On an Island with You

Plot

Rosalind Reynolds (Esther Williams), a swimming star goes to Hawaii to make a film set on a tropical island, bringing along her fiancé, Ricardo Montez (Ricardo Montalban). A military technical adviser for the film, U.S. Navy Lt. Lawrence Y. Kingslee (Peter Lawford) falls in love with her. Yvonne Torro (Cyd Charisse), her best friend and fellow movie star, secretly wants Ricardo for herself.

Larry, who had met her three years before on a USO show at his Pacific base, makes it obvious that he is smitten with Rosalind, and after kissing her on the set, showing up Ricardo, plans to spirit her away on his aircraft. Later, at the Royal Aloha hotel, the film cast and crew are entertained by real-life orchestra leader Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. The next day, taking advantage of a scene where Rosalind flies over the set, Larry flies to the actual island where he first met her. After asking for a kiss, he knows that Rosalind is attracted to him. Returning to their aircraft, the two discover that the natives have stolen parts, effectively stranding them on the island.

Meanwhile, her fiancé and the search party he formed are captured by the cannibals who inhabit the tropical isle, but are saved by his rival. After everyone leaves the island, complications begin. With Larry facing a court-martial, Rosalind tries to help him by accepting blame for the unauthorized flight to the island. Eventually, they learn that Yvonne has become romantically involved with Ricardo, while Larry and Rosalind also realize they are in love.

Production

Principal photography took place on MGM lots and on location around Anna Maria Island, Florida from June 1 to early September 1947. Williams disliked her director, and blamed him for an accident on set. During a scene she was supposed to walk along the jungle floor and fall into a hole camouflaged by vegetation, but there was no cushioning at the bottom to break her fall, and she did fall straight down to a hard landing, causing a sprained ankle. Williams thereafter, with the sprained ankle, had to finish the film on crutches.

A similar fate befell Cyd Charisse who had completed the bulk of her work, including two dance duets with Ricardo Montalban, then tore ligaments in her knee during filming of the big ceremonial dance on the island. She ended up in a cast for two months and a substitute dancer finished her dance scenes, photographed from long distance.

The aircraft that were used in the film included a U.S. Navy Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber that played a pivotal role in the plot, and a Grumman JRF-5 Goose flying boat.

Reception

Like all of Esther Williams' other films, On an Island with You was a moneymaker and did well at the box office as one of the most popular films of 1948. It earned $3,191,000 in the US and Canada and $2,091,000 overseas resulting in a profit to MGM of $816,000.

Critics, however, recognized both the merits and shortcomings of the Williams format. The review in The New York Times indicated, "The shortcomings of 'On An Island' merit no serious invective, but to make the record complete, it should be observed that Richard Thorpe, the director, never helped the film to rise above its basic material."

Radio adaptation

On an Island with You was presented on Musical Comedy Theater March 19, 1952. The one-hour adaptation starred Edward Everett Horton, Polly Bergen, and Earl Wrightson.