The Blue Lagoon is a 1949 British coming-of-age romance and adventure film produced by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder and directed by Launder and starring Jean Simmons and Donald Houston. The screenplay was adapted by John Baines, Michael Hogan, and Frank Launder from the 1908 novel The Blue Lagoon by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. The original music score was composed by Clifton Parker and the cinematography was by Geoffrey Unsworth.
The film tells the story of two young children shipwrecked on a tropical island paradise in the South Pacific. Feelings and physical changes arise as they grow to maturity and fall in love. The film has major thematic similarities to the Biblical account of Adam and Eve.
Compare the 1980 version with Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins.
This film provides examples of:
- Abandoned Area: The lush tropical island where Emmeline and Michael are marooned becomes their home.
- Adaptation Name Change:
- Emmeline Lestrange = Emmeline Foster
- Richard "Dick" Lestrange = Michael Reynolds
- Hannah Lestrange = Paddy Reynolds
- Adaptational Nationality: In the novel, Emmeline and Dick (Michael in the film), are the descendants of Irish migrants to the United States. In the film, Emmeline and Michael are English people.
- Adapted Out: The children's paternal figure, Arthur Lestrange, does not appear in the film.
- Adventure Duo: Emmeline and Michael, the two British children, embark on a survival adventure together.
- Ambiguous Ending: The fate of Emmeline and Michael is left uncertain as the film only shows their child, Paddy, alive in the small boat.
- Anachronism Stew: While Australia was already colonized by the British in 1788, it did not become a major geographical attraction until the 1850s Australian gold rush, which began a full decade after the shipwreck takes place.
- Beach Kiss: Emmeline and Michael share romantic moments on the island's beaches.
- Bounty Hunter: Doctor Murdoch attempts to trick Michael into getting him a bounty of pearls.
- Child Prodigy: Despite their young age, Emmeline and Michael show remarkable resourcefulness and survival skills.
- Coming of Age Story: Emmeline and Michael grow up on the island and eventually become adults.
- Dead Guy Junior: Emmeline and Michael name their child Paddy after the kindly old sailor who dies on the island.
- Deadly Delivery: Carter tries to kidnap Emmeline and escape, leading to the deaths of both Carter and Murdoch.
- Death by Falling Over: Paddy Button, the kindly old sailor, dies in a drunken binge.
- Death Equals Redemption: Paddy's death leaves Emmeline and Michael to fend for themselves, forcing them to mature and survive.
- Deserted Island: The tropical island becomes the main setting of the film, isolating the characters from civilization.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the original novel, Emmeline and Dick (Michael in the film) die after overdosing on exotic "never wake-up" berries. In the film, however, Emmeline and Michael die after succumbing to exposure and hunger.
- Dying Declaration of Love: Emmeline and Michael express their love for each other before succumbing to exposure.
- Evil Brit: Doctor Murdoch and James Carter, the British men who arrive on the island, have criminal backgrounds and ulterior motives.
- Fisher King: Michael becomes the primary provider for himself and Emmeline, catching fish to sustain them on the island.
- Forbidden Fruit: Emmeline and Michael explore their budding sexuality and romantic feelings despite societal norms.
- Forgot I Couldn't Swim: Emmeline and Michael, despite living on an island, do not attempt to leave until later in the film.
- Forgotten Fallen Friend: Paddy's death is acknowledged but quickly forgotten as Emmeline and Michael focus on their survival.
- Happily Ever After: Michael and Emmeline marry and have a child, Paddy, on the island.
- Hidden Heart of Gold: Despite his criminal background, Doctor Murdoch shows a caring side by helping Michael collect pearls.
- Improbable Infant Survival: Paddy, the child born during the tropical storm, survives while Emmeline and Michael succumb to exposure.
- Island Help Message: Emmeline and Michael leave messages on the island to attract potential rescuers.
- Lonely Together: Emmeline and Michael are the only survivors on the island and rely on each other for companionship and survival.
- Love at First Sight: Emmeline and Michael develop a deep bond and romantic connection from a young age.
- Love Triangle: Doctor Murdoch's attempts to manipulate Michael and his interest in Emmeline create a triangular dynamic.
- Missing Mom: Emmeline worries about the well-being of their child if she and Michael were to die on the island.
- Naïve Newcomer: Doctor Murdoch underestimates Emmeline and Michael's knowledge of the island and its resources.
- Plot-Triggering Death: Paddy's death leads to Emmeline and Michael being completely alone on the island.
- Precocious Crush: Emmeline develops a childhood crush on Michael, which evolves into a deeper romantic connection over time.
- Redemption Equals Death: Doctor Murdoch and James Carter kill each other in their conflict, paying the ultimate price.
- Robinsonade: The film begins with Emmeline and Michael's shipwreck, which leads them to the island.
- Setting Update: A rare inversion of this as the original novel was published and set in then-Present Day The Edwardian Era spanning a period of eleven years from 1896 to 1907, but the movie pushes the setting back over 55 years to a period of eleven years from 1841 to 1852.
- Spared by the Adaptation: In the film, Emmeline and Michael leave the island but succumb to exposure to the ocean, leaving their fate ambiguous. Meanwhile, in the novel, Emmeline, Dick, and Hannah are stranded in a lagoon without oars, with their survival uncertain. The film emphasizes the child's survival, while the novel presents a more dramatic ending, highlighting the characters' precarious situation.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Emmeline and Michael face numerous obstacles, including the arrival of the ship and their exposure at sea.
- Storming the Castle: Emmeline's desire to leave the island leads her to convince Michael to embark on a risky journey.
- Survival Mantra: Emmeline and Michael rely on their resourcefulness and adaptability to survive on the island.
- Tamer and Chaster: Compared to the book, the movie has less sexual content due to The Hays Code.
- Threatening Shark: The surrounding lagoon is home to dangerous marine life, including sharks that pose a threat to Emmeline and Michael.
- Treasure Map: Murdoch attempts to trick Michael into collecting valuable pearls for him.
- True Companions: Emmeline and Michael form an unbreakable bond and rely on each other for emotional support.
- Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Michael and Emmeline are depicted as an attractive couple.
- Uncertain Doom: The ambiguous ending leaves the audience uncertain about the fate of Emmeline and Michael.
- Unrelated in the Adaptation: In the novel the kids are Kissing Cousins, but due to The Hays Code forbidding incest, the leads became unrelated.
- Unwanted Rescue: The British ship that finds Emmeline and Michael may not be seen as a desirable rescue given the uncertainty of their fate.
