Sea Devils (1937)

Captivating movie !

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Producer Edward Small was well-named. He seemed to specialize in producing reasonably entertaining movies on a small budget. "Sea Devils" is no exception. Admittedly, this one features better-than- usual direction from Ben Stoloff. I love the way Sadie (nicely played by Helen Flint) is introduced, the camera focusing on McLaglen's beer. (Incidentally, the actor pronounced his name, Mack-Lock-len, not Mack- Laglen). I also sat up and enjoyed the fight, with a chair thrown right at the camera. And I also relished the excellent timing of some witty insults. I'll admit the basic plot is pretty predictable, but it's nonetheless amusing. Agreeable performances help. And I must also congratulate all concerned for some excellent special effects work. In my opinion, it all adds up to good entertainment.

Victor Mclaglen was an actor of very limited range and ability.He found fame in his role as Flagg with Edmund Lowe playing Quirt in a series of military comedy adventures that started in the twenties and went through to the 40s.It seems that if Lowe wasn't around they hired a similar actor,in this case Preston Foster,to fill the void.It has to be said that after 5 minutes you can guess the plot and anticipate what is going to happen.It becomes utterly tiresome.Was it supposed to be funny or dramatic because it is neither.It is just totally formulaic.One can only assume that they did not have much money for special effects as the shipwreck scenes seem as if they are filmed in someones bathtub.So if you don't like Victor Mclaglen then don't bother with this film.

This is a lively and straightforward action melodrama that stars Victor McLaglen as a Coast Guard skipper in conflict with new boy Preston Foster ,partly for professional and partly for personal reasons .He has a daughter (Ida Lupino ) who he wishes to see wed to seaman Donald Woods .The problem is that she and Foster are in love with each other ,leading to friction between father and daughter on one hand and between father and suitor on the other . The script is lively and rapidly paced .Ben Stoloff directs at a brisk pace and the monochrome photography of J Roy Hunt and Joseph August is crisp and good to look at.

The only reason to see this film is for the nice special effects involving a yacht being pounded against a reef in a hurricane and the way the coast guard rescues its passengers. I also enjoyed their mission to explode an iceberg. But I could have done without the brawling of Victor McLaglen and Preston Foster, which propelled the silly plot and just served to kill time between the action. I never did understand why servicemen fight so much in films of the 30's. Seeing a young Ida Lupino was also delightful and the comedy provided by Billy Gilbert and McLaglen's relationship with saloon owner Helen Flint helped a bit.The film is dedicated to the men of the coast guard, who often risk their lives to effect a rescue of distressed ships at sea.