Adrian (the lower class Joan Blondells and Ann Sheridans of their era) were delightful even with their bit parts in films of the 30's and 40's, and deserved better than what they got. Audiences had to wait until the 50's when Shelley Winters made these type of characters the focus of films like "South Sea Woman" and "Larceny". I didn't care much for the ruthless businessmen (particularly the one carrying a satchel of cash). Having pompous Reynolds representing the seedy side of high society was enough for me. Some people are quite offended today by the typecasting of Willie Fung, but he is probably more well defined and consistent in his actions here, making him more believable than his characters in other films I've seen him in. I wish there was more of the always lovable Nana Bryant, playing a role similar to Elisabeth Risdon's in "Five Came Back" and Beaulah Bondi in "Back From Eternity".

In conclusion, at 63 minutes, "Sinners in Paradise" is the perfect 30's double bill fare that audiences clamored for in the late depression years, but would forget about seeing until it popped up on TV years later. It is fun to watch for some campy lines, a few memorable performances, and some attractive Island scenery. I'm glad to find that it is on DVD after seeing it at the Film Forum in New York as part of a James Whale triple bill.

'Sinners In Paradise' (1938)

[mfnmbvp · 7/10 · 17 April 2012]

I really want to like 'Sinners In Paradise' more than I actually did, just because the premise is so big, so juicy, it could be so much more than it is, and because what James Whale actually left us with feels like just a teaser of what he could have done. The film could easily have been twice as long as it is, and even to those who viewed it in 1938, it probably came off as very entertaining and thrilling at times, but some were probably left feeling disappointed, as the idea is really half-baked.

Part 'Lord Of The Flies', part 'Gilligan's Island', I was wishing that 'Sinners In Paradise' would be just more... sinister the entire time. I kept hoping for these people to die off Agatha Christie murder mystery style, and I waited and waited for it to happen. But it never did. Alas, there are quite a few enjoyable characters here, but certain characters are just pure filler, and its a shame that their characters weren't more well developed, because there is certainly the time for it. Madge Evans and John Boles are basically pretty forgettable as our leads, and they are overshadowed by more likable characters like Gene Lockhart and Willie Fung.

All in all, 'Sinners In Paradise' comes off as an enjoyable, watchable film, from the man who brought us 'Frankenstein' in 1931, but it feels like Whale was just looking more to have fun with making this film, rather than having it be a serious endeavor. I hope this film makes it to the screen again one day, perhaps as a remake, but more in the vein of films like 'Identity' instead of 'Six Days, Seven Nights'.

SINNERS IN PARADISE -----7/10.

Willie Fung...action hero!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 27 March 2014]

"Sinners in Paradise" is an agreeable little B-movie. While it has several plot problems which I'll soon talk about, the overall film is light and entertaining--and would make a nice time-passer.

The film begins aboard a clipper (a sort of seaplane used by airlines for cross-Pacific journeys). However, soon they are caught in a storm and the plane crashes. Only one of the crew members survives but unfortunately, the passengers ALL survive. I say this because they are, overall, a miserable lot. Several are extremely selfish and spoiled-- and when they land on a semi-deserted island, they start barking out orders to the two inhabitants as if they owned the place. As for Jim Taylor (John Boles), he's having none of it and tells them they need to work for their keep--he won't be waiting on anyone. So what are these incredibly fussy people to do until (and IF) help ever arrives?

In many ways, this plays like "Gilligan's Island" but without the bad comedy. The only attempt at comedy are a couple birds who talk--and wow are they annoying and stupid. Otherwise, it's a decent little film. My favorite part about this is the one played by Willie Fung. Normally in films he played a very, very harmless and subservient sort of fellow. Here, though, he turns out to be a rather macho guy. See the film and see what I mean.

plot resolution=0

[elainesantello · 6/10 · 13 March 2011]

The opening scenes, especially on the plane, were far better than any of the rest of the movie. I have to give points for the exotic island setting, too. I'm pretty sure, though, that Ping wasn't speaking Cantonese or Mandarin.Just another reminder of the acceptable racism of the film's time. And I can't even use the word anti-climatic for the ending. Talk about insipid. "I-I have a little matter to clear up." "Whatever it is, Jim, we'll face it together." Does that need a spoiler alert? If you're into classic b-&-w jungle flicks you might enjoy this film, otherwise you may want to bring your knitting, or a book. Good picture and sound quality, with wooden acting.

