Monday can only mean one thing, it’s time for another installment of Review Stew! This week we hit the high seas with an adaptation of Jack London’s novel of the same name…The Sea Wolf (1941).
Title: The Sea Wolf
Director: Michael Curtiz
Released: March 21, 1941 (Mexico and the United States)
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
Available to stream on: Tubi
Escaped criminal Ruth Webster (Ida Lupino) finds herself on a passenger ferry trying to lay low. While on board, she happens to meet a writer by the name of Humphrey van Weyden (Alexander Knox). Desperate to avoid capture, Ruth urges Humphrey to pretend they’re friends. When confronted by officers, Humphrey can’t bring himself to lie.
However, Ruth going back into custody takes a back seat to the passenger ferry colliding with a steamboat. The ferry sinks quickly, but the members of the vessel named Ghost rescue Ruth and Humphrey.
Once aboard the Ghost, they realize they weren’t the only ones picked up that night. In fact, another individual on the run from the law, George Leach (John Garfield) was the only one to accept the crew’s recruitment offer back on dry land. Luckily for George, Humphrey and Ruth quickly became the new interest of the crew, saving him from the Captain.
Captain Wolf Larsen (Edward G. Robinson) is a mean and spiteful individual. Unfortunately for his crew, they are his main target. Although, now that Humphrey is on board, he becomes Larsen’s top target. Humphrey finds himself the victim of whatever cruel punishments Larsen decides to dish out.
With a sadistic Captain and a crew on the verge of a full-blown mutiny, things are looking rather bleak for Ruth, Humphrey, and George.
Boy, they don’t make them like they used to.
For as many scenes of straight-up action as there are, there are just as many subtle quiet moments that keep you equally as captivated. The scenes aboard the Ghost give you a sense of the dread that’s about to come. A shadowy, misty figure, almost as if it’s a floating house of horror.
A great story is nothing without a cast that can deliver great performances. Luckily, that isn’t a problem here. Robinson, Lupino, Knox, and Garfield are all superb in their respective roles. Shoot, even the supporting cast is solid throughout.
The Sea Wolf (1941) is a tight and tense 100-minutes with very little fluff. Every scene serves a purpose to help advance the story. There isn’t a single one that is wasted or feels out of place.
If you haven’t already seen The Sea Wolf (1941), consider this your recommendation to correct that.
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So glad you enjoyed it!
It’s a great film!