The British-owned South Georgia islands welcome a new governor, young Donald Sinden (as Ewart Gray). Because his home is not ready, Mr. Sinden temporarily stays with beautiful missionary Glynis Johns (as Martha Jones) and meets the area's most colorful resident - boozing beachcomber Robert Newton (as Edward "The Honorable Ted" Wilson). This sounds like a steamy W. Somerset Maugham story because it is ("The Vessel of Wrath"). His drinking repeatedly gets Mr. Newton in trouble and Sinden finally sentences him to three months hard labor. This is better than being deported to Australia...
Newton prefers much younger native women as lovers, and also attracts the straight-laced Ms. Johns, who crosses paths with him while performing missionary work for her doctor brother Paul Rogers (as Owen Jones). During an outbreak of cholera, Newton and Johns become mutually attracted. Sad to say, neither Newton nor Johns hold much interest. Even worse, their romance is not believable. The most obvious solution to this problem would have been to cast an actress who could add a "spinster" quality to the female role. This is not to say there is no "chemistry" possible for Newton and Johns - they just don't have it here...
**** The Beachcomber (8/10/54) Muriel Box ~ Glynis Johns, Robert Newton, Donald Sinden, Paul Rogers
Newton prefers much younger native women as lovers, and also attracts the straight-laced Ms. Johns, who crosses paths with him while performing missionary work for her doctor brother Paul Rogers (as Owen Jones). During an outbreak of cholera, Newton and Johns become mutually attracted. Sad to say, neither Newton nor Johns hold much interest. Even worse, their romance is not believable. The most obvious solution to this problem would have been to cast an actress who could add a "spinster" quality to the female role. This is not to say there is no "chemistry" possible for Newton and Johns - they just don't have it here...
**** The Beachcomber (8/10/54) Muriel Box ~ Glynis Johns, Robert Newton, Donald Sinden, Paul Rogers