The Murder Of Sir Harry Oakes is still a subject of speculation even today, especially in the Bahamas . This American born, Canadian citizen and knight of the British Empire is well played by Rod Steiger.
The natural beauty of the Bahamas is what attracted Oakes to settle here and make this a home away from the world's travails. In 1943 the world certainly had a lot of travails and the World War raging on affects all on the Bahamas.
But in the upper crust where Oakes hangs out, they carry on like the war was a million miles away. Funny no mention of German U-Boat activity is made at any point in the film.
The Bahamas is where Winston Churchill's government put the former king and
now Duke of Windsor as Governor-General. There was always a fear the Germans would grab him and if they invaded the British Isles they would restore
him as king. Putting him in the Bahamas a short hop from Florida would releve the British and give the Americans the worry for his safety and person. The Duke is played by Andrew Ray and the woman he loved Wallis Warfield Simpson is played by Linda Griffiths. They're played just about like the society twits
they were.
Into this island paradise comes Armand Assante, a man with an old title, but little old money to go with it. He makes a living in New York as an escort for hire among the the creme de la creme of society. A titled gigolo. Assante has bought
a plantation next to the Oakes estate and Steiger befriends him
Until he starts courting Catherine Mary Stewart, Steiger's daughter. Both Steiger
and wife Mariette Hartley oppose him, but Assante marries Stewart anyway.
Two other elements of this story are the burgeoning independence movement among the natives who are the descendants of runaway slaves from the USA.
The second is the mob who want to turn the Bahamas into another gambling
paradise like Cuba. hey send Michael Sarrazin to work things out but peacefully.
All these elements are part of the story which comes to a head when Steiger
is murdered and Assante arrested. It would be convenient for the powers that
be to have Assante convicted.
Passion And Paradise is exceptionally well cast and photographed beautifully.
My favorite however was the American detective hired by Stewart Wayne Rogers. Right out of Raymond Chandler.
The Duke Of Windsor was rightly pilloried for botching the investigation when he
took advantage of the closeness and called in the Miami police. They did
more than botch and it all eflected bad on the Windsors.
See if you can come up with your own solution to this case.
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