Purely Joyful Movie!

It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Thanks to its superior film craft, The Sea Wolf holds up well today. As the title character, Edward G. Robinson is in his swaggering, bullying element. Equally great performances from Barry Fitzgerald, John Garfield and Gene Lockhart alike rivet a contemporary audience's attention. Admittedly, as the nominal hero, Alexander Knox is a little too weak and spineless for modern tastes; whilst Ida Lupino seems too glamorous to retain credibility as an escaped convict. On the other hand, the anti-fascist screenplay has not dated much at all, although its fantasy elements are harder to accept in this non-romantic age. Director Curtiz handles both the picturesque elements of the tale and the dramatic with equal finesse, flair, punch and atmosphere. Some great action scenes punctuate the drama, like the early ferry capsize (though the use of miniatures here becomes obvious on a third or fourth viewing). $1 million was spent and it's all up there on the screen in marvelous photography and eye-catching sets. And Korngold has contributed an effective if uncharacteristic score.

No doubt this film is perfectly watchable, mostly due to its relatively short running time, but yet is a very flawed film. The character's development is very shallow, and definitely it lacked depth to explain the supposed 'love triangle'. There is also no explanation of the why the 'brother' was chasing the villain. Even if there is a deep symbolism on it, still does not make any sense. The captain was a very despicable being, but i didn't understand why the prisoners were waiting him to became blind. They were the majority against one. It didn't make sense, and neither the sacrifice of the protagonist in the end as well. I did understand he loved the woman, but i don't understand why he loved her. Didn't make sense. There is no hint in the film that their relationship was even convincing, to be sincere. The special effects were good for the age, i think. Good use of fogs. The fact that it's a black and white film also helped in that aspect. A watchable film. 5.6/10

John Garfield (George Leach) volunteers to work on a ship called the "Ghost" in order to flee the police who are searching for him. Ida Lupino (Ruth) is also fleeing the authorities on a passenger ferry and has just been handed over to detectives by sophisticated, nancy-boy writer Alexander Knox (Van Weyden) when the ferry is rammed and sunk. Lupino and Knox survive as the ferry sinks and they are picked up by the ship that rammed them - the "Ghost" - captained by Edward G Robinson (Wolf Larsen). Robinson has no intention of putting them ashore and they join his crew on his pirate ship - the purpose of Robinson's journeys are to steal cargoes from other ships and skulk around in the foggy waters avoiding detection. Robinson is sadistic and Garfield has a plan to make a break for freedom.....The story is a familiar one of cruelty at sea and mutiny and Edward G Robinson puts in a performance that is the equal of Charles Laughton in "Mutiny On The Bounty" (1935) and Howard Da Silva in "Two Years Before The Mast" (1946) as the sea captain bully. This is his film and he commands it as he does his crew. Garfield and Knox have important roles - Garfield as the angry man who rebels and Knox who becomes Robinson's confidante and holds the key to the film's denouement - but Lupino, while good in her role, does not have much to do. I'm not really sure why she's in the film as the love interest just isn't necessary. Garfield and Lupino may look good as a couple but their romance also does not convince at times, especially when Garfield is soooooo cold towards her yet she comes back for more from him. I don't think so! The story has many different sequences to it and the pace rolls along nicely. The atmosphere of the film also deserves a mention with the aptly named "Ghost" disappearing in and out of fog banks. The first time we see the ship is memorable as it sinks the passenger ferry at the beginning. There are other memorable scenes including Gene Lockhart's (Dr Prescott) appearance one day dressed in his finest clothing after re-gaining his confidence - you will end up feeling very sorry for him - but, in the ensuing scenes, he does what he believes to be the best thing for a man who still has some dignity.A final mention must go to Edward G Robinson, who, on occasion, manages to convince the audience that he has a human side to his character. I found it slightly out of character that he would take Knox's psycho-babble to heart as he does but then again, the guy is a psycho so who knows. It's interesting that Robinson is a secret intellectual and given his background, he's actually done very well for himself if you ask me. Maybe I'll see him in hell one day.Overall, it's an entertaining film that's worth keeping onto.

Am I the only one who prefers EddieGRob when he DOESN'T play gun-toting mobsters? My favorites are DOUBLE INDEMNITY, Dr. ERLICH'S MAGIC BULLET, and this one. Here's he's a villain, quite a bit tougher than Rico or Johnny Rocco, and his weapons are not guns, but his own hands and his enemies' weaknesses. And, unlike in most of his villain-roles, in this one he expresses real vulnerability. He actually makes me feel sorry for the dirty, sadistic bastard he plays.Besides him, Ida Lupino, Barry Fitzgerald, and John Garfield play extremely well. And do not overlook the music by the great post-Wagnerian composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who ought to be much better-known than he is. Really if there were a concert consisting just of the soundtrack to this movie, it would be well worth the price of admission.Weaknesses of this movie include wooden acting by the protagonist (Alexander Knox) and by Gene Lockhart (whose role, to be fair, is very badly-written).