Wolf Larsen

Fun flick I recall seeing for first time on an offbeat cable channel way back in the early 80's. Somehow, it stuck with me in all the intervening years, and which I never thought I'd see again, as it never turned up anywhere, not even in a discount video or dvd bin. Upon first viewing, I was unfamiliar with the original novel by Jack London, though I now am. Of course, the major Hollywood production filmed in the 40's starring Edward G. Robinson was more substantial, expensive-looking, and elaborate, though I'm sure it strayed quite a bit from the novel nonetheless. "Wolf's" rather niftily done despite its low-budget. Most of the scenes were filmed aboard a real ship while at sea which is rather impressive. Even with such cramped spaces with which to work, the camerawork is varied and remains interesting. The screenplay, too, is well-written and follows a logical progression. There's little action until toward the end, and no doubt would be considered too talky for today's audiences but it nevertheless hold's one's interest, primarily due to the 19th-century sailing ship on which the story's set, the unpredictabilty of Larsen's violent streaks of temper, cruelty, and Jekyll & Hyde personality. Peter Graves, well before he achieved TV fame with "Mission: Impossible" performs in sufficiently stalwart fashion, making the best of a bad situation, becoming a so-called "man" in the process. The survivor of a disaster at sea, his character's rescued by Larsen's ship "Ghost", who promptly puts him to work at shipboard tasks for which Graves is completely unsuited. He learns the captain and his crew are seal-hunters, though none of this bloody work, thankfully, isn't shown. Of course, viewed and judged by today's sensibilities, seal-hunting is utterly reprehensible, the delightful marine animals killed nearly to extinction in order make trendy sealskin coats, society's demand for such having created a very lucrative industry, which Larsen's pursuing. Sickening! Barry Sullivan does well as the troubled captain of the "Ghost". "Wolf Larsen's" a neat, salt-sprayed little tale of men interacting within a very confined space, far removed from civilization, and subject to the whims of a despotic sea-captain, one who provides them their livelihood. While not a classic film by any means, it's based on a great classic story, condensed and simplified but conveying it pretty well in straightforward, muscular fashion, complicated only slightly by the addition of a lone woman toward the film's conclusion. All enthusiasts of sailing ships like the "Ghost", and the late 19th-century era in which it takes place, should check it out!

Came across the movie while doing research on a ship called The Gracie S; and later renamed The Wanderer. I enjoyed the movie, and it has special meaning for me as I have been on the ship! The "Gracie S" was the ship used in the movie. She was built for the San Francisco Bar Pilots at the Union Iron Works in San Francisco and delivered to the Pilots in 1893. She was named after the daughter of John D. Spreckels, the Sugar and Shipping magnate. My Great Grandfather, John E. McCulloch, was the Pilot for the Gracie S for over 30 years. My Great Grandfather was also a business associate of Mr. Spreckels dating back to the late 1800 when my Great Grandfather was a Clipper Ship Captain, plying trade between Australia (Eucalyptus Trees), Hawaii (Sugar) and California (Citrus). In Feb of 1960, she was owned by Actor Sterling Hayden (sp?) and had been renamed "The Wanderer" and made a Port Call in San Francisco (Oakland?). I remember going with my Grandparents (Robert E. And Babs McCulloch), along with my mother, and several cousins, to tour the ship. The original Oil painting of the ship, painted by William A. Coulter, a famous marine artist, hung in my Grandparents living Room in Palo Alto until sometime in the late 60's when it was placed on loan with the San Francisco Bar Pilots Association at the Maritime Museum in Oakland, CA. It was extremely gratifying to see footage of the "Gracie S" aka "The Wanderer" underway.

It's really a shame that no user has commented this rare gem yet. A truly good film which is a remake of a great classic: THE SEA WOLF, directed by Michael Curtiz and shot in 1941, starring Edward G Robinson and John Garfield. This movie was adapted from a Jack London novel.

It was a great surprise for me to find such a good remake. Even if I admit that Barry Sullivan is not Edward G Robinson and Peter Graves not John Garfield either... But the main topic and truly depth of characters are respected. Barry Sullivan is rather poignant in his ambivalent character: tyrant and touching in the same time. A man tortured by his own demons. The film is well done, no boring at all. Harmon Jones filmography deserves to be discovered again. I'll try to comment other rare films from him.

Anyway, make me a pleasure, don't miss WOLF LARSEN.