The Sea Wolf (1941 film)

Refined and literate fiction writer Humphrey Van Weyden (Knox) and escaped convict Ruth Webster (Lupino) are passengers on a ferry that collides with another vessel and sinks. They are rescued from drowning by the Ghost, a seal-hunting ship. At the helm is the Captain, Wolf Larsen (Robinson), a brutal sadist who delights in dominating and abusing his crew.

Most of the film is centered on Larsen's peculiar character. He is very well read and impressively self-educated, but crude and brutish in his personal inclinations. He refuses to return to port early and forces Van Weyden to work in the kitchen under the supervision of the treacherous, greedy, abusive ship's cook (Barry Fitzgerald). He also compels Van Weyden to spend time alone with him in his cabin, where the two discuss philosophy and the nature of humanity. Larsen asserts the Nietzschean proposition (which Jack London passionately believed) that man is essentially an amoral animal, and that morality is an artificial construct that has no bearing on life on board his ship. He predicts that Van Weyden's character will change as he accustoms himself to the non-civilized life among the crew, where no one has any value higher than his own personal gain.

When Prescott (Lockhart), the ship's drunken doctor, determines that the unconscious Webster needs a transfusion to survive, Larsen "volunteers" Leach (Garfield), even though there is no way to test if his blood is compatible. It is, and she recovers. As time goes by, she comes to depend on Leach for protection and, despite himself, Leach falls in love with her.

Larsen humiliates Prescott, who retaliates by revealing to the crew that Larsen's own brother, Death Larsen, another sea captain, is hunting him, having vowed to kill him; Prescott then commits suicide.

Fear of being hunted drives some members of the crew to mutiny, lead by the already rebellious George Leach (John Garfield). They ambush Larsen and throw him and his first mate overboard. However, Larsen manages to grab a trailing rope, climb back aboard, and put down the mutiny. He announces to the crew that an informant has revealed to him who the conspirators were but, instead of punishing them, he betrays the informant, the ship's cook, to them. They punish the cook by dropping him into the water, dragging him behind the ship as he holds onto a rope for dear life. This is at first intended as a practical joke; however, a shark bites off the cook's leg.

Eventually, Leach, Webster, Van Weyden, and another crewman escape on a dory. However, they discover that the wily Larsen had replaced their water supply with vinegar. The fourth man later sacrifices himself by going overboard to help conserve the little water they have.

Larsen is subject to intense headaches that leave him temporarily blind, but has managed to hide his condition from the crew. He knows that he will eventually lose his sight permanently. When Larsen's brother catches up with him, the Ghost is attacked and it starts to sink. The ship escapes into a fog bank, but Larsen goes blind again and his debility is revealed to all. The crew seizes the opportunity to take to the boats.

Van Weyden, Leach, and Webster sight the Ghost and, having no other choice, reboard her. The ship appears to be deserted, so Leach goes below for provisions. He is surprised by Larsen and locked in a compartment. Larsen is determined to go down with the Ghost and take as many others with him as he can. Van Weyden tries to get the key from Larsen and is fatally shot, but manages to hide the fact from the now nearly blind captain. He tricks Larsen into giving Webster the key by promising to stay with Larsen to the bitter end. This act of seeming self-sacrifice disturbs Larsen, causing him to question his whole philosophy, until he realizes that Van Weyden is dying. Vindicated in his own mind, Wolf Larsen awaits his demise.

• Edward G. Robinson as Wolf Larsen
• Ida Lupino as Ruth Webster
• John Garfield as George Leach
• Alexander Knox as Humphrey Van Weyden
• Gene Lockhart as Louis J. Prescott
• Barry Fitzgerald as Cookie
• Stanley Ridges as Johnson
• David Bruce as Young Sailor
• Francis McDonald as Svenson
• Howard Da Silva as Harrison
• Frank Lackteen as Smoke
• Ethan Laidlaw as Crewman (uncredited)

Robert Rossen's re-draft of the script may be the greatest influence on the film. While the tyrannical captain remained both victim and oppressed in a capitalist hierarchy, he became a symbol of fascism. Rossen also split the novel's idealistic hero into an intellectual dishwasher and a rebellious seaman and gave the seaman a love interest, played by Lupino.[4] Rossen added scenes for this pair, partly urged by Lupino.[5] However, Warner Bros. cut many political items during production.[4]

George Raft turned down a role because it was too small. Filmink magazine later said "as if that mattered with Michael Curtiz directing, and Edward G Robinson starring from a Jack London novel."[6]

The Sea Wolf has several connections to the city of London, Ontario, aside from the source author's surname. Studio executive Jack L. Warner and cast member Gene Lockhart were both born in the city and cast member Knox attended university there. For these reasons, the film's Canadian premiere was held at London's Capitol Theatre.

According to Warner Bros records, the film earned $1,237,000 domestically and $644,000 foreign.[2]

The film was nominated for the Oscar for Best Special Effects (Byron Haskin, Nathan Levinson) at the 14th Academy Awards.[7]

The Sea Wolf was presented on Screen Directors Playhouse on February 3, 1950, with Robinson re-creating his role from the film.[8]

• List of American films of 1941

• The Sea Wolf at IMDb
• The Sea Wolf at AllMovie
• The Sea Wolf at the TCM Movie Database
• The Sea Wolf at the American Film Institute Catalog