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Beachcomber

Play trailer Poster for Beachcomber 1938 1h 22m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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British-born beachcomber Ginger Ted (Charles Laughton) leads a genially dissolute life on a Dutch colonial island in the South Seas. When a pair of missionaries, Dr. Owen Jones (Tyrone Guthrie) and his sister, Martha (Elsa Lanchester), claim Ginger Ted corrupts the innocent native women, he's temporarily banished. However, his acts of selflessness endear Ted to the siblings, and, when a virulent typhoid outbreak causes the natives to turn on the missionaries, he attempts to save the day.

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic 05/07/2024
To a fair degree it is Charles Laughton's picture, and he is all through it grand. Go to Full Review John Kinloch California Eagle 10/31/2019
The Beachcomber returns Charles Laughton to the screen in one of his most striking portrayals. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion 06/03/2010
The material would be later revisited in The African Queen, but hardly with the knowing gender nuttiness of Laughton and Lanchester Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D 08/29/2024 One of it's stars worst. See more bill t @Spuzz 07/28/2010 Plenty annoying movie with Mr. Warmth himself, Charles Laughton starring as a drunk living on some remote Dutch island much to the amusement of the magistrate there, but much to the horror of the nurse/teacher who has made it her life's work to tame the savages as you will. Film goes all over the place, from cultural clash to yes, jungle adventure movie. Doesn't help that Elsa Manchester is acting herself up into a tither. Not at all interesting. See more 08/22/2009 Laughton can play both comedy and dramatic roles effectively. Great chemistry between Lanchester and Laughton. Very funny! See more 01/04/2009 good chemistry with Laughton and Lanchester See more Read all reviews
Beachcomber

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Cast & Crew

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Erich Pommer

Director

Charles Laughton

Ginger `'Ted'` Wilson

Elsa Lanchester

Martha Jones

Tyrone Guthrie

Dr. Owen Jones

Robert Newton

The Controleur

Dolly Mollinger

Lia
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Beachcomber

Beachcomber (1938) Beachcomber (1938) Beachcomber (1938) Beachcomber (1938) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis British-born beachcomber Ginger Ted (Charles Laughton) leads a genially dissolute life on a Dutch colonial island in the South Seas. When a pair of missionaries, Dr. Owen Jones (Tyrone Guthrie) and his sister, Martha (Elsa Lanchester), claim Ginger Ted corrupts the innocent native women, he's temporarily banished. However, his acts of selflessness endear Ted to the siblings, and, when a virulent typhoid outbreak causes the natives to turn on the missionaries, he attempts to save the day.
Director
Erich Pommer
Screenwriter
Bartlett Cormack
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 22m