Island Of The Blue Dolphins(1964) Link
Karana initially seeks revenge against the wild dogs, but after wounding the pack leader, she takes pity on him and nurses him back to health. She names him Rontu, and he becomes her loyal companion.
Over nearly two decades, Karana builds a home of whale bones, hunts for food, and develops a deep respect for the island's wildlife, eventually vowing to only hunt when absolutely necessary for survival. Island of the Blue Dolphins(1964)
Directed by James B. Clark, the film stars Celia Kaye as Karana, a performance that earned her a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. Karana initially seeks revenge against the wild dogs,
Russian fur traders and Aleut hunters arrive to hunt sea otters but refuse to pay as agreed. A violent battle breaks out, and Karana's father, the chief, is killed along with many others. Directed by James B
Missionaries arrive to evacuate the remaining tribe members to the mainland. As the ship departs, Karana realizes her younger brother, Ramo, has been left behind. She jumps overboard and swims back to the island to stay with him.
Finally, a ship arrives. Karana, now a woman, decides to trust the strangers and leaves her island home for a mission in Santa Barbara, accompanied by her pets. Film and Historical Context
Based on the 1960 Newbery Medal-winning novel by Scott O'Dell, the 1964 film tells the survival story of Karana, a young Native American girl stranded on an island for 18 years. Story Overview