The Warner Archive October 2017 Blu-ray release of the 1941 drama "The Sea Wolf" awesomely continues the history of integrity regarding this film based on what most likely is a semi-autobiographical Jack London novel.
The "cheat sheet" on the Blu-ray back cover tells us that Jack Warner does not know Jack about Mr. London in fighting a lost battle to rename the film. This brief history of the film tells us as well that the success during the first theatrical run prompts releasing a shorter theatrical version in 1947 and that heroic efforts of Archive result in locating and remastering the lost longer version.
Edward G. Robinson stars as the titular ocean-dwelling sea captain with a lupine nature Wolf Larsen. His aptly named ship Ghost is the closest to Hell on earth that his (mostly Shanghaied) crew will experience, and that suits Larsen.
The tale centers around the stereotypical relationship of the main characters in most tales of adventure on the high seas (and some in tales of star ships that follow the naval model of chain-of-command). Larsen manages to keep his crew made up of the scum of the earth in line until exercsing the right of scavenge adds younger educated successful novelist Humphrey Van Weyden and woman with a past Ruth Brewster (Ida Lupino) on board.
Larsen quickly sequesters Brewster and just as rapidly delights in making the "fancy boy" the cabin boy on this vessel that makes The Filthy Whore look like The Queen Mary. The status of Van Weyden quickly elevates on Larsen recognizing an opportunity to become the hero in a Horatio Alger style story about a boy whop grows up very rough only to quickly become the despised captain of a rundown quasi-pirate ship.
For her part, owing her life to sailor George Leach (John Garfield) and having another bond that makes being on Ghost a better alternative than another fate leads to a shipboard romance despite Van Weyden being the most eligible bachelor for miles.
A scene roughly in the middle of "Wolf" perfectly captures the tone and the themes of the film. Miraculously sobering up prompts ship medic Dr. "Louie" Prescott (Gene Lockhart) to literally and figuratively clean up his act. He also asks Larsen to support his effort to get the respect to which he feels that he is now entitled. The cruelty and sadism associated with the manner in which Prescott is humiliated and then thrown to the wolves PERFECTLY illustrates life aboard Ghost.
The series of unfortunate circumstances that bring the men to the breaking point set the stage for an exciting extended climax; more cruelty and sadism has a role regarding an effort to jump ship; an effort to jump the captain also hits complications. This all leads to inevitable confrontations, tests of character, and scenes of Titanic proportions.
The bonus features are the theatrical trailer and a 1950 radio broadcast in which Robinson reprises the role of Larsen.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Wolf" is strongly encouraged to email me; you alternatively can connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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