In this maritime melodrama from Republic Pictures and director Edward Ludwig, a new ship's officer Sam Rosen (Gig Young) finds himself stuck in the middle of a complicated revenge plot by grim ship's captain Ralls (John Wayne) and shipping magnate Sidneye (Luther Adler). As Rosen slowly learns of the two men's past, he finds himself just as entangled in their agendas as they are.
This was another of Republic's attempts at prestige filmmaking, made as Wayne's stardom was reaching its full heights. I have to say that Wayne's performance is pretty darn good, showing a range of emotion and depth of character. He seemed to have a real rapport with co-star Gail Russell, judging by this and Angel and the Badman. Much of the movie is rather hokey, though, and dragged out. Wayne gets to wrestle an octopus and go deep-sea diving, so any flashbacks to Reap the Wild Wind are understandable. Speaking of the octopus, this is the same prop that was later filched by the crew of director Ed Wood for use in his immortal classic Bride of the Monster. This movie must have been a special one for Wayne, as he named his production company Batjac after the shipping firm in the film.
This was another of Republic's attempts at prestige filmmaking, made as Wayne's stardom was reaching its full heights. I have to say that Wayne's performance is pretty darn good, showing a range of emotion and depth of character. He seemed to have a real rapport with co-star Gail Russell, judging by this and Angel and the Badman. Much of the movie is rather hokey, though, and dragged out. Wayne gets to wrestle an octopus and go deep-sea diving, so any flashbacks to Reap the Wild Wind are understandable. Speaking of the octopus, this is the same prop that was later filched by the crew of director Ed Wood for use in his immortal classic Bride of the Monster. This movie must have been a special one for Wayne, as he named his production company Batjac after the shipping firm in the film.