The Eternal Sea

A reasonably prestigious production for Republic Pictures, well-photographed by John L. Russell (best remembered for shooting 'Psycho').

The first of two films based by William Wister Haines on factual tales of the rehabilitation of a disabled ex-serviceman. Next came 'The Wings of Eagles', which John Wayne spent most of in traction. Here a dashing Sterling Hayden simply saunters into the Korean War walking with an occasional limp; his biggest struggle involving office politics rather than his disability.

(The part being too brief and homely to interest President of Republic Herbert Yates' wife Vera Hruba Ralston, his loyal wife is instead played by Alexis Smith; a much more interesting actress as she got older but sadly by then largely lost to films.)

For John H. Auer, a triumph.

A simple tale, yet profound.

Of a real person, facing challenges.

John Madison Hoskins, United States Navy, (1898-1964)

For Sterling Hayden, as John Hoskins, a wonderful performance, as in all his films.

Well supported by Alexis Smith as Mrs Hoskins.

Dean Jagger adds another role to his illustrious career, as Thomas L. Semple.

Ben Cooper as 'Zuggy' Zugbaum. Ben Cooper, never got the acclaim, for his various characterizations, I believe he deserved.

Various costars, Virginia Grey, Hayden Rorke, Douglas Kennedy and Willis Bouchey give good support.

Real naval personnel are portrayed.

Such as Arthur Dewey Struble.

And William F. 'Bull' Halsey.

I guess that John H Auer was the main war film provider for the studio; Republic Studio. Sterling Hayden brings much to this one, huge budget for this studio, but the result is not on the John Ford's style scale. Especially with the use of footage combat scenes. It's is tiring after a while. I watched it mainly for the presence of ASPHALT JUNGLE lead. I admit. It is bearable, but sometimes a bit long, boring. If you crave for war features, patriotic or not - and this one belongs to this category - you won't be deceived. Without Sterling Hayden, I am not sure I would have spent one hundred minutes of my life on this movie.

This is another film that is really let down by it's title. One that suggests more of a swashbuckler - or a romance, at any rate - than a biopic of American Admiral Hoskins (Sterling Hayden) who was a pioneer of the use of jet aircraft from aircraft carriers. As it is, it's an OK depiction of the struggles of the man against the elements, technology, human frailty and government to get his ideas implemented. Hayden is a charm-free actor here, his dedication to his task is laudable, but cheerless and any semblance of romance with wife Sue (a rather prim Alexis Smith) left me cold. It does have oodles of wonderful original aerial photography to augment it, though - and that helps. Sadly, though, this is all as flat as the deck on the "USS Princeton".

This is a biopic about Admiral John Hoskins. The movie looks more like a war (or navy recruitment) propaganda than a drama. It's amazing Sterling Hayden can go through 1h 43 min with the same facial expression and wooden acting style. He portrayed the guy as a total jerk (maybe it was true...) I agreed more with his critics in the movie than himself. Especially his antics during the construction of new Princeton were terrible. If I were one of the engineers working on the dockyard I'd kill him. As for the directing, the narrative is pretty flat and devoid of tension. The war scenes are unimpressive and cursory. The only quasi-drama happens when he fights against those who want his retirement and is short-lived. The rest is a documentary style slow-paced storytelling. Perhaps, the only redeeming quality of the movie is its sporadic attempts for making a statement for the disabled.