NOW FEATURING...CASTAWAYS PICTURES PRESENTS

[lm]

I love this episode! It is so funny! It's a tribute to all our home videos that go bad (you know what I'm talking about--what mistakes have you made??)
I remember inadvertently leaving the camera on and on the table during a birthday party and my husband, having viewed the masterpiece film before me informed me, "there are some nice shots of eating cheese doodles off a plate." I have many other such lovely moments of film much worse than the castaways'!

Anyway, whose fault, do you think was this really?

I was a little surprised to see Ginger, the great actress, so subservient to Howell, the director.

What is that exact line that Thirston says to Lovey about its being for adults? I can't make it out.

Is there really such a difference when Gilligan puts on the wetsuit--it seems like a lot left over. Is he that skinny?

Why don't the Howells have a deliberate scene in the film? Lovey's not the director.

Is that background music in the film just for our benefit or is it supposed to be part of the film? Didn't silent films sometimes have no dialogue but music?
If so, where did the castaways get the music?

Everyone always criticizes the fact that they get a shot of their own island.
Would that be possible in any way, all you people with a practical bent?

[littlesoprano]

This is, hands-down, my favorite episode. Not only is it hilarious all the way through, but you have the Professor committing what is quite possibly the biggest Epic Fail in 60s sitcom history. TWICE.

Originally Posted by lm

I was a little surprised to see Ginger, the great actress, so subservient to Howell, the director.

I think it's probably because she ISN'T a great actress, if by "great" you mean "famous." There were many indicators during the series that Ginger was an up-and-coming (and arguably still struggling) starlet, not an actual "movie star." Though she had her diva moments on the island, she wouldn't have gotten away with that in Hollywood, especially on-set. Only extremely bankable stars can, and even then it has its limits. She would have done what she was told with no arguments, or she would have been replaced and out the door. Even though the filming on the island was among friends, her old habits/instincts probably kicked in.

Incidentally, one of the biggest clues as to Ginger's star status (or lack thereof) is in this episode. No one at Cannes recognizes her, and she is called an "unknown" along with all the others. Ouuuccch. It's also very interesting in light of the fact that in the months shortly following, Hollywood announces that they are making a movie about her. Plot hole, or industry comment? That's a discussion for another time.

What is that exact line that Thirston says to Lovey about its being for adults? I can't make it out.

I think it's "I don't know if you should see this, Lovey. I mean, it's for adults."

All the facial reactions to that kiss scene are fantastic, especially Mary Ann's-- she appears to be receiving what we'll term an "advanced education."

Why don't the Howells have a deliberate scene in the film? Lovey's not the director.

That's a good question. Maybe plot necessity? If they had an extended scene, maybe they would have been recognized at Cannes. Those rescue attempts have to be thwarted at all costs!

You know, if they had just written out their story and a map on a piece of paper and filmed it, they probably would have been rescued.

[callensensei]

Originally Posted by littlesoprano

This is, hands-down, my favorite episode. Not only is it hilarious all the way through, but you have the Professor committing what is quite possibly the biggest Epic Fail in 60s sitcom history. TWICE.
All the facial reactions to that kiss scene are fantastic, especially Mary Ann's-- she appears to be receiving what we'll term an "advanced education."

This is one of my favourites too. I love the way the usually infallible Professor is made to look so clueless! Howell's temperment, Ginger's grappling, Gilligan getting so goggle-eyed at the proceedings that he forgets to work the camera: priceless.

As for Im's comments about the music, I think it's simply meant to be the incidental music. The original silent films truly were silent: they had no music at all. Someone actually sat at a piano in the theatre and improvised during the film. Gerald Fried's music here is wonderful. The playfulness of the piano and sappy sentimentality of the muted trumpet and violin work just perfectly. In fact, I think the clever incidental music of Gilligan's Island is one of the main reasons for the show's success.

About the shot of the island, my theory is that they sent Gilligan out on a raft to film the shot, but he somehow lost his bearings and ended up filming one of the nearby islands instead. That's not their island. Where are the mountains? Where's the volcano?

[Dusty's Fan]

I agree, the music is intended to be incidental. Just from a practical standpoint, if the producers of Gilligan's Island aired the silent movie segment with no music at all, it just wouldn't be right. Except for maybe a short piece with the sound of a projector, you always need some engaging sound to go along with the video.