IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS (1962) **1/2 Robert Stevenson directing Hayley Mills and Maurice Chevalier in a Jules Verne story. Wow. By the end of the opening credits I had such momentum that I even applauded when it said it took place in Glasgow, and I don't believe that I've ever been there. Probably not the greatest work of anyone involved, but it has enough of the kind of magic moments you would expect. That, and the incongruous stuff works so well with Stevenson's touch. Jules.I'm pretty sure that there aren't any inland South American typhoons but you have to give him credit for guessing well, on the greater scale. And it sure does take you by surprise, just like it's supposed to! What with all the jaguars, and natural disasters of every shape and form, they're all working in front of a lot of backdrops, and given the day you have to admit fairly obvious ones. I'm wondering if Stevenson made them just a little more obvious somehow; there's no question that they add to the joviality and silliness of it all. I have to admit though, my very favorite part is Inia Te Wiata as the Maori chief. I can't honestly say that I know enough about it to celebrate the fact that the Maori dance in such a manner, or whether it's a racial stereotype run amok, but it's very very funny. And my sense of the Maori is that their social evolution is such that instead of filing lawsuits against those they entertain they.well, what is it? Either laugh it off or perhaps eat them, as Verne suggests.
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