User reviews

In my final two years of high school one of the local broadcast broadcast station was re-airing various 70s shows at 6AM, they'd run every episode back to back over the course of a few weeks then switch to another. One of them was Fantasy Island. While I never caught every episode of those runs I caught a few. The fantasies of the guests could border on ridiculous, petty, strange etc. Mr. Roarke, the ever mysterious proprietor would fulfill their wishes with his trusty employee Tattoo. To them it was the business and they'd often share some humorous exchanges. Sometimes there'd be a twist or lesson for the guest, sometimes a happy ending. Many stars cameo in guest roles on the show. Recently the series has popped up on streaming with almost every episode in 16x9 Widescreen HD and gone are the scratchy old syndication copies replaced with crisp almost Technicolor prints dripping with color that almost makes things seem all most like a fantasy captured in time. Not the greatest show ever produced but an odd endearing quality about it which no doubt spurned the reboots.

When you set out to create a show like Fantasy Island you have to be well read on history and have one good imagination. Glad to say that Fantasy Island showed a good deal of both in their episodes.

One episode I well remember was a pair of women were real big into the Civil War and desired to go back and live the genteel life that Scarlett O'Hara and her family had on Tara. Fantasy Island brought them back all right, but showed them the downside of that era and I'll say no more on the story. The morale of that show was be happy in your own backyard.

Host and impresario of Fantasy Island was the mysterious Mr. Roarke played by Ricardo Montalban. In interviews Montalban said that he never got the real career role on the big screen that defined other of his contemporaries. But on the small screen Montalban got two of them, Mr. Roarke and Khan on Star Trek which went to the big screen also. What powers Roarke drew on to show his guests what they really thought was ideal was left open to the imagination.

For all but one season Montalban had his dwarf companion Herve Villechaize and these two had a gentle and playful repartee. Villechaize had a sad and tragic life, but Fantasy Island left him with a career role and an identity that will linger.

I could never see this show revived because Montalban and Villechaise had such a special chemistry for the small screen.

Notwithstanding a liberal dose of 70's cheese, I loved and love Fantasy Island--I actually learned a lot from the show, since they would occasionally base plots on Wuthering Heights, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Most Dangerous Game, and so forth. Mr. Roarke made an interesting God figure, an idea they played up in a few episodes. Most compelling of all is the idea that people go off on vacation to get what they want, and end up instead with what they need. Trite? Yes-- despite the rotating guest stars, it was basically a series of mini-soaps. Mockable points? Bunches, especially if you enjoy that sort of thing. And all those people you just saw goofing about on the Love Boat suddenly turning up and doing something semi- serious for a third of an hour could produce a fair amount of cognitive dissonance. But I maintain the show was still iconic.

A very odd and weird fantasy series which were perfect to watch after midnight in the after hours zone where everything seems magic if u get the point. basically in this series those who went to that island got their wish come true but only until the end of the....episode they were on. Dozens of guest stars appeared in this show with Riccardo montalvan (the man who played zack powers of dynasty II the colbys 1985-1987) to be t a great host of the show. that dwarf actor is also one of the most memorable members of this show. if u love fantasy shows then this is for you. by the way seasons 2 and 3 are now available on dvd but seasons 4-7 are still yet to be released. let's hope we get them too soon.

I don't know why I liked this show so much as a child. Maybe it was the fantasy island bit where people's dreams and fantasies come true only it was never an ideal. This show was a spin-off of Love Boat again with celebrity guest stars from other shows and a cast that included the wonderful Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaise who said the "Plane, the plane" in the beginning sequence of the show. Sadly, Herve killed himself. The show was never the same without him. I think the show provided lots of jobs to actors who probably needed the job outside their own shows. Of course, I remember the episode with Barbi Benton as a mermaid. It was pure fantasy but remember to be careful what you wish for because it might come true and it may not be all that you wanted in the first place. Also I liked the fact that they filmed in Hawaii too.

Originally, this show had a dark side to it which quickly disappeared. The dark side was replaced with silly problems brought on by it's "guest stars." Think of any washed up movie star and they made an appearance on this show. The exotic locale helped, with the plane bringing that week's stars to the island, flying over waterfalls, and mountains along the way. Mr. Roarke would always greet his guests and then turn to Tattoo and say something ominous to him about one of this weeks fantasies, just so we'd stay tuned. This was essentially a landlocked "Love Boat." It was harmless fluff and part of my formative years...how scary is that?

