The Sea Wolf (1941)

[Akijama]

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=22094

October 10:

NEW 2017 4K Scan from original nitrate elements. Restored to its original theatrical length for the first time in over 75 years!

THE SEA WOLF (1941)
100:00

DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English; English SDH ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIO - 1.37:1, 4 X 3 FULL FRAME BLACK & WHITE BD 50 Special Features: Screen Directors Playhouse broadcast of 2/3/1950 featuring Edward G. Robinson and Michael Curtiz; Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Jack London's novel The Sea Wolf had it all: action, mystery and widespread popularity. But Jack Warner, claiming the title was too similar to the studio's The Sea Hawk, wanted to give the 1941 film version something else: a new name. Producer Henry Blanke resisted, saying it would be "a detriment to the box office...(like changing) Gone With the Wind to Molly From the South." As film fans know, Molly stayed in the South and the haunting nautical adventure took a big bite out of the box office, becoming one of the top moneymakers of 1940-41.

Edward G. Robinson and a superb cast are the hands on deck for this voyage into nightmare. Robinson is Captain Wolf Larsen, a hell-bent seadog who ranks with Moby Dick's Ahab and Mutiny on the Bounty's Captain Bligh. Doom is the mad seafarer's fog-shrouded port of call...and he intends to take a roughneck recruit (John Garfield), two castaways (Ida Lupino and Alexander Knox) and his crew (including Gene Lockhart and Barry Fitzgerald) with him. Adventure - and eerie suspense - ahoy! The Sea Wolf was such a box-office hit that it was given a national theatrical reissue in 1947, but to do so, the film was cut to a length of 86 minutes, and remained that length for 70 years. Long thought to exist only in substandard form, Warner Bros. is proud to present this film as first released in 1941, restoring its original 100-minute running time from 35mm nitrate elements.

[javi92]

Holy crap! A B&W Academy ratio title from WAC. Woohoo!

[CinemaScope]

If someone had said an early forties b/w Warner film directed by Michael Curtiz with music by Korngold & title starting with The Sea...I would have thought (& hoped) Hawk, but I'm very happy to buy this, great movie, I thought the elements were in a bad way. Warner, as always, full of surprises.

[Hoke Moseley]

Awesome. Haven't seen it, but all of those names on the cover make it an easy blind-buy.

[StarDestroyer52]

Anyone who hasn't seen this movie is in for a good treat. Edward G Robinson is superb as the brutal Captain Wolf Larsen. Garfield and Lupino are superb. Though I feel the real standout role after Robinson is that of Alexander Knox as van Wyden. Knox and Robinson supplement the other throughout the whole film.

[Ned Brainard]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

Anyone who hasn't seen this movie is in for a good treat. Edward G Robinson is superb as the brutal Captain Wolf Larsen. Garfield and Lupino are superb. Though I feel the real standout role after Robinson is that of Alexander Knox as van Wyden. Knox and Robinson supplement the other throughout the whole film.

I have to admit when I saw the blu-ray cover art that I thought "Oh yes, Garfield is in this movie." To be honest, I hardly even remember Garfield being in the film. My main memories are the scenes featuring Robinson and Knox (which also reminds me - come on Fox, give us a blu of Wilson).

[BluPat]

Sounds terrific! Love John Garfield and Ida Lupino. And of course Edward G. Robinson.

[EVERYONE LIES]

This is the best movie that WAC will have put out in 2017.

[dancerslegs]

This is huge, HUGE news! The original 100-mins. length film has not been seen outside of private collections in 75 years! First in line for preorder!!

[Ray_Rogers]

Excellent more Edward G. Robinson and John Garfield on Blu-ray disc! Only release I've seen which were on tons of releases in the past, including TCM, were the shorter version. Can't wait to get this in the next WAC sale.

[Blu_Beard]

Having just re-watched my WAC blu of Key Largo, I'll look forward to seeing a starring role for Edward G Robinson. Bring it on.

[Monty70]

Price drop to $17.99 today.

