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At the tender age of 14, Brooke Shields took on the role in The Blue Lagoon, a controversial and sensual island romance that played heavily on the themes of adolescent curiosity. Premiering on July 5, 1980, the movie stirred significant controversy upon its release. Decades later, its bold narrative and daring scenes continue to leave audiences in awe. Dive into some lesser-known facts about the film, including hidden iguanas and clever techniques used to obscure nudity.
1. The Blue Lagoon draws its inspiration from Henry De Vere Stacpoole’s trilogy of novels.
While the movie faithfully mirrors the plot of the first book in Henry De Vere Stacpoole’s series, titled The Blue Lagoon, its sequel, Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991), diverges from the trilogy’s original narrative. Instead, it revisits the same premise of young love blossoming on a secluded island. Stacpoole’s works, however, delve deeper into the cultural dynamics of the South Seas, particularly the impact of European influences on local traditions.
2. The Blue Lagoon has been brought to the screen on two previous occasions.
The tale was first adapted into a silent film in 1923 by director W. Bowden. Decades later, in 1949, British director Frank Launder created a highly acclaimed version starring Jean Simmons and Donald Houston. This adaptation was a massive success, ranking as the seventh highest-grossing film in the U.K. that year.
3. The costume team for The Blue Lagoon devised a smart solution to ensure Brooke Shields remained modestly dressed.
At only 14 years old, Brooke Shields faced unique challenges during the filming of The Blue Lagoon, particularly with her character Emmeline often appearing without a top. To address this, the wardrobe team came up with a clever and straightforward solution: they attached her long-haired wig to her body using adhesive.
4. Brooke Shields’s young age posed significant concerns for quite some time.
Long after The Blue Lagoon had finished production and hit theaters, concerns about Brooke Shields’s age during filming persisted. Years later, Shields revealed in a U.S. Congressional hearing that body doubles, who were of legal age, were employed for certain scenes.
5. The Blue Lagoon earned an Oscar nomination.
Cinematographer Néstor Almendros received an Oscar nomination for his work on The Blue Lagoon. Although he didn’t win, losing to Geoffrey Unsworth and Ghislain Cloquet for Tess, Almendros had already won an Oscar for his work on Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven (1978). The acclaimed cinematographer, who passed away in 1992, also earned nominations for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Sophie’s Choice (1982).
6. A previously unknown iguana species was identified thanks to its appearance in The Blue Lagoon.
The movie was partially filmed on a private Fijian island, home to the now critically endangered Fiji crested iguana. When herpetologist John Gibbons watched an early screening, he noticed an unfamiliar iguana species on screen. This led him to Fiji’s Nanuya Levu island, where he identified the Fiji crested iguana, a new native species.
7. The Blue Lagoon received a Razzie Award.
Despite its impressive source material and Oscar-nominated cinematography, The Blue Lagoon didn’t win over everyone. The Razzies awarded Brooke Shields the Worst Actress prize, placing her in a questionable category alongside nominees like Shelley Duvall for The Shining. A controversial decision, to say the least.
8. Director Randal Kleiser devised a strategy to foster chemistry between the leads.
Understanding the importance of on-screen chemistry, director Randal Kleiser (known for Grease) encouraged Christopher Atkins to develop feelings for Brooke Shields by placing her photo above his bed. This tactic seemed to work, as the two briefly became romantically involved during filming. "Brooke and I shared a sweet, innocent romance at the start of the project," Atkins shared with HuffPost. "We were incredibly close and had a strong friendship."
9. The romance between Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins was short-lived.
Despite their initial closeness, Shields and Atkins quickly started arguing constantly. "Brooke grew tired of me," Atkins revealed to People in 1980. "She felt I took acting too seriously, while she preferred to joke around with the crew." Director Randal Kleiser even used their friction to enhance the film’s more intense scenes, filming during their disagreements to capture genuine tension.
10. The filming of The Blue Lagoon essentially occurred on a deserted island.
Kleiser was determined to achieve authenticity, immersing the crew in a lifestyle similar to the characters. "To tell this story, I wanted us to live as close to nature as possible," Kleiser explained. "We chose a remote Fijian island with no infrastructure but stunning beaches. The crew lived in a tent village, and we used a small ship anchored in the lagoon for equipment and supplies. This unconventional approach felt perfect for the film."
This story has been updated for 2020.
