At least, not in the England of the early 1900's, where this movie's set. Everyone knows their place, their class, their sphere, and keeps to it, despite talk of rebellion now and then, such as Lord Loam (Cecil Parker) declaring to his daughters, servants, anyone who'll listen, that everyone is equal, and that includes his butler, Crichton (Kenneth More) and the rest of the staff. This shocks everyone, particularly his eldest daughter, Lady Mary (Sally Ann Howes), who won't hear of such nonsense.
Soon everyone's world is turned upside-down, when a yachting cruise turns into a shipwreck, and Lord Loam, Lady Mary, her younger sisters, Catherine (Mercy Haystead), and Agatha (Miranda Connell), their suitors, Rev. John Traherne (Jack Wattling) and Ernest Woolley (Jack Harper), Crichton and a servant girl called "Tweeny" (Diane Cilento), all end up on a deserted island.
It soon becomes apparent that Crichton is the only one with a clear head and survival skills, and he soon has things organized, salvaging what he can from the yacht, and arranging for food and shelter.
Two years later, they've developed quite an island paradise, with Chrichton as the island's governor, everyone truly an equal, and Lady Mary preparing to become first lady, courtesy of the reverend. Lord Loam has gone so far as to not only approve of his former butler becoming his son-in-law, but has actually proposed marriage to Tweeny, former maid and young enough to be his daughter. Everyone seems content to stay on the island, not wanting to be rescued. Things certainly have changed!
Or have they? After two blissful years, a ship is cited!
There are things about this movie that make me suspect it inspired "Gilligan's Island", as well as "Swept Away". It's worth watching, whether or not you get the ending you were hoping for.
Soon everyone's world is turned upside-down, when a yachting cruise turns into a shipwreck, and Lord Loam, Lady Mary, her younger sisters, Catherine (Mercy Haystead), and Agatha (Miranda Connell), their suitors, Rev. John Traherne (Jack Wattling) and Ernest Woolley (Jack Harper), Crichton and a servant girl called "Tweeny" (Diane Cilento), all end up on a deserted island.
It soon becomes apparent that Crichton is the only one with a clear head and survival skills, and he soon has things organized, salvaging what he can from the yacht, and arranging for food and shelter.
Two years later, they've developed quite an island paradise, with Chrichton as the island's governor, everyone truly an equal, and Lady Mary preparing to become first lady, courtesy of the reverend. Lord Loam has gone so far as to not only approve of his former butler becoming his son-in-law, but has actually proposed marriage to Tweeny, former maid and young enough to be his daughter. Everyone seems content to stay on the island, not wanting to be rescued. Things certainly have changed!
Or have they? After two blissful years, a ship is cited!
There are things about this movie that make me suspect it inspired "Gilligan's Island", as well as "Swept Away". It's worth watching, whether or not you get the ending you were hoping for.