The Captain Hates the Sea (1934)

Alcoholic newspaperman Steve Bramley boards the San Capador for a restful cruise, hoping to quit drinking and begin writing a book. Also on board are Steve's friend Schulte, a private ... See full summary »

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

Wallace Smith (novel), Wallace Smith (screenplay)

Stars:

Victor McLaglen, Wynne Gibson, Alison Skipworth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Victor McLaglen	...	Junius P. Schulte
Wynne Gibson	...	Mrs. Jeddock
Alison Skipworth	...	Mrs. Yolanda Magruder
John Gilbert	...	Steve Bramley
Helen Vinson	...	Janet Grayson
Fred Keating	...	Danny Checkett
Leon Errol	...	Layton
Walter Connolly	...	Captain Helquist
Tala Birell	...	Gerta Klangi
Walter Catlett	...	Joe Silvers
John Wray	...	Mr. Jeddock
Claude Gillingwater	...	Judge Griswold
Emily Fitzroy	...	Mrs. Victoria Griswold
Donald Meek	...	Josephus Bushmills
Luis Alberni	...	Juan Gilboa

Storyline

Alcoholic newspaperman Steve Bramley boards the San Capador for a restful cruise, hoping to quit drinking and begin writing a book. Also on board are Steve's friend Schulte, a private detective hoping to nab criminal Danny Checkett with a fortune in stolen bonds. Steve begins drinking, all the while observing the various stories of other passengers on board, several of whom turn out not to be who they seem to be.

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Plot Keywords:

drinking | alcohol | the three stooges | based on novel

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Taglines:

Fun, Hilarity, Laughs Galore

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Farsa da Vida

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Lewis Milestone needed to persuade Columbia Pictures president Harry Cohn to hire actor John Gilbert for this picture. At the time it was generally believed that Gilbert's voice recorded higher in pitch than suited his masculine silent screen image, but Milestone believed that Gilbert's voice recorded higher in pitch because of the actor's anxiety at having to test for MGM as a means of defending his exorbitant salary there. Gilbert agreed to submit to a new voice-test for the role as a means of persuading Cohn that his casting in the picture was a viable investment. With his friend Milestone directing the test for the Columbia picture his voice recorded perfectly and John Gilbert was hired for the role.

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Goofs

Right after the stern line is cast off, showing us the ship's starboard side is at dockside, the Captain (Walter Connolly) orders the helm, "Hard to starboard" - which would send the ship right back into the dock.

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Connections

Edited into Commotion on the Ocean (1956)

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Soundtracks

"I Thought I Wanted You"
(uncredited)
Written by Archie Gottler

User Reviews

Nothing Like A Sea Voyage

A rather innocuous comedy The Captain Hates The Sea marked the farewell performance for silent screen star John Gilbert. After failing to make a comeback with his greatest co-star Greta Garbo in Queen Christina, Gilbert was given his walking papers by MGM. He was fourth billed in this film whose star was Victor McLaglen.

Given the incredibly good cast of familiar character players The Captain Hates The Sea should have been a lot better than it was. But it's hampered by a confusing script.

The main plot line involves former cop now turned private detective Victor McLaglen after some stolen bonds and he believes that Fred Keating and Helen Vinson have them. If one is used to seeing McLaglen as some of the oafish characters he played in later John Ford films, you'll be in for a surprise. He's by no means a dummy in The Captain Hates The Sea, though he does think a bit with his male member when it comes to Vinson.

John Gilbert who by this time had descended into alcoholism in real life is cast as a dissolute playboy looking to take the cure on the sea voyage. It was a part hitting too close to home, but that may have been the reason he was so good in it.

Another story line involves married couple John Wray and Wynne Gibson. She was a woman of easy virtue whose self righteous husband never lets her forget it.

Such familiar people as Walter Catlett, Donald Meek, Alison Skipworth and even the Three Stooges get their moments in the film. Presiding over all of this is Captain Walter Connolly who is constantly berating steward Leon Errol. Leon Errol who was born in Australia in the only time I ever heard him on film actually uses an accent from the land of his birth. Which makes me wonder if that was his natural speech or did he lose it in his years on stage and screen on both sides of the pond and only recall it for this film.

With such a colorful cast of familiar players The Captain Hates The Sea should be viewed. You'll probably like it as I did, but can see definite room for improvement.