OK, if you would judge the movie to now a days it wouldn't fit in to well.If you watched FI now the stage and everything was pretty cheese ( I agree)But weren't all the movies in the 80's like that(Gilligan,Wonderwoman,aso).But too the people born in the early to mid 70's or earlier it has a cult status. Evertime the plane was on approach Tattoo would run up the tower ring the bell and with his accent would yell "Da Plane BOSS Da Plane" and you would wonder what everybody's wish would be.People who are born in the mid 80's or later wouldn't understand the hippe because if you watched it now.It don't have a Harry Potter,Jurassic Park Computer animation FX.It was just a stage where you probably could even almost see the wire attached to a guy who's wish was too be able to fly.But to us during that time it was a FANTASY ISLAND.

After reading some of the earlier nasty remarks, I had to put in my two cents. This show was NOT, despite what that goon in Essex thinks, the worst thing that ever aired on TV. I think most of today's TV is much worse (when is this stupid "reality" fad ever going to end??) and there isn't a current show I can stand to watch. Gimme the stuff I grew up with. I'm a 1965 baby and not ashamed to admit it.

This show has been my all-time favorite for almost 30 years. I was in high school when it originally aired and I think it helped me to hang on throughout those miserable days. I was such a misfit back then, and "Fantasy Island" appealed to my imagination. As I was a budding writer in those days, it provided incredible opportunities for me to practice the craft. What a wonderful premise! I won't say it didn't have its faults. Sometimes the scripts were pretty bad, and some of the problems seemed trivial; but it could be good too, and it was a blast to watch and still is. As for the cheesiness factor, well, I think it's unfair to label every single 70s product as cheesy. There was a lot of great stuff back then and this was among the ranks. (BTW, most of the seasons aired in the 80s!!) My favorite episodes came from seasons 2, 3 and 4 mostly.

To those who disparage Hervé Villechaize for his heavy French accent and his short stature: GROW UP and LEARN SOMETHING! It's so easy to make fun when you're "normal" and "perfect". That man made the best of what he was dealt in life, and if you don't like it, that's just tough. Have a little compassion. He's been dead 15 years, and how easy it is to cut down someone who can't defend himself. There's just no shame anymore.

I love this show. So it looks dated. Hate to tell you this, but we didn't have splashy special effects and Blu-Ray discs. We were lucky to have VCRs. Live with it. Accept it for what it is, and that's just plain fun. "Escapist TV" describes it perfectly, and that's what it was for me -- an escape from my rotten real life. And it's still a lot of fun to watch.

Was this show always this bad or am I unlucky to be catching only episodes that suck? I looked forward to this show every week as a child. It hasn't stood the test of time, so far. Were there ever any "great" episodes? Most fantasies suck. The writing is atrocious, the actors do the best they can, most are uncharismatic and most are filmed without the care that is put into the intros and the 2 hosts.

I think that, as a kid, my imagination too over and was probably dreaming overtime while the show aired, what I'd be doing if I had my own fantasies to live. Because you can hardly believe there's fools who paid for "that", them those fantasies of theirs!

I'll end with what the very best of this show was: the intros. The same openings week after week: the gorgeous images of Kauai island; the falls; the green moutains, the waters. The Polynesian people in the canoe with side balance bar, and on the beach. The Roarke mansion. Tatoo's iconic "de plane, de plane" or "boss! Boss!" (no: he never uttered them together!); the costumes, the flowers, the scenery, the rushing around, the dancers (barely 2.5 seconds of screen time, the poor performers!); the dyed doves on trees and the white ones flying around; the parrots, the cocktail drinks served inside fruit with little umbrellas. And, of course, Mr. Roarke, the magical and mysterious host.

Did Ricardo Montalban always have this little to do? Did he always have a black tie and kerchief poking out of his chest pocket? (I remember it all white.) But my gosh! Are the stories ever boring or what?! I guess this is best viewed before you turn 13, the younger the better.

Some guest stars were better than others, and so were their storylines/fantasies. I read that Mr. Roarke had a dark side to him in the beginning but where is it?! Well, he had this charming accent going for him and this posture. And yes, Tattoo was more than a bit annoying, but I really don't like Mr. Roarke's condescending attitude towards him. Was this in the script or is it because Spanish-Mexican Montalban couldn't stand Filipino-French Villechaize? (I always thought he was part Indonesian!) At any rate, when they brought Julie...what was that?? That woman had 0 personality. I recently watched her final episode, and that's when she FINALLY let some emotion out, or did something more than stand there wooden as usual. Too late, you're FIRED! I have yet to see an episode with Mr. Belvedere replacing her.

