Sentinelas do Mar

I believe this is the first Wayne film for Universal. As such, not bad for its type. Low budget hurts but it does move along well. Why aren't these older Wayne films run on television?

That's what a friend said in reaction to this movie, another cheap production from Paul Malvern and Trem Carr, with John Wayne slowly pulling himself out of the mass of cheap westerns and bit parts as corpses he had played over the past six years. If they wanted to make a movie about the Coast Guard, why didn't they look at Wayne, throw away the script and write something fo this obviously nascent star? Didn't they know what they had?

I think they knew what they had. That's why they gave him the part, instead of telling Wayne that he should do another western. However, producers Trem Carr and Paul Malvern weren't in the business of rewriting a B movie for a B movie actor. They didn't get a Universal release -- a definite step up from the States Rights distribution network they had been selling through -- because they could make a real star out of someone who had gotten his shot with Raoul Walsh half a dozen years earlier, and nearly sunk Fox Films. They got it because of their track record of being able to make a passable B western for no money, and passing the savings on. Could Wayne act? Well, they probably replied, we've got Frank Strayer directing, and he's good with no money. Wayne? He'll stand where Frank tells him, and do what Frank tells him, and he can say any old tripe with conviction. Is that what you mean? Besides, the movie isn't really about Wayne. It's about Bakewell redeeming himself, the discipline and service of the Coast Guard, and the big battle scene at the end -- that's where your money is going -- and there's a seal for comedy relief. If you wanted an actor, why'd you let Lew Ayres get away? We can get Wayne cheap.

Even ten years later, John Ford would look at RED RIVER and say "I didn't know he could act." If he didn't know -- or hadn't cared to find out earlier -- why should Carr and Malvern? They weren't creating art. They were creating B movies to be rented out at a flat rate for kiddie matinees. Rewriting the script, delaying production, restaging the sequence would add to the cost, and cut into their thin profit margin, and annoy Universal executives. They weren't in the business of risking a quarter of a million dollars on a production, and if it didn't pay back its costs, the other 51 productions on the slate would make up the deficit.

Besides, it's actually a pretty good example of the Poverty Row B action movie of the time. It's about redemption and forgiveness, and natural resources. And it's got a cute seal. AND Fuzzy Knight.

"Sea Spoilers" is one of the occasional adventure, drama and other genre films that John Wayne interspersed with the plethora of Westerns he was staring in during the 1930s. Wayne made nearly 40% of his films - 70, during the that one decade in a career that spanned five decades. In this film he plays a U. S. Coast Guard ensign playing the waters of the North Pacific off the Coast of Alaska.

Back in that day, the seal fur market was a lucrative one and seal hunting and poaching in breeding grounds was illegal. This film is about the Coast Guard efforts to break up a big seal poaching operation. Along the way, Wayne's Bob Randall has to take a young officer and son of his commanding officer under his wing. And he winds up having to rescue his girlfriend from the poachers as well.

The film has some shorts scenes of Coast Guard boats in action, and some good film clips of the various ports along the Alaska coast. The final battle action wreaked havoc on lots of shanty shacks in a hidden harbor. This is a good film to judge Wayne's acting talent, and he's quite good compared to all the rest of the cast. The screenplay is just fair and the production quality is just so-so. John Wayne fans should enjoy it and those who like outdoor and coastal scenes should be entertained.

During the 1930s, John Wayne made dozens of B-movies....and nearly all of them were westerns. However, "Sea Spoilers" is one where he isn't a cowboy...but is an officer with the US Coast Guard in Alaska.

When the story begins, Bob is the acting commander of a patrol boat and he anticipates being made the captain full-time. However, the commander appoints his son as the new captain...and it's an obvious case of nepotism. But Bob is a professional and serves his new commander faithfully...even when it turns out the guy has aquaphobia!!! The new captain also just isn't very competent and this is a problem when some murderers and poachers kidnap Bob's girlfriend...and the captain's poor skills result in the crooks getting away with the lady. Can Bob somehow manage to stop these jerks and get the girl...without a mutiny or insubordination?

By this point in his career, Wayne was much more natural on screen and here, despite the film having an unusual theme and locale, he does a very good job. Overall, a very good example of a B...one that's been colorized and recently posted to YouTube.

John Wayne as the dutiful young officer and the best boatswain in the Coast Guard is denied his promotion by the Commander's son played by William Bakewell. That plus dad, George Irving hopes he can get over his fear of the sea. The plot thickens as the seal poucher, well played by veteran actor Russell Hicks kidnaps Duke's girl, played by gorgeous Nan Grey. The actors superbly bring the suspense to breakneck speed save for great comic relief. The best comic western sidekick, Fuzzy Knight and Oil (Chester Gan) put on a world class rescue of their own. To get some information from Oil, the landing crew has to give him a 'bottle'. Another surprise is what's in the bottle. Sea Spoilers provides great suspense with just the right amount of comic relief.