Although based on a short story (Vessel Of Wrath) by Willie Maugham this lacklustre entry makes no attempt to hide an obvious crib from C.S. Forester's African Queen and G.B. Shaw's Androcles And The Lion. As a great admirer of Bobbie Newton this was a 'must' for me - Newton appeared in an earlier version in the role taken here by Donald Sinden which was headlined by king-sized ham Charles Laughton in the role that Newton shows him how to play. Glynis Johns who has, in the past, turned in some half-decent performances is strangely inept and insipid her and there is a notable lack of chemistry between her and Newton. Trivia buffs will point out that Willie Maugham turned in another story involving missionaries in the South Pacific (Rain) and that Ronald Lewis, who blacks up here, did so again in Noel Coward's South Sea Bubble.
Review of The Beachcomber