Can't wait to see the new 4K restoration.

[SeanJoyce]

Very curious about this movie but ultimately reticent because of Robinson's casting. Now I love Eddy G. as much as the next guy but the Wolf Larsen of the novel (which is my favorite Jack London work) was a hulking brute of a man who could impose his intellect on a conversation as easily as he could his physical size against the more effete van Weyden. That juxtaposition is crucial to the character.

Casting diminutive Robinson, who couldn't believably stand up to Garfield in a physical confrontation, seems like a really poor choice. Robert Ryan would have been perfect.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Very curious about this movie but ultimately reticent because of Robinson's casting. Now I love Eddy G. as much as the next guy but the Wolf Larsen of the novel (which is my favorite Jack London work) was a hulking brute of a man who could impose his intellect on a conversation as easily as he could his physical size against the more effete Leach. That juxtaposition is crucial to the character.

Casting diminutive Robinson, who couldn't believably stand up to Garfield in a physical confrontation, seems like a really poor choice. Robert Ryan would have been perfect.

Cagney always insisted on having taller men than he cast for all his fight scenes because he knew he had the sheer PRESENCE to overcome silly assumptions and preconceptions that audiences might have. Robinson was the same and was never less than believable for it. He is superb as Wolf Larsen, both emotionally and physically. Garfield doesn't stand a chance.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Cagney always insisted on having taller men than he cast for all his fight scenes because he knew he had the sheer PRESENCE to overcome silly assumptions and preconceptions that audiences might have. Robinson was the same and was never less than believable for it. He is superb as Wolf Larsen, both emotionally and physically. Garfield doesn't stand a chance.

What are your thoughts on the book, and what do you think of Lupino as Brewster?

[anthonyls]

I've never seen this, but... even though I like Edward G. Robinson and Michael Curtiz a lot... I highly doubt this movie could be half as good as the book.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

What are your thoughts on the book, and what do you think of Lupino as Brewster?

I loved the novel, but I admit I can't be objective about Edward G. Robinson or any of the cast because I saw the movie first and thereafter pictured the actors in all of the characters when I read the book. It's one of my favorite novels regardless, but it's hard for me to separate the two. Coming into it as you are with such a passionate affection for the source material, it's hard to say how you'll feel about the film. It's like me with the novel SHANE by Jack Schaefer. I read that book numerous times before finally seeing the movie and outside of the casting, which was perfect, I really didn't care for the movie at all, something that puts me very much in the minority.

I wish I could recommend THE SEA WOLF to you without any qualification, but it's difficult since you are such a fan of the book. Naturally the film comes with its own set of inventions, but I still think you'll like it. Then again, that's what folks said to me about SHANE too!

[dancerslegs]

Cinesavant (formerly DVDSavant) and Robert Harris over at Home Theater Forum have both given this release more-or-less their highest marks, respectively:

https://trailersfromhell.com/the-sea-wolf/

https://www.hometheaterforum.com/com...lu-ray.354541/

Anyone get theirs yet?? Unfortunately, I'm broke at present, so it will be awhile before I can pick up mine, but I can meanwhile live vicariously through you guys!

[CinemaScope]

Mine arrived in the UK today, I had a zip through it, & it does indeed look very nice, it's well up to the standard of other WAC b/w releases.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Very curious about this movie but ultimately reticent because of Robinson's casting. Now I love Eddy G. as much as the next guy but the Wolf Larsen of the novel (which is my favorite Jack London work) was a hulking brute of a man who could impose his intellect on a conversation as easily as he could his physical size against the more effete van Weyden. That juxtaposition is crucial to the character.

Casting diminutive Robinson, who couldn't believably stand up to Garfield in a physical confrontation, seems like a really poor choice. Robert Ryan would have been perfect.

Perhaps you should see the movie before making unsubstantiated assumptions? Robinson more than stands up to Garfield, he overpowers him with sheer attitude alone. Weird how people criticize something without even having an actual basis for criticism and think that's okay.