Outcast Of The Islands- 50th Anniversary

In this intense psychological adventure – adapted from the Joseph Conrad novel and set in the late 19th Century – bad tempers rise as strongly as the temperature of jungle fever.

Peter Willems (Trevor Howard) is an utter misanthrope and one with a flaring temper on top of it. He is also on the run from a scandal in Makassar, Singapore. Soon after, he finds himself left stranded on a small Malayan island that sea captain Tom Lingard (Ralph Richardson) looks upon as his ‘possession’.

Before you can say ‘mosquito bite’ Willems has infected those around him with his malign influence in no time at all. His ruthless and anti-social attitude (especially towards the natives) also clashes with English ex-pat Elmer Almayer (Robert Morley) – a pompous individual with the mannerism of a sulking schoolboy. Almayer is in charge of the island for the singular reason of being married to Lingard’s long-suffering and shy daughter (Wendy Hiller). Not even Almayer’s own little daughter, Nina (Annabel Morley – Robert’s real-life offspring), can tame the venom-spitting Willem.
That honour goes to native beauty Aissa (Kerima) – displaying all the pride and female superiority that arouse the hunter in Willem. In his single-minded pursuit of Aissa, he further clashes with crafty native Babalatchi (George Coulouris). As traditions and prejudices on both sides are put to the test, Willems’ gradual decline into ever-deeper depths of the human psyche is sealed.

Outcast Of The Islands (1952) was director Carol Reed’s follow-up to his triumvirate of psychologically complex classics ‘The Fallen Idol’, ‘Odd Man Out’ and ‘The Third Man’.
Beautifully photographed and superbly acted (foremost by Howard and Morley), this tropical gem is not only a heated melodrama but also a study in imperialist colonial arrogance.

The movie (nominated for two BAFTA Awards) celebrates its 50th Anniversary, and receives its first UK DVD release ever!