Pascali’s Island **** (1988, Ben Kingsley, Charles Dance, Helen Mirren) – Classic Movie Review 10,421

Director James Dearden’s 1988 British period spy drama Pascali’s Island is based on the novel by Barry Unsworth and is a most satisfying tale of love and spies set on a Greek island just before World War One, the year 1908.

Dearden has the chance to write and direct, and he grabs it with both hands, providing Kingsley with a smashing role as Basil Pascali, a Turkish spy for the Sultan plotting with English archaeologist Anthony Bowles (Charles Dance) to smuggle out treasure. Naturally both of them are in love with the alluring Lydia Neuman (Helen Mirren) – and there’s the problem.

All three stars are on their best form, Dearden has written a neat screenplay and the production triumphs over its small budget, with enticing Greek location cinematography by the masterly Roger Deakins.

Also in the cast are Stefan Gryff, George Murcell, Nadim Sawalha, T P McKenna, Sheila Allen, Kevork Malikyan and Vernon Dobtcheff.

Pascali’s Island is directed by James Dearden, runs 104 minutes, is made by Avenue Pictures, Channel Four Films, Dearfilm and Initial, is released by Virgin Films (1988) (UK), is written by James Dearden, based on the novel by Barry Unsworth, is shot in Metrocolor by Roger Deakins, is produced by Scott Millaney (executive producer) Cary Brokaw and Paul Raphael, is scored by Loek Dikker, and is designed by Philip Elton and Petros Kapouralis.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,421

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