White Squall (1996)

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

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers:

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

Stars:

Jeff Bridges, Caroline Goodall, John Savage

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

A true story about a group of American teenage boys who crew a school sailing ship to gain experience, discipline, or whatever their parents feel they lack. The voyage is a true adventure for them all but it has its downs as well as ups.

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Plot Keywords:

sailing | ship | squall | 1960s | storm | 

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Taglines:

The strongest force in nature is the will to survive.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality and a traumatic shipwreck

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Danish Spanish

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

White Squall - Reißende Strömung

Filming Locations:

Beaufort, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$38,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$10,300,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Largo Entertainment, Scott Free Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The real Chuck Gieg and Tod Johnstone went on to fight in the Vietnam War, three years after the Albatross sank. Both returned safely.

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Goofs

During the sinking of the schooner the radio in the background is describing the final moments before the launching of Freedom 7, the spacecraft carrying Shepard - on May 5, 1961. However, the schooner sank three days previously on May 2, 1961, and the survivors were rescued on May 3.

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Quotes

Chuck Gieg: In the end it just comes down to one thing... You can't run from the wind, You face the music, You trim your sails and keep going.

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Connections

References Peter Pan (1953)

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Soundtracks

"I WANNA WALK YOU HOME"
Written by Antoine Domino
Performed by Fats Domino
Courtesy of EMI Records
Under license from CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

A few good perfectly stormy A&F models

Well, maybe it isn't that bad. Some moments are touching, others genuinely harrowing. And Jeff Bridges always comes up with something surprising. But, "true story" though it may be, "White Squall" is overwhelmed by its obvious schematic and Ridley Scott's signature gloss. Each young crewmember has a stamped-on singular defect, Scott Wolf's tomcruisy precociousness is particularly grating, and for all the magnificent ocean scenery and blather about boys being forged into men, we're shown precious little of the day-to-day grunt/teamwork that's at the core of the whole business. Add to this the greatest assemblage of immaculate white t-shirts and bronzed, hairless torsos since Abercrombie met Fitch, and a potentially gritty, moving story lies trapped in amber.