Castaway (film)

For the 2000 film starring Tom Hanks, see Cast Away.

Castaway
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nicolas Roeg
Screenplay by	Allan Scott
Based on	Castaway by Lucy Irvine
Produced by	Rick McCallum
Starring	Oliver Reed Amanda Donohoe
Cinematography	Harvey Harrison
Edited by	Tony Lawson
Music by	Stanley Myers and Hans Zimmer
Production companies	Cannon Screen Entertainment United British Artists Castaway Films Ltd.
Distributed by	Columbia-Cannon-Warner Distributors
Release date	20 February 1986 (1986-02-20)
Running time	117 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	$483,460

Castaway is a 1986 British biographical-drama film starring Amanda Donohoe and Oliver Reed, and directed by Nicolas Roeg. It was adapted from the eponymous 1984 book by Lucy Irvine, telling of her experiences of staying for a year with writer Gerald Kingsland on the isolated island of Tuin, between New Guinea and Australia.

Real life inspiration

In 1981, Lucy Irvine responded to an advertisement placed by writer Gerald Kingsland, and they became self-imposed castaways for a year on the isolated and uninhabited island of Tuin, in the Torres Strait between New Guinea and Australia. Chosen by Kingsland from over 50 applicants, Irvine agreed to marry him to satisfy immigration restrictions before they travelled to Tuin. She was 25 years old, and he was 49. After a year, they returned home, and in 1983, she published her account of the experience in Castaway, which was later used as the basis for the 1986 film.

In 2011, Donohoe recalled her experience working with Reed, stating: 'Well, naked on a desert island with Oliver Reed – it was a tabloid fantasy, wasn't it? He was an alcoholic and his behaviour was erratic, but he was always a courteous and good actor. His personal life wasn't working but he never crossed any lines professionally.'

Soundtrack

The film opens with a song by English artist Kate Bush, "Be Kind to My Mistakes". A slightly edited version later appeared on the 1997 re-release of her album Hounds of Love. The soundtrack begins with a different version of the same song, which was also released as a 7-inch single. The rest of the soundtrack album is instrumental, and composed by Stanley Myers. The soundtrack received a limited CD release in 2013.

Cast

• Oliver Reed as Gerald Kingsland
• Amanda Donohoe as Lucy Irvine
• Georgina Hale as Sister Saint Margaret
• Frances Barber as Sister Saint Winifred
• Tony Rickards as Jason
• Todd Rippon as Rod
• Virginia Hey as Janice

Reception

The movie received a mixed reception from critics. When Irvine met director Nicolas Roeg, he felt her story was perfect material for telling a relationship between an older man and a younger woman. It never was intended to be exactly like her experience, as Roeg felt Irvine would be too personally involved then. Irvine was positive about the film, stating she was pleased with Donohoe, Reed and Roeg.

External links

• Castaway at IMDb
• ‹The template AllMovie title is being considered for deletion.› Castaway at AllMovie
• Castaway at Rotten Tomatoes