Outcast of the Islands (1951)

Based on the Conrad novel of the same name, Outcast of the Islands stars Trevor Howard, Ralph Richardson, and Robert Morley. Set in SE Asia at the turn of the 20th century it concerns a man sacked for stealing who's then befriended by Sea Captain and sent to a secret trading post.

Outcast has some great photography and acting but just misses being a great movie due to a sometimes sluggish story and lack of likable characters. Both the Morley and Howard characters are unlikable and far too much of the movie is about their slow motion train-wreck of a relationship.

Further, Reed beats us over the head with Howard's relationship with a native woman, constantly showing us the two love birds giving each other wistful, yearning, glances. After seeing this for the 10th straight time, I literally yelled at the screen "Yes, I get it. Move on".

It should have been shorter or had more drama. Perhaps Reed felt he had to stick close to the novel. Bad mistake.