Thanks to countless similar TV movies of the week this tale of survival on a deserted island is little more than an enjoyable cliché fest

[dbborroughs · 5/10 · 4 August 2006]

James Whale directs this unremarkable story of survival (sort of). After a sea plane with several passengers crashes into the ocean near an uncharted island, a man living there must decide whether or not to ferry the survivors back to civilization since he's wanted for murder in China. This is a B movie version of what would be an all star movie of the week on TV. Its not bad, its just been done to death thanks to Gilligan's Island and uncreative TV executives. Once the plane crashes and we get to the island the film is reasonably enjoyable since the story is in motion and all of the clichés are allowed to play out. Well acted by a cast of veterans you'll know whats going to happen as well as the cast knows how to play their well worn parts. Its worth a look if you run across it on TV just don't expect high art even from James Whale

shortie south sea adventure

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 2 February 2017]

Right from the start, we can tell that this DVD from TCM.com is a good quality production... it has menu options and appears to have been restored professionally. Madge Evans and John Boles star in this south sea thriller about people being shipwrecked on an island. According to Evans, director James Whale was NOT happy about having to make this film, and it was near the end of his career. Universal packed a lot of story into this 65 minute shortie, so things move right along. Similar plot to Gilligan's Island... bigshots, rich folks, and assorted characters (a tarot card reader! ) crash-land on an inhabited south sea island, and try to make a deal with the resident "Malone" (Bruce Cabot) to get back to civilization. Gene Lockhart is in here as "the Senator"... who huffs and puffs his nasty outbursts every couple minutes. Malone is clearly on the run from "something", but no-one knows what. He always seems to have clean, ironed shirts, in spite of his being on a south sea island for years! Fistfights, gun fights, shooting, stealing. a little of everything in this adventure. This one loses steam about halfway through. After they meet Malone, it kinds of falls apart. Will anyone get off the island? A big chunk of the script is just silly and doesn't really progress in the last third of the film. The last few minutes kind of ties up a lot of loose ends, but it could have been so much better. I blame it on a weak script. It's okay. One of those fun, exotic "south sea" adventures, but it got silly right around the middle. Original story by Harold Buckley, who had several films made from his books in the 1930s. We were right in the heart of the film production code, so much of this story is predictable...and probably started out as a much more interesting story.

Too Much of a Mind Stretch

[Hitchcoc · 4/10 · 30 April 2007]

While there are a few amusing moments in this film, the odd mixture of characters who find themselves awash on an Island in the Pacific really don't have much chemistry. They are mostly wrapped up in their own egos and forced to do some work or they will never see home again. There is a strange Chinese man, loyal to his master, who is incredibly confusing. He has this goofy laugh that comes at odd times. It grates on the brain. There are bad guys and windbags and loose women and a nice woman. There is an islander who can't go to China because he is wanted for a murder there. He has the only boat and navigation skills to get the people off the island. Everyone stays true to their colors and it rolls toward a predictable conclusion. I found Gene Lockart's politician to be utterly insufferable. They should have drowned him right away.

Fizzles

[dougdoepke · 16 November 2016]

I don't know what director Whale told actor Lockhart, but the actor's buffoonery just about kills the movie. After a plane crashes in the Pacific, the survivors manage (we're never shown how) to get to an island where a mysterious man (Boles) lives with his Chinese servant. It's a motley crew of survivors, including a rich woman, a gangster, a state senator, two fast-talking operators, a floozie, and several others. Meanwhile, forming new relationships and making needed adjustments carry the narrative.

