Pacific Destiny ** (1956, Denholm Elliott, Susan Stephen, Michael Hordern, Gordon Jackson) – Classic Movie Review 13,353

Director Wolf Rilla’s 1956 British drama film Pacific Destiny stars Denholm Elliott, Susan Stephen, Michael Hordern, and Gordon Jackson.

Screenplay writer Richard Mason’s dramatisation of Sir Arthur Grimble’s autobiography A Pattern of Islands recounts his experiences with his wife Olivia (Susan Stephen) in 1912 as a British Colonial Services cadet in the South Seas, where he tries to quell Samoan native disputes.

An important stiff-lipped star role for Denholm Elliott as Arthur Grimble is well balanced by the gentrified comic support of Michael Hordern as the resident commissioner, Susan Stephen gives an appealing performance, and Gordon Jackson is an asset as the district officer.

But writer Richard Mason needs to give a thinly plotted yarn more excitement and substance, and director Rilla needs to give the film more drive and impact, though Martin Curtis’s widescreen (CinemaScope) and colour (Eastmancolor) Samoan cinematography is a real eyecatcher.

The cast

The cast are Denholm Elliott as Arthur Grimble, Susan Stephen as Olivia Grimble, Michael Hordern as Resident Commissioner, Felix Felton as Uncle, Peter Bathurst as Uncle, Clifford Buckton as Uncle, Gordon Jackson as District Officer, Inia Te Wiata as Tauvela, Henrietta Godinet as Lama, Su’a Ezra Tavete Williams as Tiki-Tiku, and Hans Kruse as Kitiona.

Susan Stephen (16 July 1931 – 21 April 2000)

Susan Stephen appeared in more than 20 films including The Red Beret (1953), Dangerous Cargo (1954), The House Across the Lake (1954), For Better, for Worse (1954), Pacific Destiny (1956) and Carry On Nurse (1959).

She was married for to Nicolas Roeg from 1957 to 1977, and they had four sons: Luc, Waldo, Sholto and Nico. In the 1960s she concentrated on her family and her last role was in the 1962 comedy Three Spare Wives.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,353

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