Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Sea Chase

  • 19551955
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
John Wayne, Lana Turner, and Tab Hunter in The Sea Chase (1955)
Trailer for The Sea Chase
Play trailer3:28
1 Video
36 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • War

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

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Farrow
  • Writers
    • James Warner Bellah(screenplay)
    • John Twist(screenplay)
    • Andrew Geer(novel)
  • Stars
    • John Wayne
    • Lana Turner
    • David Farrar
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Farrow
  • Writers
    • James Warner Bellah(screenplay)
    • John Twist(screenplay)
    • Andrew Geer(novel)
  • Stars
    • John Wayne
    • Lana Turner
    • David Farrar
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Sea Chase
    Trailer 3:28
    The Sea Chase

    Photos36

    John Wayne and Claude Akins in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Lana Turner in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and Alan Hale Jr. in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne and James Arness in The Sea Chase (1955)
    John Wayne in The Sea Chase (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Wayne
    John Wayne
    • Capt. Karl Ehrlichas Capt. Karl Ehrlich
    Lana Turner
    Lana Turner
    • Elsa Kelleras Elsa Keller
    David Farrar
    David Farrar
    • Cmdr. Jeff Napieras Cmdr. Jeff Napier
    Lyle Bettger
    Lyle Bettger
    • Chief Officer Kirchneras Chief Officer Kirchner
    Tab Hunter
    Tab Hunter
    • Cadet Wesseras Cadet Wesser
    James Arness
    James Arness
    • Schlieteras Schlieter
    Richard Davalos
    Richard Davalos
    • Cadet Walter Stemmeas Cadet Walter Stemme
    • (as Dick Davalos)
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Chief Engineer Schmittas Chief Engineer Schmitt
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Max Heinzas Max Heinz
    Lowell Gilmore
    Lowell Gilmore
    • Capt. Evansas Capt. Evans
    Luis Van Rooten
    • Matzas Matz
    Alan Hale Jr.
    Alan Hale Jr.
    • Wentzas Wentz
    • (as Alan Hale)
    Wilton Graff
    Wilton Graff
    • Consul General Hepkeas Consul General Hepke
    Peter Whitney
    Peter Whitney
    • Bachmanas Bachman
    Claude Akins
    Claude Akins
    • Winkleras Winkler
    • (as Claude Akin)
    John Doucette
    John Doucette
    • Bos'nas Bos'n
    Alan Lee
    • Brounckas Brounck
    Abdullah Abbas
    • News Photographeras News Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Farrow
    • Writers
      • James Warner Bellah(screenplay)
      • John Twist(screenplay)
      • Andrew Geer(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Operation Pacific
    6.6
    Operation Pacific
    Blood Alley
    6.2
    Blood Alley
    Island in the Sky
    6.8
    Island in the Sky
    The High and the Mighty
    6.7
    The High and the Mighty
    The Wings of Eagles
    6.6
    The Wings of Eagles
    Flying Leathernecks
    6.3
    Flying Leathernecks
    Trouble Along the Way
    6.8
    Trouble Along the Way
    Hellfighters
    6.5
    Hellfighters
    The Fighting Seabees
    6.4
    The Fighting Seabees
    Flame of Barbary Coast
    6.2
    Flame of Barbary Coast
    Wake of the Red Witch
    6.5
    Wake of the Red Witch
    Legend of the Lost
    6.1
    Legend of the Lost

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • sea chase
    • sea captain
    • sea battle
    • world war two
    • south-pacific
    • 16 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The elusive Sea Captain and his blonde woman in an explosive, suspense-packed story of high daring on the high seas!
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 the shooting. Many of his 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
      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: What do you suggest that I do?

      Counsel General Hepke: The Rockhampton is due in Valparaiso tomorrow. There's not a chance that you can leave.

      Capt. Karl Ehrlich: I'll take my chances with the British. They won't waste a warship watching this harbor for long.

      Counsel General Hepke: Very well, Captain. If you insist. Seamanship is your forte. But I beg to remind you, propaganda's mine. If I assist you, you must help me.

      Capt. Karl Ehrlich: I won't lie for you.

      Counsel General Hepke: Of course not! I wouldn't think of asking you to lie. You haven't had the necessary diplomatic training.

    • Connections
      Featured in Tab Hunter Confidential (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      The Radetsky March
      (uncredited)

      Music by Johann Strauss Sr.

      Arranged by Roy Webb

    User reviews45

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Decent throwaway entertainment
    John Wayne is monumentally miscast as the captain of a German boat during World War 2. John Wayne pretty much plays the part as he plays all of his parts - simply as 'John Wayne'. He saunters through his role, not really acting but just being there; however, he does have a great screen presence. He's not a German, though, and his strong American accent does him no favours in the believability stakes, and the fact that all of the crew speak English make this a film that obviously doesn't care whether or not the audience will believe it. Of course, this is 1950's Hollywood, so we can't expect the crew speak German with subtitles or anything like that; but having a German crew speak fluent English doesn't really work.

    Despite it's relative silliness, however, this film is decent throwaway entertainment. The plot follows the escapades of John Wayne...I mean Karl Ehrlich, a German freighter captain who must take his ship from Sydney, Australia to it's homeland of Germany. However, things are never that simple as hot on his heels are the British Navy, and as we all know; Britannia rules the waves, so John...I mean Karl has a job on his hands. A chase is always exciting to see in a film, and it is exciting here.... sometimes. The film never reaches the dizzy highs of other action adventure films, but it holds it's own in the entertainment department. There are several good sequences, such as a shark attack, several scenes of rough sea and a near mutiny among other things.

    Lana Turner stars opposite John Wayne as the standard 'love interest'. Lana's performance isn't bad, and she looks nice; but the love part of the film seems very much like it was tacked on in order to get more people to go and see it. I know that this obviously isn't what happened, as all love interests in films like this are very much needed so that the story can progress and have nothing to do with getting more people into the cinema. Oh wait. Anyway, despite this needless element; The sea Chase is mostly well paced and it doesn't get boring often, and when it does it's not for long; so I recommend the film to anyone that just wants something mindless to watch for a couple of hours; like I did when I watched it.
    helpful•12
    11
    • The_Void
    • Sep 2, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 4, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der See-Fuchs
    • Filming locations
      • Hawaii, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.55 : 1

    Related news

    Morituri
    Jun 25Trailers from Hell
    Celebrity Deaths 2018: ‘In Memoriam’ gallery celebrates 25, including Stan Lee, Burt Reynolds, Aretha Franklin
    Celebrity Deaths 2018: ‘In Memoriam’ gallery celebrates 25, including Stan Lee, Burt Reynolds, Aretha Franklin
    Nov 15Gold Derby

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    John Wayne, Lana Turner, and Tab Hunter in The Sea Chase (1955)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Sea Chase (1955) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.