Perhaps the biggest influence on the film is leftist screenwriter Lester Cole, later one of the blacklisted Hollywood Ten. The movie's subtext shows how social distinctions lose their meaning on the island. Even money. At the same time, the working people's skills take on vital value in new surroundings, while the privileged can contribute little. Then too, I expect Lockhart's generally useless character amounts to Cole's shot at politicians of the time. Good lessons here, and ones not restricted to that Depression era.

Anyway, helping the film are good special effects, especially the frenzied plane crash. Even the studio blended beach shots are well done, a surprise for cheapjack Universal studios. Too bad the acting's uneven, but then the hour-long format doesn't provide for much character development among the large cast. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was Ping (Fung), the manservant. I expected he would be nothing more than the usual foolish stereotype. But, not so.

Anyway, there's a good movie stymied somewhere inside the brief runtime and Lockhart's over-acting. Check out the thematically similar Five Came Back (1939) to see a much better version.

"As far as I can make out, we're nowhere".

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 23 January 2010]

And as far as I can tell, this title would better have served for one of those sexploitation flicks of the era, like "Escort Girl", "Sex Madness" or "Slaves in Bondage". Except for the two munitions salesmen who tried to take out old Ping (Willie Fung), there wasn't a whole lot of sinning going on, even between the gangster (Bruce Cabot) and his moll Iris Compton (Marion Martin). It's actually pretty bland once the story gets going, as survivors of a plane crash in the Pacific try to figure out how they'll all get back home. Not exactly "Lord of the Flies", even though Gene Lockhart takes on the obligatory self important blowhard role as a state senator who tries to put himself in charge but is unceremoniously rebuffed. I don't know anything about the lead actor James Boles, but it looks like he was 'B' films' answer to Clark Gable; I can see how Madge Evans' character fell for him.

Notwithstanding the inevitable comparisons to "Gilligan's Island", this one is a generally breezy little number that's entertaining enough in it's roughly one hour run time. I was somewhat intrigued by the idea of burning one's money in a place where it literally had no value, and that concept alone gives the picture a bonus point for originality. Otherwise it plays out fairly typically, but with a cast that makes it interesting to watch.

Before "Gilligan's Island" . . .

[zardoz-13 · 5/10 · 2 April 2020]

"Frankenstein" director James Whale's reputation had pretty much been eroded by the time that he helmed this Robinson Crusoe style island adventure. Mind you, the production values are good enough, especially the make-shift house on the island, but the plot is claustrophobic and the surprises-apart from the expository ones-are kept to a minimum as a group of people beach themselves on a remote island in the Pacific on the eve of the Second World War II. Of course, several of the characters are refugees from civilization owing to their criminal activities. Clocking in at 64 minutes, "Sinners in Paradise" epitomizes the plot adequately, except paradise may be taking the setting of the island rather far. This specific but unnamed island is twelve-hundred miles away from any shipping lane so its occupants should be prepared to spend a lot of time on their hands. Primarily, the two inhabitants of this little rock are a physician, Dr. Jim Taylor (John Boles of "Thousands Cheer") and his Asian servant Ping (Willie Fung of "Flying Tigers") who have been on the island for about a year. It seems that the good doctor was involved in a death and hightailed it from Shanghai before the law clapped him in handcuffs. He has been content to live on the island with Ping handling the culinary chores until fate schedules a rendezvous with civilization.

A seaplane-the Sea Bird-ditches in the ocean during a violent storm as one engine burns out and the passengers must don their life-jackets and swim as best they can to the nearest island. At this point, we don't know anything about Jim Taylor and Ping because Whale and his scenarists Lester Cole of "Objective: Burma!"; Harold Buckley of "Guns of the Pecos," and Louis Stevens of "Flying Devils" haven't introduced them. Meantime, the passengers beach themselves on the island. Sadly, none of the pilot and crew, with the exception of the steward, Jessup (future B-western star Don 'Red' Barry), die. Each of the passengers has a backstory, some are trying to escape from society while others are heading for China for various reasons either selfish or philanthropic. Two passengers bought tickets because they were armaments dealers, Harrison Brand (Morgan Conway of "Badman's Territory") and Honeyman Milburn Stone of CBS's "Gunsmoke"), and they are in tough competition to land buyers. Interestingly enough, these two dastards are among the casualties, largely because of their greedy gunrunning ideologies.

