Castaway (Nicolas Roeg, Oliver Reed, Amanda Donohoe, March 2025)

[Nitroes]

Castaway (1986) Trailer - YouTube

Not great Roeg but still very well done. I don't think it has ever had a DVD in the UK or North America due to some legal problems (Golan-Globus sold the film in the dying days of Cannon's UK operation even though they never entirely owned all the rights) which are now ironed out obviously (like Barfly which 88 also have). I have the Italy DVD so it should be a massive upgrade.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DQ1ZL6M1/
https://www.rarewaves.com/products/5...72825-castaway
https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/blu-ray/castaway

1987 interview with Roeg

[wabrit]

I think its pretty good (certainly a lot better than Track 29, which was the first Roeg I really didn't take to) - the two leads are excellent, the cinematography is stunning. Maybe it lacks that spark that Roeg usually added in the edit. But still looking forward to this one.

[bleedandtrim]

Originally Posted by wabrit

I think its pretty good (certainly a lot better than Track 29, which was the first Roeg I really didn't take to) - the two leads are excellent, the cinematography is stunning. Maybe it lacks that spark that Roeg usually added in the edit. But still looking forward to this one.

Glad to hear, was not taken with Track 29 myself but happy to see 88 doing a double-bill of other lesser-known Roeg titles.

[wabrit]

I think that leaves Two Deaths as Roeg's only remaining cinema non-documentary feature not to have an official DVD/BD release (if my memory serves, I had a Tartan release on VHS).

[TB Trev]

Wasn't expecting that, there isn't even a UK DVD.

[Nedoflanders]

Better late than never!

Agreed it's not Roeg's best work (perhaps his first average film - YMMV on that) and his style is mostly absent. Nonetheless, it's thoroughly entertaining, and Reed and Donohoe were clearly dedicated to their roles.

Its marketing was a bit of a disaster at the time. Reed's drunkenness overshadowed the film on his chat show appearances; two of his most infamous, on Aspel and Co. and Des O'Connor Tonight, were to publicise Castaway. I think most would agree, he made for terribly great and shambolic television, but it didn't do much to help the film or his career. Conversely, Amanda Donohoe managed to maintain a relatively successful career for the next decade or so.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=884ZWGOJsWA&ab_channel=leyburnhealeyman

Originally Posted by wabrit

I think that leaves Two Deaths as Roeg's only remaining cinema non-documentary feature not to have an official DVD/BD release (if my memory serves, I had a Tartan release on VHS).

It had official DVD releases in America and Australia. I believe the BBC hold the UK rights, so it's not impossible.

[Nitroes]

Yes, Reed was a mess on TV and I felt the TV shows were not helping by letting him on stage. I was embarassed for him and his family. Looking back now it's horrific. Not entertaining.



Image: filmsonpaper.com

Reed was very good though in Castaway when I first watched it I thought it was a very conventional film for Roeg and a bit plain. He had final say on the poster and went with Ric Flair's beautiful work (I have the poster) who also done British Lion's The Man Who Fell To Earth. I love the poster but not sure it helped the film. Also, with Cannon taking over EMI's interest in the film at the last minute never helped.

Originally Posted by cooey

From Nicolas Roeg, the genius behind Walkabout, The Man Who Fell To Earth and Don’t Look Now, comes a scorching dissection of the basic needs of humanity; to eat, to love and to survive. Gerald Kingsland (legendary Hellraiser Oliver Reed) advertises for a female companion to join him on a desert island for a year. Lucy (Amanda Donohoe) responds and the two embark on an unforgettable expedition, and an unexpected battle of the sunburnt sexes. Based on the book from Lucy Irvine, the movie manages to bring to life this controversial and tabloid-baiting social experiment.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• HIGH-DEFINITION BLU-RAY PRESENTATION
• 2.0 LPCM Stereo
• Audio Commentary by Film Historians Eugenio Ercolani, Troy Howarth and Nathanie Thompson
• Audio Commentary by Film Journalist David Flint
• SDH Subtitles
• Trailer
• Stills Gallery
• Presented in a double-walled slipcase featuring new artwork by Sean Longmore

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...3#post22696073


I've ordered the Blu-ray. 88Films put a beer mat in with Barfly maybe they could pop a couple of freeze-dried olives in the Castaway case.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Nedoflanders

Its marketing was a bit of a disaster at the time. Reed's drunkenness overshadowed the film on his chat show appearances; two of his most infamous, on Aspel and Co. and Des O'Connor Tonight, were to publicise Castaway. I think most would agree, he made for terribly great and shambolic television, but it didn't do much to help the film or his career. Conversely, Amanda Donohoe managed to maintain a relatively successful career for the next decade or so.

