The Sea Chase (1955)

As World War II begins, German freighter captain Karl Ehrlich tries to get his ship back to Germany through a gantlet of Allied warships.

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

James Warner Bellah (screenplay), John Twist (screenplay),

Stars:

John Wayne, Lana Turner, David Farrar

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Captain Karl Ehrlich
Lana Turner	...	Elsa Keller
David Farrar	...	Commander Jeff Napier
Lyle Bettger	...	Chief Officer Kirchner
Tab Hunter	...	Cadet Wesser
James Arness	...	Schlieter
Richard Davalos	...	Cadet Walter Stemme (as Dick Davalos)
John Qualen	...	Chief Engineer Schmitt
Paul Fix	...	Max Heinz
Lowell Gilmore	...	Captain Evans
Luis Van Rooten	...	Matz
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Wentz (as Alan Hale)
Wilton Graff	...	Counsel General Hepke
Peter Whitney	...	Bachman
Claude Akins	...	Winkler (as Claude Akin)

Storyline

As the Second World War breaks out, German freighter captain Karl Ehrlich is about to leave Sydney, Australia with his vessel, the Ergenstrasse. Ehrlich, an anti-Nazi but proud German, hopes to outrun or out-maneuver the British warship pursuing him. Aboard his vessel is Elsa Keller, a woman Ehrlich has been ordered to return to Germany safely along with whatever secrets she carries. When Ehrlich's fiercely Nazi chief officer Kirchner commits an atrocity, the British pursuit becomes deadly.

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Plot Keywords:

captain | warship | pursuit | ship | commander | 

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Taglines:

The elusive Sea Captain and his blonde woman in an explosive, suspense-packed story of high daring on the high seas!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 June 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le renard des océans

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (35 mm optical prints) (RCA Sound Recording) 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints) (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (WarnerColor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Prior to the start of filming in Hawaii, John Wayne went scuba diving and developed an ear infection. As a result, he was in severe pain for much of shooting. Many of Wayne's scenes could be shot only on his "good" side, since the infected ear was so swollen, and between takes he had to go lie down to rest from the pain.

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Goofs

The Ergenstrasse's pistols are Walther P-38s, which had only been adopted for military use the year before. It is unlikely that such weapons would be found on an old tramp steamer.

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Quotes

Capt. Karl Ehrlich: Did anyone ever tell you that you're beautiful when you're angry?

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Connections

Referenced in Valentine's Day (1959)

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Soundtracks

"Steh'ich in finstrer Mitternacht"
(uncredited)
Written by Wilhelm Hauff
English Lyrics by John Farrow
Arranged by Ray Heindorf

User Reviews

Another lesson for clever-clever directors

After wading through our modern crop of difficult, complicated productions it was refreshing to watch this little number. Not unlike diving into that Pacific ocean.

It's not ground breaking. It's not even a work of genius. But isn't that the point and the purpose of a film ? A lesson that many directors seem to have forgotten these days with films that always have to try and out do one another. Be "clever clever", or make some drawn out post modern social commentary. I don't know about you, but I go to see a film to have a break from those things. To relax.

The scene where Wayne and Turner talk in a clearing is natural. I could have stumbled in on their conversation out of the trees. There seems to be no effort in what they do. Who's paying these people !? I want to see sweat and tears ! Oh wait, they're acting.

The story is obscure in an attractive sort of way .. not unlike another Wayne film "Blood Alley", but is told in that easy way that seems to come to matinees. Dropping off the screen like some dog eared work of fiction that you read on holiday.