Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and adapted from James Lensor's book, Boarding Party, The Sea Wolves gathers up a gang of stalwart actors and pitches them into a war time drama.
Clearly taking its lead from The Wild Geese, pic itself is based on the exploits of the "Calcutta Light Horse" band of men who enacted "Operation Boarding Party" during World War II 1943. Their mission was to scupper German ships that were sending communications to Nazi U-Boats that were sinking British merchant ships. It was a group made up of old volunteers who had the extensive army knowledge needed to make the mission a success. So who to play these wily old soldiers? Enter Messrs Niven, Moore, Howard, Macnee and, erm, Peck, who sneaks in as an honorary Brit.
It's all very grand in a robust flag waving way, making the Sanatogen taking men look as heroes being an honourable thing. The formula is adhered to as the men are put through a number of familiar training scenarios whilst showing stiff upper lippery in the process. Roger Moore gets to play James Bond in a war film, in a not wholly convincing romantic sub-plot, and once the mission finally arrives, as the men storm the enemy ships, it's exciting and suspenseful. If only half an hour had been cut out of the run time! For sadly there is not enough material here to sustain a two hour movie, director McLaglen labouring to hold our attention in readiness for that finale. 6/10
Clearly taking its lead from The Wild Geese, pic itself is based on the exploits of the "Calcutta Light Horse" band of men who enacted "Operation Boarding Party" during World War II 1943. Their mission was to scupper German ships that were sending communications to Nazi U-Boats that were sinking British merchant ships. It was a group made up of old volunteers who had the extensive army knowledge needed to make the mission a success. So who to play these wily old soldiers? Enter Messrs Niven, Moore, Howard, Macnee and, erm, Peck, who sneaks in as an honorary Brit.
It's all very grand in a robust flag waving way, making the Sanatogen taking men look as heroes being an honourable thing. The formula is adhered to as the men are put through a number of familiar training scenarios whilst showing stiff upper lippery in the process. Roger Moore gets to play James Bond in a war film, in a not wholly convincing romantic sub-plot, and once the mission finally arrives, as the men storm the enemy ships, it's exciting and suspenseful. If only half an hour had been cut out of the run time! For sadly there is not enough material here to sustain a two hour movie, director McLaglen labouring to hold our attention in readiness for that finale. 6/10