The Sea Chase (1955)

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Blistering performances.

A hopelessly miscast and misconceived yarn Directed by the vastly experienced John Farrow who in the 1950's was turning out feature films at the rate of one every nine months contributing to a career tally approaching 50. John Wayne is a convincing character actor as the embodiment of the all - American hero, showcased by his performances in Westerns and WW2 adventures. But as a German Freighter captain he is hopeless.No effort is made to convince that Wayne, or his crew, are German. Instead he offers his best American drawl and the crew speak English without accents. Nazism is largely absent, as is the Nazi flag bar once. The British are awkwardly cast as the putative "baddies" pursuing Wayne after one of his (only)Nazi Officers commits onshore murder as the ship tries to escape from Australia to Valparaiso after the outbreak of war. This crude device means that the "bad" pursuers are also "good", because they are righting a wrong and ensures that although Wayne is "good", Nazis are bad.Lana Turner is bolted on as a love interest playing the part of a spy taking passage, but there is zero chemistry between her and Wayne and she ends up as mere window dressing.The action sequences, such as they are, are limp and the overall emotion is one of sheer incredulity that anyone would have thought that this was going to work.Anyone who bemoans that, "they don't make films like they used to " should check this out - and be grateful.

After wading through our modern crop of difficult, complicated productions it was refreshing to watch this little number. Not unlike diving into that Pacific ocean.It's not ground breaking. It's not even a work of genius. But isn't that the point and the purpose of a film ? A lesson that many directors seem to have forgotten these days with films that always have to try and out do one another. Be "clever clever", or make some drawn out post modern social commentary. I don't know about you, but I go to see a film to have a break from those things. To relax.The scene where Wayne and Turner talk in a clearing is natural. I could have stumbled in on their conversation out of the trees. There seems to be no effort in what they do. Who's paying these people !? I want to see sweat and tears ! Oh wait, they're acting.The story is obscure in an attractive sort of way .. not unlike another Wayne film "Blood Alley", but is told in that easy way that seems to come to matinees. Dropping off the screen like some dog eared work of fiction that you read on holiday.

What was with John Wayne in the 1950s?! Perhaps it was because he often produced his own films or had great star power, but whatever the reason, he chose some of the weirdest parts to play. Think about it...during this era he played Genghis Khan, a diplomat to Japan, an Air Force pilot (this isn't so weird, but his counterpart was Janet Leigh as a Russian pilot!!) and here he plays a German ship's captain during WWII!! At least here he is a German who dislikes the Nazis....but still...Wayne fighting for Germany during the war?! That's so surreal! The film begins just days before WWII begins. Wayne is having a conversation with an old friend who is a captain in the British Navy. This officer is trying to convince Wayne to leave his boat and come with him, as he knows that Wayne hates Hitler and the Nazis. However, Wayne's sense of duty and loyalty to his country prevent him from doing anything other than command his ship.When the war begins, Wayne is concerned to first evade his friend's warship as well as avoid being captured once they are underway. So, it's a never-ending battle to take this merchant vessel to small ports where they can get food and fuel--and somehow possibly make it back to port at Valparaiso and eventually back to Germany.What Wayne doesn't know is that his over-zealous Nazi of a first officer murders two innocent fishermen when they stop to get provisions. Later, when the British Navy discovers this atrocity, Wayne's old friend is determined to destroy the merchant ship and make Wayne pay.During all this time, there inexplicably is a woman aboard. Apparently, she (Lana Turner) is a spy who needs to get away as soon as possible or she'll be captured. Once on board, she generally is a nuisance as she seems petulant and nasty for no particular reason. Later, naturally, sparks fly between Turner and Wayne--though the reason for this seemed a bit forced and illogical.Let's talk more about Wayne and Turner. Although casting Wayne was odd, he handled the job well provided you were able to believe he was German. He did a good job and his character was particularly written well. As for Turner, she seemed like a giant walking cliché. She was moody and curt but over time she became enamored with Wayne. This turnaround was really too much, as she seemed all emotions and fickleness--a truly shallow and silly character (Turner, by the way, was good at these sort of roles). Late in the film, off the coast of Norway, the dialog (particularly hers) is really, really bad--very sticky and dumb.Overall, a pretty interesting tale that didn't really need Lana Turner's character. She was a diversion in an otherwise engaging tale.

It is always astonishing to see in Hollywood movies Germans characterized as good guys. And that in 1955, only ten years after WWII. The Germans have usually to play the role of the bad and ugly, if there are no Red Indians or Russian communists or WWII Japanese around (Hollywood's axes of evil). Interestingly as most immigrants before WWI were Germans and every 5th white American is of German descendance (many Hollywood Stars know this, even Harrison Ford and Doris Day). How could anyone believe that such a film was getting a blockbuster? It is what many Hollywood historical movies makes boring: the US-boys are always the tough guys. And if others are some sort of heroes they will have to say the text-line: "Ah, I am sorry I am no American, but I should definitely be,and in my heart I am already, you know!" When do we get MORE realistic films? May be the Us boys do not get along in Irak, because they sit to high on their horses? A classical American failure it seems. I hasten to ad that there are time and again noteworthy exceptions to the rule - which astonish me even more- where filmmakers show almost incredible self-criticism. Not surprisingly often good films! I gave seven stars, two alone for the courage to do something different, one for King Duke and the rest for being average.