The Sea Wolf (1941)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The sea wolf |
| Original title | The Sea Wolf |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1941 |
| length | 100 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Michael Curtiz |
| script | Robert Rossen |
| production |
Henry Blanke Jack L. Warner |
| music | Erich Wolfgang Korngold |
| camera | Sol Polito |
| cut | George Amy |
| occupation | |
| |
The Sea Wolf is a 1941 American adventure film based on the Jack London novel of the same name, starring Edward G. Robinson . Directed by Michael Curtiz .
action
The author Humphrey Van Weyden is on the crossing to San Francisco . In the evening, in thick fog, the ferry is rammed by an unknown steamer and sinks.
Van Weyden and the young Ruth Brewster, whom he met on the ferry, drift off and are finally fished up by the outgoing sealer "Ghost" . Wolf Larsen, the captain, keeps the two on board without further ado, as he is not prepared to turn back because of such a "triviality". Larsen is a tough man with enormous physical strength who ruthlessly harasses his team. At the same time, he is very intelligent and lives according to an uncompromising Darwinist philosophy: "Whoever wants to live has to fight for the right to do so." He is amused to watch how the aesthetic Van Weyden has to earn his daily bread with hard physical work and above all is humiliated by the greasy ship's cook Mugridge.
Everyday life on board is characterized by harsh customs and brutal discipline. One day the situation escalates: Mugridge wanted to ingratiate himself with Larsen by telling him about some blasphemy on the part of the sailors George Leach, with whom Ruth fell in love, and Johnson. Larsen punishes the two and then makes fun of exposing Mugridge as a traitor, who is tied to a rope and thrown into the sea by the angry crew. A shark bit off his leg.
Over time, Van Weyden and Larsen develop a kind of relationship of trust, as Van Weyden is the only one on board who can keep up with his intellect. At this time, Van Weyden also noticed that Larsen apparently suffered from a serious illness, repeatedly plagued by severe headaches combined with temporary blindness .
One night Johnson, Leach, Ruth and Van Weyden decide to flee to escape Larsen's cruelty. They steal provisions and one of the fishing boats and row out into the night hoping to hit land.
After several days at sea, their supplies are used up. They lost their bearings in thick fog, until suddenly a ship appeared out of the fog: The Ghost, abandoned, with torn sails and a leak. Wolf Larsen had been tracked down by his brother "Death" Larsen and shot at with a cannon. When the sailors discovered Wolf Larsen's blindness and found the leak in the hull, they fled in the boats. Only Larsen is still on board. Leach, Ruth and Van Weyden (Johnson has since sacrificed himself to leave the three of them more of their provisions) decide to tie up with the "Ghost" and get new supplies. As Leach is fetching the provisions from the ship's warehouse, Larsen appears and locks Leach in the warehouse. Ruth and Van Weyden, who had been waiting in the boat in the meantime, also board and discover that Leach is trapped. Van Weyden goes into the captain's cabin to ask Larsen for the key. A brief battle of words ensues, at the end of which Larsen shoots Van Weyden.
Van Weyden uses a trick to convince Larsen, who has since become completely blind, to let Leach and Ruth go. They get back on their rowboat and head towards the coast. Van Weyden and Wolf Larsen sink into the depths of the sea with the ship.
Nominations & Awards
Byron Haskin (visual effects) and Nathan Levinson (sound effects) received an Oscar nomination for best special effects.
criticism
Cinema: “Jack London's philosophical novel about the infamous sadist has been adapted several times, including two as a silent film. Thanks to the convincing cast and the excellent camera work by Sol Polito, Michael Curtiz's version has remained unmatched to this day. It is considered to be one of the best Jack London films ever. The special effects (all "outdoor shots" were shot in the studio) received an Oscar nomination. "
Further films
See article: The Sea Wolf , there are all film versions of the novel listed.
Others
- The sea wolf had its premiere on a ship, the luxury liner America, during a crossing from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
- A total of twelve carpenters were needed to build the Ghost .
- The actor George Raft turned down the role of George Leach because it seemed too small to him.
Web links
- The Sea Wolf in the Internet Movie Database (English)