The Light at the Edge of the World *** (1971, Kirk Douglas, Yul Brynner, Samantha Eggar) – Classic Movie Review 9589

Director Kevin Billington’s 1971 pirate malarkey adventure The Light at the Edge of the World stars Kirk Douglas as a lighthouse keeper, Will Denton, who is locked in a battle royal with a ruthless pirate, Jonathan Kongre (Yul Brynner), over a rocky island and beautiful shipwrecked Englishwoman Arabella (Samantha Eggar).

The pirates have taken over the isolated lighthouse on the island in the South Atlantic during the mid-19th century, plotting to make ships run aground and then pillage their wreckage. Denton is the sole survivor of the lighthouse crew, and he fights their devious plot.

British director Billington had a battle, too: how to inject enough thrills into this classic 1905 Jules Verne adventure yarn, and he does come up with a fair modicum of entertainment, particularly when Douglas fights the band of bad guys at the climax, leading to the final conflict between Denton and Kongre. The cinematography and locations are spectacular.

It also stars Jean-Claude Drouot, Fernando Rey and Renato Salvatori, with Massimo Ranieri, Aldo Sambrell, Tito García and Víctor Israel.

Filming took place mostly in Spain, where the bulk of the finance was raised from a bank.

Billington recalled: ‘There are about 23 co-production deals; there are problems about casting and about language.’

Douglas said he was paid ‘a lot of money’, estimated at being $1 million out of the budget of $11 million.

The Light at the Edge of the World is directed by Kevin Billington, runs 119 minutes, is made by Bryna, Vulkano Productions, Jet and Triumfilm, is released by National General  Pictures, is written by Tom Rowe and Rachel Billington (additional dialogue), based on Jules Verne’s novel The Lighthouse at the End of the World [Le Phare du bout du monde], is shot in widescreen by Henri Decaë and Cecilio Paniagua, is produced by Kirk Douglas, Alexander Salkind and Ilya Salkind, and is scored by Piero Piccioni.

Kirk Douglas also starred in the Jules Verne adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9589

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