Windjammer
Windjammer
| 06 August 1937 (USA)
Windjammer Trailers

The fourth and last of the George A. Hirliman-produced films starring George O'Brien (preceded by "Daniel Boone", "Park Avenue Logger" and "Hollywood Cowboy") that were distributed by RKO Radio. Hirliman sold O'Brien's contract to RKO, which then produced 18 series westerns starring O'Brien that ended when O'Brien went into the Navy at the outbreak of WW II. Long-time (past and future) O'Brien director David Howard served as Hirliman's Associate Producer on this film. "Windjammer" finds O'Brien as a subpoena server ordered to serve a subpoena on Brandon Evans (The Commondore) for a senate inquiry or lose his job. Posing as a playboy, he boards the Commodore's yacht during a yacht race, and the yacht is wrecked by a gun-running windjammer commanded by Captain Morgan (William Hall.) All hands are picked up by the windjammer, including the Commodore's daughter (played by Constance Worth) and put to work as galley slaves.

Reviews
TrueJoshNight

Truly Dreadful Film

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Whitech

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

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Robert Joyner

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

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Brendon Jones

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

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mark.waltz

In a sparse running time, the issues of a capsized yacht crew is barely dramatized as they are taken aboard a contraband ship while in a yacht race from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Besides the commander, his daughter and the crew, the other passenger is a summons server who pretended to be a drowning man in order to gain access to the eventual sinking yacht to present a summons to the commander. In what seems to be a much edited (or at least streamlined) story, the film is weakly structured and the impact of what could be at least a passable "B" feature becomes more like an edited serial or an early 50's teleplay. While the acting is alright and the actual collision of the two vessels is convincingly filmed, everything wraps up too quickly, too neatly, and ultimately, too forgettably.

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MartinHafer

This B-movie stars George O'Brien. O'Brien had a very unusual career. While he was a star in the silent era (appearing as the lead in such prestige pictures as Murnau's "Sunrise"), during the 30-40s, he re-wrote himself--becoming a B-movie star--mostly in westerns. In this capacity he had a pretty good career--though most people wouldn't recognize him if they saw a picture of him or hear his name today--which is a shame as he was a decent actor.Here in "Windjammer", O'Brien is in one of his Bs--though not a western. The story finds him playing a process server who is trying to give a subpoena to an illusive rich guy nicknamed 'the Commodore'. To get near the guy, O'Brien poses as a playboy and goes aboard the Commodore's yacht before a boat race. While the boat really looks nothing like a racing yacht, I found this easy enough to ignore. Once aboard, O'Brien is forced to go on the race--and it's a very, very long one. So, to stop the Commodore, he sows dissent among the crew. Well, his plan works too well and not only the Commodore and his family but O'Brien find themselves lost at sea. Unfortunately, they are rescued by a ship full of gun runners--and these cut-throats aren't about to return a rich guy to shore without a hefty ransom. So, it's up to our intrepid hero to come to the rescue--and impress the girl to boot! Overall, this is a decent adventure film--briskly paced and with pretty decent production values for a B. While not exactly brilliant, it's all pretty good fun.

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dbborroughs

Rich man who has been buying up land with government funds for his own use has been evading subpoenas from the attorney general. The attorney general sends one of his best men after him and he manages to get the man in Hawaii during a yacht race. During the race there is a collision between boats and the yacht goes down and the survivors from the yacht end up on the other boat which is where things get interesting.Light adventure drama with heavy doses of comedy and romance. Its the sort of thing that you'll be way a head of simply because its not very clever, then again I don't think its trying to be. In the right frame of mind this is going to be a winning film. In the wrong frame of mind you'll want to change the channel. Personally I watched about half before I had enough and then I kind of scanned through the rest (Though it must be said I wouldn't mind seeing it again). Worth a look depending on your mood.

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Phil Reeder

Short, entertaining sea yarn with George O'Brien as a state attorney general's right hand man sent to serve a subpoena on a tycoon, only to find himself a prisoner along with the millionaire and his daughter aboard the ship of an arms smuggler, bound for Macao. The action is pretty good, along with the characterizations - particularly Hall as the roguish, mad-eyed Capt. Morgan (there even seems to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the pirate Henry Morgan!) Blond Constance Worth is cute as Betty, playing the she-hates-him/she-loves-him cliché for all it's Worth. Overall a decently spent hour.5/10 stars, check it out.

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