I read a while ago GI has some inspiration from the Laurel and Hardy movie Utopia

[gilligan fanatic]

I bought it recently, and I didn't really like it. I like some of there other movies, but I just didn't like it. There earlier work is so much better.

Anway else remember reading about a GI and Utopia connection anywhere because I can't seem to find it. I could have swarn I read about it in Sherwood Schwart's book but I can't find it anywhere.

This is the movie

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042210/

[tv star collector]

"Utopia" (which I also have on DVD) was the last movie Laurel & Hardy ever
made and is generally regarded by most critics as the worst film they ever made. Part of the reason is that Stan Laurel was very ill at the time the
picture was made. I read Russell Johnson's book and don't recall any mention
of it in there. But I haven't read Sherwood Schwarz's book. There are some
vague similarities, but of course GILLIGAN'S ISLAND is much funnier.

In his 1970 book, "MOVIE COMEDY TEAMS" critic Leonard Maltin stated that
the film "Utopia" (a.k.a. "Robinson Crusoeland" and "Atoll K") came about
this way. The boys were in Europe and were approached by a French film
company. They received an offer to star in a feature film, which they
accepted, "never dreaming the production would turn into a disaster." Stan
looked terrible in the film due to a severe stroke he had suffered during
shooting. "There were times when one couldn't get involved in the story,"
wrote Maltin, "for fear that poor Stan was going to collapse any minute. The
film, like so many they made over the years, has an intriguing premise, and
individual scenes that are funny and fond throwbacks to their great years,
but as a whole it is disappointing, to say the least. Financially, it was a bust,
and when it finally was imported to this country its stay was short, and its
release erratic."

For the record, it was filmed in 1951 and opened in Paris in November 1951.
It was released in England (as "Escapade") in 1952 and finally made its way
to the U.S. (as "Robinson Crusoeland") in 1952 and still later as "Utopia" in
1954. But now, thanks to DVD, it can be found in bargain bins at Wal-Mart
(and presumably other retail stores). An interesting curiosity but not much more.

[gilligan fanatic]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

"Utopia" (which I also have on DVD) was the last movie Laurel & Hardy ever
made and is generally regarded by most critics as the worst film they ever made. Part of the reason is that Stan Laurel was very ill at the time the
picture was made. I read Russell Johnson's book and don't recall any mention
of it in there. But I haven't read Sherwood Schwarz's book. There are some
vague similarities, but of course GILLIGAN'S ISLAND is much funnier.

In his 1970 book, "MOVIE COMEDY TEAMS" critic Leonard Maltin stated that
the film "Utopia" (a.k.a. "Robinson Crusoeland" and "Atoll K") came about
this way. The boys were in Europe and were approached by a French film
company. They received an offer to star in a feature film, which they
accepted, "never dreaming the production would turn into a disaster." Stan
looked terrible in the film due to a severe stroke he had suffered during
shooting. "There were times when one couldn't get involved in the story,"
wrote Maltin, "for fear that poor Stan was going to collapse any minute. The
film, like so many they made over the years, has an intriguing premise, and
individual scenes that are funny and fond throwbacks to their great years,
but as a whole it is disappointing, to say the least. Financially, it was a bust,
and when it finally was imported to this country its stay was short, and its
release erratic."

For the record, it was filmed in 1951 and opened in Paris in November 1951.
It was released in England (as "Escapade") in 1952 and finally made its way
to the U.S. (as "Robinson Crusoeland") in 1952 and still later as "Utopia" in
1954. But now, thanks to DVD, it can be found in bargain bins at Wal-Mart
(and presumably other retail stores). An interesting curiosity but not much more.

That is a lot of titles for the movie-lol