good back-story, and good acting

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

John Wayne is a German freighter captain who is trying to get his crew back to his homeland, but has to take in a spy on the run, who happens to be Lana Turner, who was about to marry Britisher David Farrar for her country to gain information, but Wayne intervened and messed up her plans. If you forget about Wayne's image and his western career, this film can stand on its own as thoughtful and engrossing entertainment. But if you can't get past the odd casting of him in this film, then you probably won't like it. They do make quite a very good pair; despite the fact he wants nothing to do with her in the beginning and she him, you know what is going to happen. As an added bonus is the presence of Tab Hunter and TV veterans James Arness, Claude Akins, and Alan Hale as part of the crew. Lyle Bettger is very memorable as a disgustingly repulsive cad, who hates his captain with a vengeance. The cast aside, this is a very moody and romantic film, with beautiful scenery and the high seas as the backdrop. I have always liked the ambiguous ending very much: the feeling, the image, the voice of David Farrar narrating. What the film may lack in fast-paced action and in other departments, I feel it makes up for in the romantic scenes between Lana and the Duke, who find love in the unlikeliest place of all.

" . . . A liar, and a coward!" Warner Bros. calls out "Karl," as its thinly-disguised stand-in for America's self-appointed Real Life Snitch-in-Chief, John Wayne, cleverly cast as--who else?--"Il Duce" himself, John Wayne. No one ever accused Mr. Wayne as being the sharpest thorn in the Forehead, so Warner Bros. was able to fool him into playing himself by casting Lana Turner to represent his Real Life Henchwoman\Crime Partner, Hedda Hopper. Lana's "Elsa" and Wayne's "Karl" are made for each other here, as were John and Hedda in Real Life (please see TRUMBO). Early on in THE SEA CHASE, Karl rattles off a list of his four ship captain "friends" whom Nazi Master Spy Elsa has destroyed and driven to suicide. Any normal man would not be able to kiss the lips of the wench who offed so many buddies, especially AFTER telling her that hanging's too good for her. (This would be like seeing Samuel L. Jackson necking with Jennifer Jason Leigh in THE HATEFUL EIGHT.) But for closet sadist Wayne, this wasn't even acting--it was Second Nature. Along with REAP THE WILD WIND (on the set of which Wayne and Hopper hatched their Plot against the U.S. Constitution), THE SEA CHASE bookends a Full Confession by Wayne to his Fascist Crimes Against Humanity. It's no wonder that Il Duce hated screenwriters, after his drinking buddies saw these films and told him how he'd gotten hoodwinked into showing his True Colors.

This film is purely for entertainment and not of any historical background. Still, navy/sea warfare buffs will enjoy the story of the pursuit by a British destroyer of a German merchant ship across several oceans. The cast is so-so but with the "Duke" (John Wayne) in the lead role the story manages to limp along with some degree of success. The "destroyer" used in the film is in fact HMCS New Glasgow, a frigate then in service with the Royal Canadian Navy. I saw the movie shortly after it's release in 1955 while in my mid-teens; a number of years later I served on New Glasgow and recalled the part played by the ship and crew in the film. Shows how Hollywood will use any "prop" available to fill in scenes. The crew never did get any extra pay for their appearance (nor did the ship)but at least they have the satisfaction of knowing the true identity of the "destroyer." Despite all the above the film is good viewing and will be of interest to many.

John Wayne stars as a German skipper of an old steamer making his way back to the fatherland pursued by the British fleet. Lana Turner being the love interest,and looking like she stepped out of a night-club just a few hours before the shoot.She's gorgeous and what make-up she wears.Even through hell and high water she looks sexy and beautiful.But sadly there is no sparks flying between Wayne and Turner in the romance department.It feels superfluous to the whole storyline.Then we've got David Farrar playing a British sea officer as British as they come.He's also the narrator.In the supporting cast you will recognize some old Wayne compadres in John Qualen,James Arness and Paul Fix. A waste of time for everybody who don't like John Wayne.I happen to like him.