Watch The Island

The Island has been used for several film titles, but this summary is in regard to the 1980 picture by Michael Ritchie and starring Michael Caine. It also shares its name with the novel which it is based on. Michael Caine's character, Blair Maynard is an American journalist of British heritage. Blair has become aware of all the various disappearances of crews and ships within the Caribbean Sea's "Bermuda Triangle." Sensing that it might even allow for some family bonding, Blair brings his estranged son along under the guise of a vacation. While the father and son are fishing, they are both assaulted by a disheveled man and taken to an uncharted island. While investigating this island, Blair learns that the various residents of this place are all members of a centuries-old pirate colony. Every peg-legged or eye-patched denizen is a member of this French pirate clan. These pirates have lived off of the island for all this time, invisible to society while raiding passing vessels of vacationers. The pirates have a practice of slaying anyone who breaches their island's shore, but make an exception for Blair and his son. Inaccurately guessing the two's heritage, the pirates keep Blair alive so that he can sire a child within a female pirate, as well as to read to them. Blair's son is sadly brainwashed into becoming an adopted heir to the pirate chief. Despite Blair's attempts to leave the island, they all wind up in failure. One day, the French pirates encounter a vessel belonging to the United States Coast Guard. Despite their firepower, the pirates overtake the crew, and then the ship. Blair sneaks aboard as well, discovering a concealed machine gun. He then uses the weapon to mow down all of the pirates as soon as they congregate on one area of the ship's deck. Free from the pirates, father and son head home.