Amongst the other passengers are a heiress Thelma Chase (Charlotte Wynters of "Sunset Trail"), who doesn't have time for her disruptive labor woes; a gangster on the run Robert Malone (Bruce Cabot of "King Kong") with $150-thousand dollars that he pinched from the mob; garrulous Senator Corey (Gene Lockhart of "Rhubarb"); mob moll Iris Compton (Marion Martin of "Lady Scarface"); charitable Shanghai-bound nurse Anne Wesson (Madge Evans of "Dinner at Eight"), and a mother heading for China to see her son, Mrs. Franklin Sydney (Nana Bryant of "Harvey"), and she likes to read the fortunes of others in her Tarot cards. When everybody finally encounters Taylor and Ping, they are relieved initially, but then distraught. Not only does Taylor have a yacht, but he also refuses to take them anywhere. Later, we learn about his notorious background when the merchants of war steal his yacht and commandeer Ping to sail them back to San Francisco. Despite the constant arguments which erupt because the workload among them, the survivors grow to like each other, except Honeyman and Brand. Clearly, the budget must have been prohibitory, otherwise natives would have appeared to usher in more melodrama. Eventually, after Ping returns to the island-the two gunrunners were lost at sea-everybody is prepared to leave, even the reclusive Taylor. This is not the best work that Whale ever did and the story contains precious few surprises. "Sinners in Paradise" amounts to a tolerable enough potboiler.

Screenplay Lost At Sea Early On In This One

[secragt · 4/10 · 2 January 2006]

Watchable for the group of familiar 40s character actors, but after a reasonable crash sequence, this movie quickly loses its bearings. It's hard not to see some similarities to GILLIGAN'S ISLAND and LOST, but the awkward mix of on-the-nose comedy and drama never quite works. Lots of story lines, none of which really come together. The sequence at sea in the second half is the last momentarily interesting section, but it's quickly jettisoned like so much flotsam. Ending is particularly sudden and illogical.

SPOILERS AHOY If the ship was unable to reach landfall the first time, how come everyone assumes they will easily be rescued on the second attempt? It seems more likely that everyone (including the soon-to-be-married main couple) will die given the arduous passage of the first unsuccessful attempt. Or, perhaps I missed something obvious because my attention drifted away long before the sudden and seemingly tacked-on denouement? Either way, if you choose to partake of this doomed flight, you have no one but yourself to blame.

Horrible Horrible Horrible

[TheFearmakers · 1/10 · 26 March 2019]

Famously blacklisted Lester Cole should have been blacklisted for being obvious and obnoxious with his left wing message here. At one point, two shipwrecked, otherwise shallow people burn money. That's the dream of Hollywood writers back then. For everyone to burn money except themselves, that is...

A desert island movie but it's not a deserted island. A plane crashes an eclectic group and there's one white guy already there, and he plays cat and mouse with the survivors. The ones who used to be rich are bad; the poor working class are good. Especially cunning is an extremely rich woman who... as it's mentioned 1000 times... had turned down her workers on strike. And the comic relief in a fat senator who is antagonistic because he simply wants off the stupid classy envy island of idiots.

A waste of director James Whales' time, and he reportedly knew it. But The Left, who hates religion, sure do preach, don't they?

Gilligans Island, 30's style.

[GManfred · 2 June 2009]

Sinners in Paradise was next up in my DVD set.Featuring an intriguing cast and the inimitable James Whale as director, I thought it might be worth a good look.

But no. This Adventure/Morality Play gets off to a good start,but quickly bogs down into a clichéd potboiler which is neither compelling or suspenseful. The Disparate-Characters-Stranded-on-a-Desert-Island fizzles out almost as soon as they hit the island. Comic relief is forced and unfunny and all characters are painted in extremely broad strokes.