All in all, if you got children under 11, this should be ok. Other than that, I'm sorry to say it hasn't stood the test of time, except here and there, an episode will be alright, right? I'm still hoping to find that one. Worth 1 rewatch but not worth buying the DVDs as it's not worth the time wasted watching it twice.

As a teenager in the 70's, this was one of my favorite TV shows. I thought it had a truly unique and amazing idea for a show and there was nothing else like it on TV. I remember being instantly hooked on the show and looked forward to seeing the different guest stars each week fulfill their fantasies or dreams. Each fantasy was like a different show within that hour long period and each fantasy never seemed to turn out the way you thought it would which made the show even more interesting. Ricardo Montalban and (Da Plane!, Da Plane!) Herve Villachaize were great in their roles as hosts of Fantasy Island. I still love watching it and see it has fun and nostalgic. And in my opinion I still think it holds up well for that unique style all its own. After all it must've been a little special to last seven seasons and I hope eventually they all make their way to DVD!

I bought this for my wife, she waited with anticipation for the release date.

If it is not a part of your early teen years it may not appeal to you, as this is all about pleasant memory's.

There is a short but interesting documentary on the DVD set that gives some in-site to how the show came about.

The episodes them-self,for me, are a gentle reminder of how bad and corny and good T.V. was back then. A blast to watch and I really enjoy these as back ground visual and verbal noise as I study.On a good day I will sit and pay attention to the episodes. This is TV folks and it shows, but we liked it then and I enjoy the feelings it brings about now.

Let's be honest, if this were remotely realistic it would probably get banned by the content of the fantasies alone.

However, it's not remotely realistic, it is uplifting and funny, and that is so much better, so much more welcoming and relaxing. And despite the lack of realism, it still comes across as honest and true stories that are told exceptionally well for a program this old on network television.

It is just amazing.

I grew up watching this show and I loved it!! I hope to see the entire series become available on DVD or on a streaming service.

Never rated anything else in my life, but if it were for anything here, it would be the concept for the show ... and the music. Perhaps the episodes could have done with a little polishing on the cutting room floor. Perhaps there were too many manufactured. Along with the 48 minute limit on the stories, the low budget, the passing parade of stars and the eternal happy endings. It doesn't matter. Of all the dross that made it on to the commercial channels in those days, this magical production stood out like a 3-bar chevron. The theme by Rosenthal created purely for Fantasy Island is given the best treatment by the studio orchestra and dubbing crew. It is a masterpiece among show themes of the 20th Century but sadly to-date there is no published compilation of its many variations. Encore!

This is a very stunning looking island. I've heard of the Fantasy Island series but never seen it before until now. I was impressed by the mystery of each guest staying there for their wishes to come true but they have a suicide mission. The owner of the island is Mr Roarke and his assistant Tattoo, both interesting characters and also very strange. I often wonder if Mr Roarke is human or a spirit of some kind. I really loved this and plan to watch the entire series and the remakes.

I used to love this show as a child. What a wonderful concept, a person pays for a vacation, which acts out his or her "Fantasy". Thankfully this was not part of an adult programming. However, the show had reunions of people meeting loves from high school, and events people wanted. The show's writers had imagination too show what you want can turn into a nightmare. Ricardo mentioned this line in every third show. Ricardo, and Tatoo were well casted. As I matured, I will agree with the other posts that the storylines were thin, the sets cheap, along with rushed directing and scripts. Hard to watch again, but the what kept myself watching for a couple of minutes is some of the neat concepts, and the freshness of having new guests every week. With all television, the ideas became old, and they pushed the series 2 years too long.

I often wonder if I'm one of the few who remembers that there was never any such thing as The Good Old Days - or if I'm just one of the few who admits it. Sorry, but the 70s and 80s were not all that great, or at least not much better than things are today.

Still, every imperfect era has its own perfect memories.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Saturday night was Fantasy Island night at our house. My siblings and our best friends would gather in front of the TV and scarf pizza and root beer - and we would all simultaneously announce 'Da Plane! Da Plane!' along with Tattoo to officially begin the start of Fantasy Island.

Pizza, root beer, siblings and friends - and a TV show whose only purpose was to entertain a group of siblings and friends.

Life wasn't perfect then - but it sure felt like it for a few hours every Saturday night.

