MovieChat Forums > Mysterious Island (1961) Discussion > That girl's dress was way too short!!!!!...

That girl's dress was way too short!!!!!!!!!!!


I was shocked and it's 2009!!!!

reply

There's been plenty of other comments about the dress in other messages, but for me it was the most bizarre part of the film, even more so than giant animals, the high-tech submarine and the oversize oxygen shells born by the divers. Even today, a girl wearing something like that away from the beach would be a big distraction; in the 1860s it would have been regarded as very indecent - and given that she was in the company of men who had been locked up for a while downright dangerous.

reply

Especially when she said her boyfriend would be happy with the length. What kind of present day sexist remark is that? LOL.

reply

As a teenager seeing this film on TV for the first time I liked the dress a LOT. As a 50 year old, I still like the dress. And even more the young lady wearing it- she's lovely.

reply

Agreed - way hot!

reply

Agreed, Ironclad.

Beth Rogan had great legs and the outfit greatly added to the overall flavor of the movie.

Additionally, I think its what makes the movie so durable and "re-watchable".

To the naysayers:

Yes you could argue that a proper young Victorian lady would not REALLY run around in such an outfit in that day and age.

Still, I think a counter argument might be that it was probably 90 degrees in the shade and her other clothes were in rags.

In any case, that outfit was in the film for one reason: to add a little cheesecake.

A few other points:

Yes by today's standards the outfit is pretty tame. However, I think what some find of interest is the context in which the outfit is shown in the film-- the proper young Victorian lady becomes a leggy sex kitten in her goatskin dress. Very nymph like.

Political correctness has all but killed cheesecake in films. There are exceptions but its still a sad state of affairs.

I have to wonder about the Patrick Stewart re-make of this film. In almost every aspect, that re-make should have been superior. Yet many have never seen it or even know it exists.

And those who have seen it are in no rush to see it again. Yet these same people will re-watch the original time and time again. Why? well, I think part of the reason is Beth Rogan's legs in the goatskin dress.

NOt the whole reason. Think of it as one of the ingredients of a successful recipe.

AE36

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4489/mysteriousisland2.jpg

reply

"In any case, that outfit was in the film for one reason: to add a little cheesecake."

Fess up time, mates. I was a pre-teener when I first saw this movie, on local TV some years after it had shown theatrically. It was my first ever glimpse of an upskirt shot. Who would have thought it would come from a family film?

Of course, we all knew there was no way that tiny dress could hide what was underneath. But that didn't take away from the thrill of seeing those yellow panties, an image that somehow stuck in my memory years and years before home video came around.

Yes, seeing Beth Rogan's great legs, and her undies, is one reason (of several) I enjoy watching this movie again and again.

reply

Yes, this movie is great for a lot of reasons. And Beth Rogan's short dress and great legs are just one of the many reasons why it is fun to watch. However, there are so many other scenes in the movie that make it exciting and fun to watch, the list could go on and on. Speaking of Beth's short dress and great legs, what about her upper figure? There are some really suggestive and sexy shots of her cleavage, while she is milking the goat, and when she is on her back during the giant chicken attack, and when she is bent over in the giant honeycomb, etc., so let's not forget to brag up her bustline a little bit, besides her great legs. But some of my favorite scenes in the movie, though, are the balloon flight, the giant crab fight, and the feast of the giant roast chicken. And I would have to say a lot of the action scenes such as the escape from the Confederate prison, along with so many of the other action scenes make it a movie I return to watch over and over again, about once each year, every year. But Beth in her short dress certainly doesn't make the movie any worse, in my opinion. I also enjoy hearing the musical score and seeing the special effects.

reply

... a wee lad when I saw this film. OMG I watched it 3 times at the theatre just to watch her in that outfit. GOOD GAWD!! The impression it made on me.

reply

I remember reading an article about Harryhausen's films and one of the producers said something like "There's always got to be a beautiful girl in these movies and she's got to get wet at some point." Think about it: Rogan in this movie; Gila Golan in The Valley of Gwangi; Raquel Welch in One Million Years; B.C..



Yippee: "For king!"
Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

reply

The shortness of the dress has always bothered me, from my first viewing in the intial release to the present day. It really does not fit in with any period in history and was impractical. However, I will add one more reason. Despite other comments in this thread I have always thought that if Beth Rogan had figure flaws it was in what was emphasized by that dress. She was a beautiful girl but quite frankly her legs are on the heavy and thick side . A longer skirt would have been far more complimentary to her beauty in my opinion. Yes, this is a matter of great subjectivity. To each their own, but I thought she looked far better in the long dress she is wearing in her introduction scene.

Oh Lord, you gave them eyes but they cannot see...

reply

geode:

I agree!

Only because on closer examination, the dvd transfer reveals cellulite on the back of her thighs.

And a small fixture of my childhood fantasy went right out the window.

reply

geode:

I agree!

Only because on closer examination, the dvd transfer reveals cellulite on the back of her thighs.

And a small fixture of my childhood fantasy went right out the window.
Yes, you are correct, such is definitely present. I first noticed this about 40 years ago when I bought a relatively high definition copy in the form of a 16mm print. I thought about mentioning that here but was afraid that considering so many people admiring her legs already in this thread that it might be considered over the top. She is still a beautiful girl, but if I had been the costume designer I would have held emphasis on the more stunning parts of her anatomy, as was done with her introduction in the film where she is totally adorable.

