I was 10 years old when this originally aired almost 40 years ago and i always loved it. This is still one of the finest hours of German (public) TV with a great script (discard the confusions about the mix of stories, i felt that it added something to the core Seawolf Story) and a strong direction. I had the chance to see it again several times and it doesn't have lost anything. None of actors came to any great fame, even R. Harmstorff remained in the shadow of his role until his death, but sometimes the whole is truly more then the sum of its parts. Wolfgang Staudte deserves special praise. It compares well even with todays best provided from HBO.
10 Reviews
Fascinating Version of the Sea Wolf
SMK-414 October 1999
This is the best version of the Sea Wolf I have seen. There are excellent production values, believable characters and the general feeling of a major production is present throughout. It does not betray its TV origins.
Best of all is Raimund Harmstorf in the title role as Wolf Larsen. He manages to create an aura of intimidation and mystery around his character that has never been matched by other productions of Jack London's story. And, of course, there is the potato-squeezing scene.
This series made Harmstorf a star (at least in Germany), but he could never quite repeat this performance. Strangely, his natural voice was not deemed tough enough for this role at the time and so another actor was chosen to speak his character in the German dubbed version.
Best of all is Raimund Harmstorf in the title role as Wolf Larsen. He manages to create an aura of intimidation and mystery around his character that has never been matched by other productions of Jack London's story. And, of course, there is the potato-squeezing scene.
This series made Harmstorf a star (at least in Germany), but he could never quite repeat this performance. Strangely, his natural voice was not deemed tough enough for this role at the time and so another actor was chosen to speak his character in the German dubbed version.
The best Version!
Poukram30 November 2005
This adaption of Jack Londons "Seewolf" is the best ever shown. The characters have been chosen very wise and Raimund Harmstorf played the role of his live.
The story depends not only on the novel "Der Seeworlf", Ulbrich, the director of the four part movie, included several other novels and short stories from Jack London (all the "historic" scenes do not take place in the original novel, they have been taken from "Joe and the pirates").
Harmstorf himself did a good job as Wolf Larson, the captain of the "Ghost" and he was identified by this role since his early suicide. He took place in other great roles such as "Der Kurier des Zaren" (Michael Strogof).
All in all, if you will ever have a look on a Seewolf-movie, try this one!
The story depends not only on the novel "Der Seeworlf", Ulbrich, the director of the four part movie, included several other novels and short stories from Jack London (all the "historic" scenes do not take place in the original novel, they have been taken from "Joe and the pirates").
Harmstorf himself did a good job as Wolf Larson, the captain of the "Ghost" and he was identified by this role since his early suicide. He took place in other great roles such as "Der Kurier des Zaren" (Michael Strogof).
All in all, if you will ever have a look on a Seewolf-movie, try this one!
Fascinating!
Teewurstmann12 February 2003
10 out of 10 - This is truly one of the best adventure movies (or mini series) ever made. The performance is so real, so gripping, so great! I've only seen it once and that was years ago, but it still had such a great impact on me. Please release it on DVD one day!
DON'T MISS IT!
DON'T MISS IT!
One of the best of the Christmas specials
Liedzeit29 December 1999
In the end sixties and early seventies they used to give us a four part great TV production of some classic novel. This one along with "Die Schatzinsel" was the best of them. Actually they took a number of Jack London´s stories and melted them into an unforgettable adventure. Of course no one will ever forget the potato scene. But what impressed me more was the wonderful love story between Hump and Maud Brewster the way Wolf talks about his ambition and his failure: "My mistake was to have ever opened a book." And of course the way the two main Characters Hump and Wolf Larrson would meet again and again with the most believable and mesmerizing love-hate relationship I know of. When Hump is left alone on this tiny island and only hatred and as he says life itself forces him to continue walking it is the greatest moment in movie history Great music score, too. The final part is a bit disappointing, the only reason why this is not among the very best films of all time.
a great adventure movie
thomsenn26 August 2000
Harmstorf, a bad actor?
alp1008 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Hi All,
First of all, sorry for my English, my mother tongue is french.
"Harmstorf, a bad actor", see comment before mine.
Well, mister, I've seen the whole "Michel Strogoff" series, which is wonderful movie with an excellent actor: Harmstorf. I'll never forget him, music from Vladimir Cosma and this excellent series. I also read a little on Harmstorf's life; He never got alzeimer. So please don't mention words that you maybe even don't understand.
And respect people you don't know.
Thank You
First of all, sorry for my English, my mother tongue is french.
"Harmstorf, a bad actor", see comment before mine.
Well, mister, I've seen the whole "Michel Strogoff" series, which is wonderful movie with an excellent actor: Harmstorf. I'll never forget him, music from Vladimir Cosma and this excellent series. I also read a little on Harmstorf's life; He never got alzeimer. So please don't mention words that you maybe even don't understand.
And respect people you don't know.
Thank You
Pretty good seafaring tale
Horst_In_Translation19 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
"Der Seewolf" is a German television mini-series from almost 45 years ago. Fittingly, the title character is not the main protagonist of the movie, but the second lead character played by Raimund Harmstorf. No offense to Edward Meeks who was decent too, but Harmstorf's character was just far more memorable. This also shows in the fourth part when he is out of the picture for the most time and this is the weakest part. I rate it 2/5 and parts 1-3 I rate 3/5. The whole thing is basically the story of two men, a ruthless, cold-blooded captain and the main character who works on the captain's ship for the most time. "For the most time" means that, in the final chapter, the action is set on an island and it's just not as atmospheric anymore as before. I have to say, for the most part, I enjoyed watching this and it did not drag really very often which is a good achievement as the total runtime is no less than 6 hours. I also liked the narration and if you are a German native speaker, you will realize that people today are not really talking this way anymore. I recommend watching it and you may have seen Harmstorf also in the films of Bud Spencer if you are as much of a fan of these just like myself. Give it a go if you like seafaring tales or if you simply enjoy impressive character studies. Good job on the writing here also I must say. Thumbs up.
Its a very great movie
grevekarin30 December 2003
This is so a great movie. I thought a lot about the relationship between Larsen and van Weyden. They are so different. There is open so much. I like the almost tender gestures from the "very brutal" (for Hump)Larson in the meeting with Hump. He was growing up so different and dont understand not really the reactions from Hump. Hump is fascinated from Larson, but he do not understand his "brutality". The end I didnt like not so much, but I don`t no, what would be better. Perhaps it would be nice to see for me, how Hump in the end touch the face from Larson, set their hair. Because, there is no deeper relationship between the two, and a Maud Brewster never could go into that.
Well done, but not for children
H-Volke24 October 2002
Admittedly, this film is well done. It narrates the story of a ship under the leadership of Rolf Larssen, a violent, mentally-ill man. When a ship wreckage of another ship happens, the survivors are taken aboard, and the unholy cruise begins. Harmstorf, a bad actor, who in his career was allowed only to play scumbacks, muggers and robbers, does not play Larsson, he is Larson. Once in a while, his furious attacks of mental pain are so real and scary, that the movie gets a realistic touch that goes far beyond imagination. But, it also plays to the gallery by showing a seaman crawling around after his legs having been bitten off by a shark, with all other seamen standing around, cheering and laughing. Although such scene of graphic violence are rare, the movie is not for children. Harmstorf, who committed suicide after a long and drawn-out suffering of Alzheimer, sets down a figure that is so real that we can deduce from that his real nature : a lone, psychopathic man, prone to violence.
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