Loosely based on the novel by Jack London and directed by Michael Curtiz, "The Sea Wolf" is the story of a dreadful man named Wolf Larsen (Edward G. Robinson), the cruel, sadistic ship's captain of the Ghost. When a ferry carrying a writer, van Weyden (Alexander Knox) and a convict George Leach (John Garfield) sinks, they are taken aboard the Ghost. Later Maud (Ida Lupino) is rescued as well. The captain is a total lunatic who enjoys physically, verbally and emotionally abusing his crew and passengers, including Cooky (Barry Fitzgerald) and Doc (Gene Lockhart). Larsen has one Achilles heel - he gets horrific headaches (probably from a brain tumor). During one of his attacks, Maud, Leach and van Weyden escape, which eventually leads to the film's suspenseful finale.
This movie has Warner Brothers written all over it - if you knew nothing about it, you'd know which studio it came from. Filmed in black and white, it's heavy with fog and a dark, foreboding atmosphere that permeate the entire movie. Robinson is terrific and hateful as Wolf - for a little guy, he could sure pack a wallop. Leach proves an excellent role for Garfield - he's pugnacious, clever, and tender. Lupino's Maud is wonderful - she's a very sympathetic character and well fleshed out by Lupino, who is beautifully photographed. She and Garfield made a great couple - obviously Warners noticed it, too, because they worked together again. Other standouts are Gene Lockhart as the pathetic alcoholic ship's doctor, and Barry Fitzgerald as the wormy Cooky.
Though Alexander Knox had a career that spanned 50 years, he did not spend much of it as a Hollywood leading man. There's not much of a typical movie star about him, and he wasn't quirky enough, say, like Orson Welles, to really make his own mark. Nevertheless, his van Weyden is excellent, dignified and sophisticated in the face of all the treachery around him. He also plays off of Robinson well.
A big hit when released, and a great example of Warners at its best, "The Sea Wolf" is a film to seek out.
This movie has Warner Brothers written all over it - if you knew nothing about it, you'd know which studio it came from. Filmed in black and white, it's heavy with fog and a dark, foreboding atmosphere that permeate the entire movie. Robinson is terrific and hateful as Wolf - for a little guy, he could sure pack a wallop. Leach proves an excellent role for Garfield - he's pugnacious, clever, and tender. Lupino's Maud is wonderful - she's a very sympathetic character and well fleshed out by Lupino, who is beautifully photographed. She and Garfield made a great couple - obviously Warners noticed it, too, because they worked together again. Other standouts are Gene Lockhart as the pathetic alcoholic ship's doctor, and Barry Fitzgerald as the wormy Cooky.
Though Alexander Knox had a career that spanned 50 years, he did not spend much of it as a Hollywood leading man. There's not much of a typical movie star about him, and he wasn't quirky enough, say, like Orson Welles, to really make his own mark. Nevertheless, his van Weyden is excellent, dignified and sophisticated in the face of all the treachery around him. He also plays off of Robinson well.
A big hit when released, and a great example of Warners at its best, "The Sea Wolf" is a film to seek out.