Adicionar um enredo no seu idiomaAWOL marine Sgt. Jim O'Hearn is court-martialed for a variety of offenses that carry 143 years in the stockade or the death penalty but refuses to aid in his own defense.AWOL marine Sgt. Jim O'Hearn is court-martialed for a variety of offenses that carry 143 years in the stockade or the death penalty but refuses to aid in his own defense.AWOL marine Sgt. Jim O'Hearn is court-martialed for a variety of offenses that carry 143 years in the stockade or the death penalty but refuses to aid in his own defense.
- Direção
- Roteiristas
- Artistas
- Jacques
- (as Georges Saurel)
Avaliações em destaque
Virginia Mayo, in the titular role, can't stand Burt's silence. She takes the stand when he won't and tells the true story. It's a very exciting story that shows so much of his character: strength, loyalty, courage, and selflessness. I would definitely recommend this military drama if you like these types of stories (a defendant refusing to talk is a common story element), if you like Burt, or if you want to see Chuck's film debut. I was a bit skeptical, since Virginia Mayo is no Susan Hayward, but she didn't detract from the drama. For a double feature, you can watch Burt in the same year's From Here to Eternity!
The genre police have tagged this picture as an action/comedy/romance set just prior to the Pacific hostilities in WWII. That it's a multi genre piece is a given, that it's also an odd bit of cinema is also very much understandable. That's the only real complaint with South Sea Woman, it's so jaunty and full of fun that when we get to the wonderful, bold and tough last quarter, you are not exactly sure how to feel. It's like entering a fancy dress party and winning first prize but then suddenly being told the prize is for worst costume of the night!
Anyway, the cast seem to be having a right laugh with it, Burt Lancaster (0'Hearn) and Chuck Connors (Davey White) are constantly at loggerheads about their participation in the conflict, and the direction they should be taking (humouressly so), because right in between them is Virginia Mayo (Ginger), sparklingly pretty she's all set to marry White, but O'Hearn is doing his hardest to ensure that that doesn't happen. This is the mainstay of the film, we (they) lurch from one fight to another, from one daft encounter to the next, bad luck and sheer bravado constantly zipping around with our protagonists, and then the shift to full blown drama. It ties up all the loose ends, and it in no way is a cop out ending, in fact far from it, but it does take some getting used to and even some time after the credits have rolled I personally was a bit bemused.
It's a recommended film, if only for the sparky cast it is worth it, but just go into it expecting a whisk in the blender and you will be OK. 6/10
The title role of South Sea Woman is played by Virginia Mayo who the two have a rivalry over. The story is narrated from several perspectives at a court martial that Lancaster is undergoing. These two manage to miss the withdrawal of Marines from Shanghai which occurred a few weeks before Pearl Harbor. Lancaster wants to get back to the outfit especially when they get news of the Japanese attack, but Connors has Mayo on his mind, he wants to get married.
Not since the Errol Flynn film Desperate Journey also by Warner Brothers was there ever a more lighthearted approach to war. These two guys also manage to liberate a Vichy governed French colony and turn it over to the Free French and from said island recruit a crew to get to Guadalcanal where they do distinguish themselves in their own private action. All this related to a rather incredulous court martial board.
What was interesting was that Burt Lancaster did two films at once. While this was shooting Lancaster went over to the set of Three Sailors And A Girl and did a small walk-on role in his Marine uniform costume in that musical. With that he fulfilled a three picture commitment the other being The Flame And The Arrow in which he also co-starred with Virginia Mayo.
The comedy was kind of forced and while it had a few laughs in it South Sea Woman is clearly a film that Lancaster wanted to get off his plate and move on. That year of 1953 he also did From Here To Eternity a much better film about the start of the Pacific War.
This film has a something for everyone, action, adventure, drama, comedy, and romance. Lancaster and Chuck Conners take on the Japanese invasion fleet and spoil their Guadalcanal landings. Far fetched, I'd say so, but entertaining. The comedy was spotty and corny like the conflict between the Navy and the Marine Corps, the hula dancing in shoes, and Lancaster-Conners interaction. The serious punishment for desertion that awaits Lancaster is waived, and he emerges unscathed as top kick once again. I like Burt Lancaster anytime and in this he doesn't disappoint. You can't spoil a movie with him in it no matter how ho hum it is.
Você sabia?
- CuriosidadesWith some of Burt Lancaster's coaching before his screen test, Chuck Connors was cast as his friend in Furacão de Emoções (1953).
- Erros de gravaçãoThe yacht is flying a Dutch flag, implying that it was a neutral. The Dutch were at war with Japan. A Dutch flagged vessel would never be allowed passage through Japanese controlled waters.
- Citações
Col. Hickman: You are aware that you face a possible sentence of death, not to mention a total imprisonment of...
[he checks some papers]
Col. Hickman: ... 143 years?
Master Gunnery Sgt. James O'Hearn: The last 100 won't hurt, sir.
- ConexõesReferenced in Os Assumidos: Stand Up for Ourselves (2004)
- Trilhas sonorasThe Marine Hymn
(uncredited)
Music by Jacques Offenbach
From "Geneviève de Brabant"
Played at the beginning and often throughout the picture
Principais escolhas
- How long is South Sea Woman?Fornecido pela Alexa
Detalhes
Bilheteria
- Faturamento bruto nos EUA e Canadá
- US$ 2.000.000
- Tempo de duração1 hora 39 minutos
- Cor
- Proporção
- 1.37 : 1