The Devil's Pass

John Slater wants back his fishing boat. It was built by his grandfather and run by his father until death; then the funeral and duties took it. The men that run it currently are unhappy with it; they can't get insurance on a 70-year-old craft without a new inspection and a lot of refurbishment. So one day Slater takes it out on the water, and Christopher Warbey stows away. Together they find, yes, there are some issues with the craft.

I was not impressed but I think that's a matter of the conditions of my viewing. I am convinced that it was because I was looking at it on my computer screen. I think that had I seen it on a theater screen with an audience, the size of the open sea and shoals would have struck me, as well as the rhythms of wind and water. Perhaps I caught a hint of that visually, or perhaps it was the lively score provided by Phillip Green.

This is the kind of film they just don't produce anymore. A sweet, gentle family movie with a moral. John Slater stars as a Bill Buckle, a simple dreamer without any material wealth. His family owned a fishing ship, The Cascade, but when his father died many years ago, they had to sell the boat to pay for the funeral. Bill's dream is to one day buy back The Cascade and fish the seas again.

Presently, The Cascade, is owned by a trio of fisherman. They don't value the ship as Bill does. They consider the boat out of date and ineffective. They plot to wreck the ship so they can claim the insurance money. Fate enters when the Cascade is short crew and Bill is asked to work as a deck hand. Adding to the drama is the appearance of a young lad from a nearby orphanage who has stowed away on the Cascade. This all leads to the final conflict at sea, where Bill will certainly try to save the ship from her demise.

This is an extremely well done, low budget British movie. It runs less than an hour but no time is wasted. The film conveys a beautiful message and the actors performances are fine performances all round. The film even has a catchy song that is played throughout the feature.

This made for distribution by Associated British Pathe for showing on the bottom half of double bills in Associated BritishCinemas.

It features John Slater in a atypical role. Normally playing policeman or criminals.

There are some familiar faces in the cast such as that well known Devonian Scotsman,Archie Duncan and Ewen Sollon.

There is excellent cinematography of the ship apparently in distress.

Jon Whilst the story itself has little that is new or innovative, nevertheless it does manage to hold interest,even if at times the plot Vere's on cliches. Bearing in mind that the film is only fifty six minutes long it is unlikely to outstay it's welcome.