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Beachcomber

1954, Movie, NR, 90 mins

Beachcomber: Review

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Maugham loved to write about the South Seas, as in "Rain" (the story that inspired MISS SADIE THOMPSON), The Moon and Sixpence, and other works. BEACHCOMBER is another such tale, concerning Newton, a drunk lolling about a tropical island in between attacks of the d.t.'s. The only other white locals are a minister and his sister (Rogers and Johns). This film was done in 1938 with Laughton as the wastrel, but this version is slightly better, since the secondary roles (Sinden as a government official, Pleasence as a clerk, Hordern as the tribal chief) are more defined. When cholera erupts, Newton cleans up his act and he and Johns go to work to stem the epidemic. Four years before, another film about a drunk and a missionary's sister was made. It took place in Africa, but the similarities are nevertheless evident. That film was THE AFRICAN QUEEN. Newton died shortly after this film was released. leave a comment
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