White Squall (1996)

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers (WGA):

Charles Gieg Jr. (book) and
Felix Sutton (book) ...

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

The strongest force in nature is the will to survive.

Plot:

Teenage boys discover discipline and camaraderie on an ill-fated sailing voyagee.

Plot Keywords:

Sailing | Ship | 1960s | Squall | Storm

Cast

Jeff Bridges	...	Captain Christopher 'Skipper' Sheldon
Caroline Goodall	...	Dr. Alice Sheldon
John Savage	...	McCrea, Albatross Crewman / English Teacher
Scott Wolf	...	Charles 'Chuck' Gieg / Narrator
Jeremy Sisto	...	Frank Beaumont
Ryan Phillippe	...	Gil Martin
David Lascher	...	Robert March
Eric Michael Cole	...	Dean Preston
Jason Marsden	...	Shay Jennings, Albatross First Mate
David Selby	...	Francis Beaumont
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Girard Pascal, Albatross Cook (as Julio Mechoso)
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Coast Guard Capt. Sanders
Balthazar Getty	...	Tod Johnstone
Ethan Embry	...	Tracy Lapchick
Jordan Clarke	...	Charles Gieg

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and a traumatic shipwreck.

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Danish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Norway:11 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34325) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | France:U | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

In spring 1961, the real Christopher "Skipper" Sheldon became the first Peace Corps director in Latin America. He never remarried.

Goofs:

Continuity: In numerous scenes the sky changes from cloudy to blue in different shots.

Quotes:

[Chuck Talking to Captain Sheldon during the Trial]
Chuck: You told us where we go one we go all, well we believed you, we lived by it, Sir. And now your saying where you go we can't follow.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Strength and Honor: Creating the World of 'Gladiator' (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

BE MY GUEST

Wonderful visuals, but slightly sub-par in other departments.

It's no secret that the 90s weren't Ridley Scott's best decade. This film is probably destined to be forgotten is his filmography. There are many positive and negative points about the picture. Jeff Bridges' performance is very good, as is John Savage. Unfortunately, many of the boy's performances fade into the woodwork. The story is good, yet standard, and not particularly helped by the fact that it is true.

When it comes to Ridley Scott's direction, however, the film is flawless. It all looks simply spectacular, it may be one of the best jobs he has ever done. That may be enough to recommend the film.

7.0 out of 10