The Sea Chase (1955)

Director:

John Farrow

Writers:

James Warner Bellah (writer)
Andrew Geer (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

4 June 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Captain | Ship | Warship | Crew | Fugitive

Cast

John Wayne	...	Capt. Karl Ehrlich
Lana Turner	...	Elsa Keller
David Farrar	...	Cmd. 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	...	Capt. 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)
John Doucette	...	Bos'n
Alan Lee	...	Brounck
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gloria Dea	...	Spanish Girl (uncredited)
Jean De Briac	...	French governor (uncredited)
Anthony Eustrel	...	British high official (uncredited)
Renate Hoy	...	(uncredited)
Gavin Muir	...	British officer (uncredited)
James O'Hara	...	British officer (uncredited)
Patrick O'Moore	...	Warship officer (uncredited)
Tudor Owen	...	Trawler survivor (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	...	(uncredited)
John Sheffield	...	(uncredited)
Adam Williams	...	Kruger, wireless operator (uncredited)

Directed by
John Farrow

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Warner Bellah		writer
Andrew Geer		novel
John Twist		writer

Produced by
John Farrow	....	producer

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier

Film Editing by
William H. Ziegler		(as William Ziegler)

Art Direction by
Franz Bachelin

Set Decoration by
William Wallace

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson	....	assistant director
Russell Llewellyn	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Francis J. Scheid	....	sound

Special Effects by
Hans F. Koenekamp	....	special effects (as H.F. Koenekamp)

Stunts
Fred Stromsoe	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Moss Mabry	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Bonnie Lou Williams	....	singing voice: Lana Turner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (1955) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

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.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When David Farrar talks about Ehrlich's course options, he says they can rule out the vast Pacific to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. Sailing from Sydney Australia, the Pacific would be to the East and the Indian Ocean to the West.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in El día de los enamorados (1959)

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.