[Show spoiler]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=884Z...yburnhealeyman

Not just on the UK chat shows. Here's Reed promoting the film on the NBC's Late Night with David Letterman in 1987:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG89lWLBe4c

Letterman behaves in the typical smug way that a lot of the late night shows seem to perpetuate. I wonder how angry Reed really was and if it was true that he told them not to bring up his drinking.

[rip63]

The funny thing is it has since come to light that Reed was putting it on in both these interviews. Ditto the infamous Aspel & Co program, where he ran rampant with a supposed jug of vodka and orange. It was verified by those backstage, including his brother, that it was just orange juice. He drank so frequently in his own time that it was easy to switch on. Ollie admitted sometime later that he was just giving the audience what they wanted and expected. But of course, he was a total booze monster off camera in private. And by all accounts, 100% professional and sober (if hungover) on set.

[indisposed]

You can kinda tell that he's going in and out of "character" in that Letterman interview, so him admitting to not being really that drunk, seems about right for the most part...

Slightly off-topic, but I vividly remember watching this in 1992...

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvCh6bbSQDg

I was only nine years old at the time ; watched it with my mother who found the whole thing sad and tawdry, where as it seemed anarchic and cool to me... in retrospect, my mother was probably right. Not sure how "in on it" he was, during this time, either. Also, weird to think that he is sat next to a young and uneasy looking Bill Hicks, who would have died less than eighteen months after this interview, while Ollie managed another six and a half years.

[Grenseal]

I almost bought the Spanish DVD! Happy to see this coming soon, his last good film in a leading role.

[Harper66]

[QUOTE=Nitroes;22705024]

Beautiful blu-ray package!

[Anthony Thorne]

Haven't seen the movie in more than 30 years since the VHS days, but I'll be getting this. looks like top release.

[Nitroes]

That Youtube The Real Oliver Reed was oddly removed by the uploader. Also at:

Oliver Reed - Documentary - YouTube

[it's age-restricted so click to watch it on Youtube.com]

[Guernica78]

I knew a guy who was mates with Reed (they were friends because they were members of a local armature rugby club) who confirmed that Oliver often acted drunk in chat shows for the money as thst was expected and it was good promotion for him

He showed me a picture of him walking into the hotel lobby at 7am followed by 3 waiters behind him with trays full of 18 pints….

[wabrit]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

Image: filmsonpaper.com

Reed was very good though in Castaway when I first watched it I thought it was a very conventional film for Roeg and a bit plain. He had final say on the poster and went with Ric Flair's beautiful work (I have the poster) who also done British Lion's The Man Who Fell To Earth. I love the poster but not sure it helped the film. Also, with Cannon taking over EMI's interest in the film at the last minute never .

Thanks for reminding me about that excellent poster; managed to find one going cheap on Ebay to add to my Roeg Quad collection (already have MWFTE and Bad Timing). Alas Walkabout, DLN and Performance are typically too expensive.

[UnionJackMix]

I wonder if there is a trailer using the restored version? It looks horrible in the first post and I could persuaded to purchase.

[Nitroes]

There's been a cleaned up German trailer since last year:

Castaway - Die Insel ≣ 1986 ≣ Trailer - YouTube

[Nitroes]

[The Hornets]

Has anyone’s copy shipped from HMV.

Got an apology email yesterday from them saying stock hadn’t arrived yet. Means I guess it will turn up at some point later next week.

My other four 4 HMV preorders all due for delivery today. Includes Full Body Massage which was also 88 Films.