Boy on a Dolphin
“An adventurous love story that will live 'til the seas run dry!”
Phaedra is a poor sponge diver on the lovely Greek isle of Hydra. While diving, she discovers an ancient brass and gold statue of a boy riding a dolphin, which is said to have the magical power to grant wishes. Her shiftless boyfriend wants to sell it to an unscrupulous art collector, but Phaedra wants to give it to anthropologist Jim Calder, who would return it to the Greek government.
Details
Release Date: 4/19/1957
Runtime: 111 minutes
Languages: English, Greek
Director: Jean Negulesco
00Production
Companies: 20th Century Fox
Countries: United States of America
Where to watch · US
Gallery
Gallery
Reviews
CinemaSerf
I can't help but wonder if this might not have worked better in black and white? As it is, it's a rather sterile and distinctly unsexy treasure hunt with a scantily clad, but off-form Sophia Loren in the role of sponge diver ("Phaedra"). On one such dive, she discovers a statue of a young boy riding a dolphin, nestled amongst the weeds. Desperate for some cash, she soon has the interest of the honourable "Dr. Calder" (Alan Ladd) and the unscrupulous "Parmalee" (Clifton Webb) vying for her attention - and for the location of this legendary work of art. It's not that it's a bad film, this - its just that there is way too much dialogue and nowhere near enough action. Webb's manoeuvrings are the highlight, but Ladd just looks like he is here (Greece) for a suntan. Geoffrey Keen turns in quite an engaging performance as the dipsomaniac doctor "Hawkins" and it has a pleasing soundtrack with the odd dance from Miss Loren before an ending that though right and proper, I found a bit, well, twee! Anyway, the cinematography looks nice and there is some good underwater photography to admire, but it's still all a pretty forgettable adventure with nobody really firing on all cylinders.
