Temptation Island is a 1980 Filipino film directed by Joey Gosiengfiao starring four beauty contest title-holders; Azenith Briones (Miss Photogenic, Mutya ng Pilipinas 1975), Jennifer Cortez (Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1978), Bambi Arambulo (Miss Maja Pilipinas 1977) and Dina Bonnevie (1st Runner-up, Miss Magnolia 1979). Written by Toto Belano, the film is about a group of beauty contest finalists stranded in a desert island without food, water and shelter.
The film focuses on four young ladies from different social backgrounds and each for their own various reasons, enlists in the fictional "Miss Manila Sunshine Beauty Pageant".
The first of which is Dina (Bonnevie), a college student who entered the contest in order to earn independence from her family. Next is spoiled, rich socialite, Suzanne (Cortez), whose every whim is attended to by her maid, Maria (Sun), learned of the contest when fliers dropped from a helicopter interrupts her sunbathing at the family pool and out of sheer vanity decided to sign up. Thirdly, Bambi (Arambulo), while planning her 18th birthday party, when she and her mother argue over the budget, since her once rich family cannot afford the grand debut, Bambi is forced to settle for a much simpler party. But during their argument, Bambi falls on her birthday cake; when sees the pageant's TV spot, her frustrations over her current situation inspires her to join. Rounding up the group is Azenith (Briones) a con-artist who plans to rig the contest by using her and her boyfriend's sexuality to influence the judges into voting for her.
The ladies later became the finalists for the competition. En route to the evening gown competition, the ship they boarded catches fire, and the passengers scramble to evacuate. The four women, Maria, Joshua (the gay pageant coordinator played by Jonas Sebastian) and his boyfriend Ricardo (Ricky Belmonte), Umberto (one of the ship's waiters played by Domingo Sabado) and Alfredo (played by Alfie Anido) land on a desert island.
Dina Bonnevie - Dina Espinola -Heart Evangelista
Azenith Briones - Azenith Tobias -Marian Rivera
Jennifer Cortez - Suzanne Reyes -Lovi Poe
Bambi Arambulo - Bambi Belisario -Solenn Heusaff
Deborah Sun - Maria -Rufa Mae Quinto
Ricky Belmonte - Ricardo -Mikael Daez
Alfie Anido - Alfredo -Aljur Abrenica
Domingo Sabado - Umberto -Tom Rodriguez
Jonas Sebastian - Joshua -John "Sweet" Lapus
Tonio Gutierrez - Tonio -Dennis Trillo
Anita Linda - Nenuca Belisario -Deborah Sun
*** - Mrs Syjuco -Azenith Briones
The film has been described as "campy", but it has earned positive responses from several critics. Jessica Zafra calls it a "classic Filipino film [that] dares to expose complex themes..." Noel Vera stated that "By turns grotesque, deadpan witty and surreal...[Temptation Island will] leave you howling in laughter and tears, both."[1] Boy Abunda has referred to it as a "cult classic."[2] Regal Films, the distributor of the film and its subsequent release on video bills it "Hands-down, most hilarious Filipino film ever made!"[3] The film has also been adapted for theater. Directed by renowned theater playwright and director, Chris Martinez, Temptation Island...Live! was a theater adaptation that starred gay actors (John Lapuz and Tuxqs Rutaquio among others) as the beauty queens.
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