Oh Lord, you gave them eyes but they cannot see...

reply

I would have held emphasis on the more stunning parts of her anatomy, as was done with her introduction in the film where she is totally adorable.

___________________________________________________

LOL. To each his own-- such is the difference between a man who prefers breasts vs. one who prefers a nice pair of legs.

As a dedicated leg fan, I'm glad they went with the outfit they did.

A key ingredient in what makes this film such a classic is Beth Rogan in her short goatskin dress.

It wouldn't be the same had she remained in her period 19th century dress for the entire film.

AE36

reply

LOL. To each his own-- such is the difference between a man who prefers breasts vs. one who prefers a nice pair of legs.

As a dedicated leg fan, I'm glad they went with the outfit they did.

A key ingredient in what makes this film such a classic is Beth Rogan in her short goatskin dress.

It wouldn't be the same had she remained in her period 19th century dress for the entire film.

AE36
No, I actually prefer legs to breasts in terms of a woman's anatomy, and I like nothing more than a good pair of legs. Unfortunately Beth Rogan did not possess this attribute. Her legs would have needed considerable toning up to qualify. They played to her strengths in the earlier scene.

They could have fashioned a much more functional dress that would have complimented her figure much better if it had been a few inches longer, such as even mid-thigh. This would have made it less anachonistic as well as her colored 20th century panties would not have been on display.

Oh Lord, you gave them eyes but they cannot see...

reply

All this hoo hah about Beth Rogan's legs and not a mention of Micheal Craig's very fine chest.

Never say Never.

reply

Unfortunately Beth Rogan did not possess this attribute. Her legs would have needed considerable toning up to qualify. They played to her strengths in the earlier scene.

They could have fashioned a much more functional dress that would have complimented her figure much better if it had been a few inches longer, such as even mid-thigh. This would have made it less anachonistic as well as her colored 20th century panties would not have been on display.

________________________________________________

I think her legs looked fine, viewed in the context of the times.

Certainly by today's standards, Ms. Rogan would be considered what is politely termed "full-figured".

Which is to say she's not 5'3", weighs 96 pounds with skinny little girl legs and arms and the obligatory boob job. Something that usually makes the girl look like she's going to topple over from a weight distribution issue.

Simply put, judged by the standards of beauty in place at the time of filming, Ms. Rogan amply fit the bill.

As for her modern panties showing, yes, that was a bit of an oversight on the film makers part. However, given the overall tenor of the film and other examples of costume and historical errors, one tends to be forgiving. I think it adds to the charm of the movie.

As I've always said, Ms. Rogan's outfit adds a bit of cheese cake to the film, and mixed with other factors adds up to a timeless classic that can be enjoyed again and again over the years.

THis is not so with many of the politically correct and bland films of this ilk that are made and instantly forgotten.

AE36

reply

Beth looked great, legs and all. Full-figured, well-rounded, slightly chubby. Perfect. Just how a woman should be.

"Toning" doesn't work. It just makes a woman look more masculine.

reply

"Toning" doesn't work. It just makes a woman look more masculine.

Really? Female dancers have strong, toned, gorgeous legs. Take a look at the legs of Cyd Charisse or Barrie Chase or Yvonne Craig and then tell me those women looked masculine!





All the universe or nothingness. Which shall it be, Passworthy? Which shall it be?

reply

Attractive women all, but they would have been more attractive if they had never done any dancing. It's just opinion I suppose.

reply

The shortness of the dress has always bothered me... It really does not fit in with any period in history and was impractical.


No, they were on a tropical island, which is why Herbert stripped down to cut-offs and no-shirt. Elena's outfit was very practical for the setting. As far as it not befitting of the Victorian era, perhaps that was a covert subtext -- Elena was liberated from the suffocating constraints of the Victorian era just as Neb was freed from a condescending, enslaving society (True, he was from the North, but he still faced serious limitations, to say the least).

She was a beautiful girl but quite frankly her legs are on the heavy and thick side.


Nope, they're just right. Most men prefer women with curves, not women with the bodies of 12 year-old boys plus breasts (usually fake).

A longer skirt would have been far more complimentary to her beauty in my opinion.


No, because then we wouldn't be able to see her beautiful figure.

I thought she looked far better in the long dress she is wearing in her introduction scene.


To each his/her own, but seriously; get real. Beth Rogan and her cavegirl outfit are an important part of this movie's longstanding appeal. Not the only part, of course, but a big part.


My 175 (or so) Favorite Movies:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070122364/

reply

Thanks for the heads up. The movie channel is about to show this flick and I thought I'd give it shot because of the stop animation. Butupon hearing there's some mini-mini skirt action, I'll definitely be checking this one out.
:)

reply

I think you're thinking of "The Time Machine", many a mini there 

reply

How many of this kind of movie have you all seen, One? Short dresses are pretty much the norm for the island survival genre. The Sinbad movies had your see through pantaloons and short dresses so the short dress in this movie isn't something new or uncommon by no means.

reply

[deleted]