Smile Orange
Smile Orange

Movie spotlight

Smile Orange

1976
Movie
86 min
English

At a Jamaican beach hotel, super-slick waiter and self-professed "stud" Ringo works the angles (and there are many) on the ever-presents knots of unsuspecting, trusting tourists. Hey, all's fair in love and business … especially when you're continuously on the hustle, like Ringo.

Insights

IMDb6.8/10
Director: Peter CarterGenres: Comedy, Drama

Plot Summary

A charismatic but unscrupulous British entrepreneur, with a dubious past, attempts to revitalize a failing Jamaican resort. He employs a variety of questionable tactics and schemes to attract tourists and make a quick profit, often at the expense of the local community and his own staff. The film satirizes post-colonial exploitation and the superficiality of the tourism industry.

Critical Reception

Smile Orange was met with mixed to positive reviews upon its release, with many critics praising its satirical edge and Trevor Howard's performance. However, some found its humor too dark or its message too bleak. It has since gained a cult following for its biting social commentary.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its sharp satire on tourism and post-colonial attitudes.

  • Trevor Howard's performance as the morally ambiguous protagonist was widely lauded.

  • Some found the film's bleak outlook and dark humor to be challenging.

Google audience: Audience reception is not readily available through aggregated Google user reviews.

Fun Fact

The film was based on a novel of the same name by William Boyd, his debut novel published in 1973, though the screenplay deviates significantly from the book.

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