Alec and Joe are in very dire straits---they are in the middle of the massive Pacific Ocean, and no one knows their position. Their radio is dead, and their water tank has been hit. So, with little more than a tiny bottle of water and the parachute material, with which they hope to make sails, Alec and Joe attempt to survive until help comes for them...if it ever does.
As Alec and Joe struggle to keep their hopes alive, Alec reminisces about his life. He tells Joe about Nancy and about High Barbaree, a fabled Pacific island his uncle had spoken about long ago. A magical, beautiful island, High Barbaree became the root of all Alec's childhood dreams, and as children, he and Nancy had always talked about going there one day. As Alec checks his crash position, he realizes that High Barbaree ought to be no more than 100 miles from where his plane crashed; he and Joe hope to make it there. But as Alec flashes back into the past, he begins to wonder if High Barbaree ever existed. Perhaps it was something his uncle had only made up...perhaps he is just delusional to think he and Joe could find refuge there.
This film alternates between the present situation and many different periods of Alec's life. It's a sweet and interesting story. Van Johnson and June Allyson were really great together. I have to admit, though, I can never watch June Allyson without her famous Jo March words---"Christopher Columbus"---coming to mind. Just the sound of her voice, and I'm automatically thinking Little Women. She's always a delight, and I think she is totally lovely here in High Barbaree. Van Johnson is one of those always-likeable actors. He seems to talk with a smile in his voice...if that makes sense. I definitely always enjoy him.
Although High Barbaree is not a fantastic movie, I definitely enjoyed it and will certainly watch it again. I don't believe it's out on DVD, but TCM shows it periodically so you could catch it there.
Happy viewing!!