I watched a few episodes of this show when I was a kid and it most certainly was not a show I enjoyed all that much. It was one of those shows that the others in the household enjoyed watching, and when there is only one television you have no other choice than to watch it yourself or go play in your room by yourself. I usually chose to go into my room and play, but I watched a fair amount of episodes during my day. Not enough to rate the show, mind you, but enough to make a short review anyway. The most memorable thing about this show was when Herve Villechaize as Tattoo would announce the arrival of the plane bringing more unsuspecting dupes to the island where they were hoping to live out their fantasy, but usually ended up learning a valuable lesson instead. This show had many genres that could be attached to it including comedy, drama and even horror so while it was not a favorite of mine, I will say it did manage to at least be different. One never quite knew what to expect when the plane would drop the visitors off because the show could vary wildly. I remember one where the island had some sort of evil spirits floating around. So that is the thing, the show did things differently and was not by the numbers, so while not a favorite I can still acknowledge that it was unique for the time.

'Fantasy Island' was a show that remained an enigma as far as its main character was concerned. Ricardo Montalban's Mr. Roarke was a well dressed mystery man who, for a price, could make your fantasy come true on his tropical island and every week, a new group of characters would come to the island and a few different stories would evolve. As quality television, it didn't get a lot of respect from its peers but it was one of those cult like shows that had a following that seemed to die off quickly which explains why its almost impossible to find it anywhere in syndication. I enjoyed it mildly but it was by no means classic television.

The bloom has worn off this fondly remembered series of which the memories do not match up to the reality seen during reruns. When the show first aired, it seemed like a lush, star-laden piece of wonderment and entertainment. With its tropical setting, unique lead characters, eventful and varied stories and the parade of name actors each week, it was a hit that lingered in the memory for decades. However, now, after so much has changed in television, the series often looks cheap, seems trite and inane and, worst of all, comes off as pretty dull! Montalban (the essence of class, dignity and charisma) was forced each week to react to the unintelligible, unfunny ramblings of Villechaize (a freakish persona who looks like the dwarfed love child of Freddie Fender and Charo.) These forced, ludicrous scenarios (shown just before the guest stars' names appear) are downright painful to watch (and even more painful to listen to with Villechaize seemingly deliberately placing emphasis on all the wrong words and syllables in his dialogue.) Then the "stars" arrive and it is criminally clear that all of the shots of the leads were done separately at different times. The primary characters never even met during the legendary opening arrival scenes! (Even worse, the SAME shot of the SAME dancer and musicians is shown over and over and OVER week after week!) Even though it is always fun to catch a glimpse of once-famous or almost famous celebrities in their waning years (or also to spot up and comers who often don't even get billing in these episodes), the storylines are, for the most part, beyond lame and hugely predictable. Additionally, the cheap-jack production values (aside from the location filming that was used again and again and AGAIN) spoil a lot of the effect of the guest appearances. Many times the celebs are lit with worse lighting than Donna Reed complained about when she was given the shaft on "Dallas". The show is worth checking out if one is a completist for seeing a favorite guest actor or if almost nothing else worthwhile is on, but unfortunately the show simply doesn't hold up today. Still, even this beats the wrong-headed, flop, 1998 remake version that starred Malcolm McDowell. Oh well, at least the customized red and white station wagons were fun.

Words cannot describe the horror I get when I remember this. From the opening song to the end credits, this was the most annoying programme I have ever had the misfortune to see. The awful storylines were eclipsed only by the awful acting, and the sight of that nasty little thing saying "It's the plane Boss", still fills me with a feeling of nausea. I for one, am very glad this is difficult to find in syndication. And even with the poor level of programming on SKY in the U.K. I think that even they would not show it. Watch this at your peril.......you have been warned.

OK people don't expect much from Fantasy Island. The synopsis of the show, guests arrive on the island for a weekend where they have the ability to fulfill their fantasies.

I wouldn't be surprised that ABC was going through a tough patch during the 1970s and they would do anything to fill the time slots, hence Fantasy Island. All aside from the cheesy production values and the low low budget, Fantasy Island is worthy of a glimpse from time to time.

Lucky for us in 2005 we managed to hop on a plane and escape the clutches of Aaron Spelling's Fantasy Island. The down side is, the plane crashed and we landed on Survivor Island. Just got an idea Mr Roarke could vote Jeff Probst off the Island. For the unimaginative TV execs that was a joke.

Conclusion no more island hopping.