Captain Hurricane

I say this as someone from Connecticut who spent much time in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and a bit in Maine and New Hampshire: this is one of the loveliest Hollywood depictions of New England life. It also has the virtues of the fine art direction associated with the RKO studio, such as in the fussed over home of Helen Westley. Standout moments: the opening in which the crotchety captain is practically frozen to his mast in an evening snow storm.Westley on another wintry night,sitting in her rocking chair, listening to a record player and stroking a cat. Two other character actors Gene Lockhart and Henry Travers make an amusing Tweedle Dee- Tweedle Dum pair.

1935's "Captain Hurricane" was a creaky RKO programmer with no stars, top billing going to screen newcomers James Barton and Helen Westley. The title role of Captain Zenas Henry Brewster (Barton) is that of a crusty old salt whose fiery temper has kept his girl Abbie Howland (Helen Westley) at arm's length for 15 years, refusing his marriage proposals until finally agreeing to become his housekeeper for $2 a week. This doesn't sit well with his fellow captains, Jeremiah (Gene Lockhart) and Ben (Henry Travers), who must clean up their act because she literally runs a tight ship. The arrival of Susan Ann (Helen Mack) brings much happiness to the household, being the daughter they never had, enjoying a relationship with Jimmy Howell (Douglas Walton). Things turn sour when Zenas Henry tries to turn over a new leaf for Abbie by purchasing a cranberry farm, only for him to be swindled out of his ship and his home. RKO contract player Creighton Chaney was originally cast as Abbie's younger brother Dave, and actually caved to studio pressure by finally changing his name to Lon Chaney Jr., only to end up on the cutting room floor. The part was undoubtedly a small one, and she still mentions her brother on two occasions early on, having lived with him until he married his sweetheart and moved away, still occasionally returning to visit. Considering the forgettable nature of the old fashioned story it's probably just as well that Chaney fans need not be burdened to watch its molasses slow 72 minutes.

Old "CAPTAIN HURRICANE" (named for his periodic bouts of Lionel Barrymore temper) retires from the sea. During the course of the movie, he helps support two ineffectual fellow captains, adopts the shipwrecked daughter of another, and courts his pie baking housekeeper.

This is the type of movie folks who complain "they don't make them like they used to" usually seem to love. Though billed as comedy, the humor is so gentle as to be invisible, and there is enough incident to keep things from being bland. The roles are all character parts, so that we get to see pretty good second-rank character actors ply their trade at gentle yet irascible, vaguely new-england sorts. The dose of sentimentality is high, but does not overwhelm the picture.

In other words -- this is a genuine family picture, told by pros who know their craft, and not overburdened with after-school special moralizing or unfortunate stereotypes one has to explain to the kids at the end of the picture. This is nothing special, but maybe worth seeing with the kids and grandkids. It was watching old movies like this with my mom that got me hooked on old movies way back when.

This uninvolving light comedy stars James Barton as a curmudgeonly sea captain trying to win the hand of old maid Helen Westley. His efforts to channel the spirit of Lionel Barrymore are only partially successful, and the film doesn't get off the ground as a result. Barton shares a house with two other ineffectual old salts played by Henry Travers and Gene Lockhart (who reminds me of Edgar Kennedy), and beautiful young Helen Mack plays a young woman rescued by the three seaman during the film's stormy highlight. By the time Westley and Barton have come to terms with each other at film's end, fifteen plus narrative years have passed and you've spent 70 plus minutes waiting for something to happen. Look for young Lon Chaney Jr. in a small role.

James Barton is the fiery, bad tempered captain Hurricane. co-stars Gene Lockhart as Captain Taylor, Helen Westley as Abbie, and Henry Travers (Clarence, from Wonderful Life !) When Hurricane bugs Abbie to marry him, she invites the other locals to socialize, in an effort to tame Hurricane. The men all vie for the affections of Abbie, and now it's a toss up to see who she will marry. and because it takes place in new england, there's talk of cranberry bogs, and inventions that will help when it gets foggy along the coast. Barton had started in vaudeville, was a dancer, and moved into talkies. looks like he did mostly short films prior to this one. keep an eye out for young Helen Mack... she had done a couple silents, before the talkies started, but even when THIS was made, she was only 22. her love interest is played by Doug Walton. died real young at 51 of a heart attack. Film directed by John Robertson; he did TONS of stuff in the silents, then moved right into talkies. even has a song about him by the Byrds...."Old John Robertson", according to wikipedia dot org. it's pretty good, for an oldie but a goodie. i'm surprised at its low rating, as of today. i liked it better than the other 70 who voted here on imdb.