not as good as all the hype

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

It's real nice to find a movie on which all we IMDb reviewers agree for once. I've little to add to what my comrades have already written. "Sea Spoilers" is a low budget movie, but Wayne is his usual capable self, despite the fact that he obviously received very little help from the director, whose work here is decidedly amateurish. In fact, that word, "amateurish", could be applied to the whole movie. Even the tinny sound recording hits a new low in incompetence. And as for the script that furnishes a plot that seems to have been stolen straight out from "The Boys Own Paper"... A trained seal and Fuzzy Knight are also on hand to unintentionally delight us with some boobishly inept comic relief.For all that, you couldn't say the movie was dull. It's lively enough. And it certainly packs a curiosity appeal. Despite everything - and largely thanks to Big John - it all adds up to passable "B"-picture entertainment.

This was a good, but not great, action film made by Universal in 1936, about fighting the seal pirates off the coast of Alaska.As with other films by the #1 star of all time, it obviously has commercial value even today. The movie was re-issued to theaters in 1949. Oddly, virtually all Universal pictures from this era were reissued to theaters either by Realart Pictures or by Universal. "The Spoilers" is one example: reissued over-and-over to theaters, then by VHS, DVD, etc. But not "Sea Spiolers." "Sea Spoilers" was offered a few times in bootleg on eBay; not lately.Incidentally, Humphrey Bogart is being pushed right now as the #1 star of all time. Love Bogart, but #1 he is not.

John Wayne is Bob Randall, the best boatswain in the Coast Guard. His ship is heading home and he's looking forward to two things: he expects to be promoted to skipper of his ship, and he knows he'll see his girl Connie. Alas, things don't work out—at least not right away.First, the commander back in port passes over Bob and appoints his own son to command the ship. The Duke is disappointed but grits his teeth—he is too much the professional to let it affect his work. But second, Connie is kidnapped by a gang of seal smugglers and taken out to sea and who knows where. Can this be allowed to stand? Sea Spoilers does not exactly stretch the intellect, but it's fun, nevertheless.Nan Grey is spirited as Connie, the girlfriend. Her part is not large but she has a few good scenes—she directs some fiery speeches at the head bad guy (Russell Hicks), and she displays smarts when a swift escape becomes vitally necessary.Hicks is a particularly nasty baddie; suave in appearance and manner, he exults in the early success of his evil plans and freely insults his captives and enemies.Some minor subplots distract briefly, such as the young commander's fear of rough water, and the seal brought on board by the Duke's assistant and pal (Fuzzy Knight, as combination right hand man and comic relief). But it's really John Wayne's show: he plays a handsome, dutiful and daring young officer who's tall and strong and not a big talker. What's not to like?

I believe this is the first Wayne film for Universal. As such, not bad for its type. Low budget hurts but it does move along well. Why aren't these older Wayne films run on television?