The best part of the film is the interesting cast which is comprised of B and lesser A actors. Madge Evans is lovely and John Boles is dashing and manly. Gene Lockhart and Bruce Cabot might have deleted this one from their film credits, as it does them no credit.

I guess it fills out the boxed set but it wasn't worth the trouble.

"Man alive, can't you understand we're people of affairs!"

[utgard14 · 5/10 · 3 June 2017]

Middling B movie, directed by James Whale, about a group of people whose plane crashes on an island. Living on the island is a mysterious American with an ebullient man servant. He smokes a pipe and acts like a jerk, so of course he's the hero of the piece. He's played by that great bore John Boles, whose most famous role was in James Whales' Frankenstein. In the time between that film and this, Boles appears to have transmogrified into Laird Cregar. Starts off feeling like it's going to be a breezy comedy but, after the plane crashes, it turns into an uninvolving drama with a dash of social commentary. Aside from Boles, the cast is a talented lot and the director is, of course, capable of better things. But somehow this is just another run of the mill programmer with little to recommend about it. If you can't make a movie with Gene Lockhart, Bruce Cabot, Madge Evans, and Marion Martin work, I just don't know what to say. Worth a look for Whale completists and anyone who likes their movies to have a serial-style action scene every ten or fifteen minutes, complete with rousing score.

A Kinda Cute Castaway Adventure

[Rainey-Dawn · 3/10 · 11 May 2016]

I don't understand why this film was added to the Dark Crimes 50-film pack -- it's not a "dark crime" film. This film is a kinda cute castaway production... it's sometimes dramatic and other times it's comedy.

This is a basic story of a plane going down and the survivors are near an island to seek refuge there and hoping a rescue ship will come nearby. The difference is there is a doctor criminal on the island with his helper Ping. This doctor criminal has a boat and it's up to him if he wants them to use it or not.

As I said earlier, the film seesaws from drama to comedy from scene to scene which is something I've seen before in the older films. This is one okay - nothing to brag about.

The only bonus to this film is a cameo appearance from Dwight Frye right at the very beginning of the film.

3/10

Not bad

[Blueghost · 28 November 2015]

For a film from the late 1930s it's not a bad film. The technological limitations for special effects and cost of shooting on stage verse on location are apparent, but the story is fairly compelling enough.

A band of assorted individuals with various pasts and agendas take flight aboard a "flying boat", and find themselves challenged in a new environment.

The film by today's standards may seem somewhat racist in regards to one Asian character, but is more or less a product of its time, and the character in question is noble to a fault, and in fact key to helping the rest of the characters.

Marion Martin shows that her acting chops weren't quite there yet (and she had yet to engage in an exercise regime), Bruce Cabot of King Kong fame shows his range, and a number of other well known actors of the time do well to bring to life the characters in this film.

Again, the shortcomings are the technical aspects, Martin's lack of theatrical training, and money. Otherwise it's a solid B-performer that'll help whittle away a lazy Sunday afternoon.

If you need a classic film on your TV or computer, you could do worse, but you could also do better. Either way, give it a shot and see what you think.

Not a great film, but nor a bad film.

Give it a shot.

Suggestions For Sinners

[cutterccbaxter · 28 July 2023]

Things that Sinners Paradise needed to make it a better film:

1. A guy in a gorilla costume terrorizing the cast of characters.

2. A song and dance number about coconuts. Sample lyrics: "I'm just coconuts about you." 3. A volcano.

4. Restless natives who inhabit the other side of the island.

5. A typhoon and a tsunami.

6. The discovery of a buried pirate treasure chest.

7. Friday night fish fry.

8. Sharks.

9. Finding a cryptic and semi-obscene message in a bottle.

10. A ping pong table.

11. A pineapple eating contest.

12. A U. F. O sighting.

13. Outbreak of a rare tropical disease.

14. A director who cared.