Sealed Cargo

Massachusetts fishing boat captain Pat Bannon (Dana Andrews) and his crew come across a derelict Danish sailing ship in the North Atlantic. The only person on board is the ship's captain Skalder (Claude Rains). He claims that a German u-boat attacked his ship in rough weather, and that the rest of his crew were either killed or abandoned ship. Bannon agrees to tow Skalder's boat back to port, but is there more to his story than he's letting on?

This is an entertaining wartime suspense film, with the first half playing like a whodunit mystery as Bannon (and the audience) tries to figure out what's really going on and who is on whose side. The second half is a well-executed thriller as those in the know try to evade detection and solve their new-found problems before it's too late. I'm being purposely vague, as the revelations are a big part of the movie's appeal. The cast is good, with the standout for me being Philip Dorn as a suspicious new crew member on Bannon's ship. This movie also marked the only time real-life brothers Dana Andrews and Steve Forrest appeared together.

Makes me wonder why this mini classic is not better known. This marvelous tale of the Sea, not only offers very good performances by Claude Rains, Dana Andrews, and Philip Dorn, but is based on an intriguing novel "The Gaunt Woman" by Edmund Gilligan. The Screenplay receives fine treatment, with plenty of suspense by Dale Van Every (A.K.F. that other great Sea Classic: "Captains Courageous") It's the eerie look of the film thats the real star. Great, moody B/W Cinematography by George E. Diskant who gave us those fine Noir images in several other RKO features: "The Narrow Margin" - "Riffraff" - "They Live By Night" and "On Dangerous Ground". Some neat special effects also help lift the tension as it moves along.

Combined with the evocative Direction of Award Winner: Alfred Werker ("He Walked by Night" - "Lost Boundaries") 'Sealed Cargo' is packed with viewing enjoyment, filled with mystic shots (in dense fog at sea) during the dangerous days of WW11. This tale will keep any not overly demanding viewer very happily occupied for its nicely paced 90mins. Pretty Carla Balenda ("Hunt the Man Down" and much on TV) supplies the female interests and carries it off with likable style. While it's set in wartime, you would not call this a 'war' film.

RKO sure knew how to entertain audiences with a wide range of assorted themes throughout the 30's - 50's. Both Werker and Diskant went on to give some of the better shows of B/W Television their look and feel, creating a stylized look on small budgets.

Seems 'Cargo' is rarely shown, so well worth looking for. Some TV Prints are not so good, being from old CC Movietime copies, so look for a true RKO print if you can.

Dana Andrews as a fisherman captain and Claude Rains as another captain on an abandoned ship - what could go wrong? Of course everything goes wrong by calculation. Dana Andrews is honest enough as always, while Claude Rains, as usual, has quite some hidden agenda. What's impressing about this war film at sea is the almost expressionistic cinematography - Claude Rains' ship like the "Mary Celeste" floats around at sea without any crew and with a cargo of rum, and it's a beautiful schooner with terrific rigging, although they have all been blown to rags and pieces, like on a ghost ship. Captain Andrews tows the mysterious ship to a small fishing village in Newfoundland, where the war barges in with a vengeance. The test of strength and war of nerves between the two captains is the main human asset of the film, while it is mostly worth watching for the spectacular cinematography, added to by the dramatic music.

Dana Andrews, Claude Rains, Philip Dorn, and Carla Balenda star in "Sealed Cargo" from 1951.

Andrews plays a fishing boat captain, Pat Banyon. A woman (Balenda) begs for passage to her hometown - even though there really isn't room for her, Banyon agrees to take her.

After fighting an awful storm, Banyon and his team spot a ship that looks abandoned. They are cautious, since it's wartime, and it could be an enemy ship.

They do find one man on board, Captain Skalder (Rains) and learn that it is a Dutch ship. Skalder says that a German u-boat attacked the vessel. The crew abandoned ship or were killed.

Banyon says he will tow the ship back to port. However, the saga is far from over.

Like other reviewers, I'm surprised this RKO film didn't get more attention. It's atmospheric, suspenseful, and the end is extremely exciting. I would say the one drawback is throwing in a romance angle. Unnecessary.

If you get a chance, catch this one.

A Taut and Tense WWII Drama that is Gripping from the Get-Go. The RKO Style does Service to a Tale, We are Told in the Prolog, that goes Virtually Unnoticed among the more Sprawling Battles in America's Fight Against Fascism.

Moody, Grim, and No-Nonsense Approach (although some may say the "Woman On Board" Plot Element is a Stretch). The Female Ingredient, was a Standard to Bolster Box-Office, but is Handled OK and Not Forced into the Narrative.

This Picture is Not Well Known in most Circles and really Surprises with Dana Andrews and Claude Rains heading a Cast of Sea Salts Butting Heads with the Nazis. Studio Bound and its B-Movie Pedigree Reveals itself but is Overwhelmed by the Witty Dialog and the Overall Atmosphere of the Frame.

Highly Recommended and even Movie Fans not usually Drawn to War Films might want to Come Aboard.