Dangerous Waters

When the skipper dies while a fire rages unchecked, it's up to First Officer Jack Holt to assume command, send the passengers away from the lifeboats, and save the ship. The company is grateful and he gets his fourth stripe, but not a command; as Second Officer he was in charge of the cargo lading, and someone snuck gunpowder into the hold. But an opportunity comes his way when some fellows offer him a ship on its way to Valparaiso. What he doesn't know is that they're planning to scuttle the ship en route for insurance, and that his wife, Grace Bradley, has been making advances on his third mate, Robert Armstrong, and anything else in pants.

It's Holt at his most forthright hero type, knocking down growling members of the black gang, and chopping holes in lifeboats when the mutineers want to flee. It's prime Second Feature work from director Lambert Hillyer. There's Charles Murray as his Chief Engineer, adept at taking anything mechanical apart..... but unable to get it back together. With Diana Gibson, Guy Usher, Dewey Robinson, Edwin Maxwell, and Billy Gilbert.

When the story begins, Jim Marlowe (Jack Holt) is the First Officer on a ship which is in trouble and may be about to sink. However, despite this, he keeps his cool and insists he'll do his best to prevent the sinking. At the same time, a group of passengers are trying to take control of the ship...and are taking advantage of the fact that the Captain is dying. And, when the Captain does die, Marlowe quickly ends this attempted mutiny...and then has to put down another among his crew!! And, through bravery and determination and the help of his friend, Dusty Johnson (Robert Armstrong), he saves the day and is commended for his bravery. But, oddly, he is not given the job as Captain of this boat...mostly because the jerk who staged the mutiny among the passengers is some rich guy with pull. So, it's up to Marlowe and Johnson to find another boat. Sadly, when they do, they don't realize that the owner is planning on sinking the boat for the insurance money!! If you think things couldn't get any worse, Marlowe is also oblivious to the fact that his wife is a tramp! What's poor Marlowe to do??

Like most of Jack Holt's other films, it's full of action and excitement and is well worth seeing. Not a great film but a very good one...and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.