The Sea Wolves (1980) Reviews

• Good Story

  max8432010-03-12

  What a group of strange reviews. Granted, I am 69 but I just started watching tons of movies since retiring (we had no money growing up). Thank God for cable, especially TCM, AMC and the History Channel. (And to IMDb.com - the first favourite added to my desktop in 1994!) The fact that this is based on a true story made all the difference. Yes, life was like that back then. Re: Mr. Peck's accent - I've known plenty of Englishmen who sounded like that. What odd comments. The locations were great - nice to see something authentic. And I agree, the clothing could have been a bit less modern. Finances were tight all over during WWII. And to say these actors were past their prime! An actor is an actor is an actor - until physically or mentally impaired. (I've felt this way since high school so it is not just compassion for those now in my age group.) All in all, a satisfying experience.

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• How would you like to blow up two or three enemy ships in a neutral harbor?

  Nazi_Fighter_David2007-04-08

  The film opens with incredibly accurate information that Forty-six freighters were sunk by the German submarines in the Indian Ocean in the past few weeks… The U-boats know exactly where and when to strike… On one hand, we also know that the Portuguese authorities dismantled the ships' radios when they gave them permission to stay there… On the other, if Radio Monitoring is right, and the transmitter is actually in the harbor, it must be on a ship… Not being able to break the code, the British Intelligence has to find out from where the information to those U-boats originates… To find whoever heads the spy ring, and to get rid of the transmitter without forgetting to violate Portugal's neutrality… Now if a British Commando cannot violate Goa's neutral status, they might have to turn to amateurs… The Light Horse has not been in action as a unit since the Boer War in 1900… If they were caught, it might be taken as a drunken escapade… We are speaking about ex-soldiers on holiday, stealing a river ferry, sailing it the whole way round India from Calcutta to Cochin… and then heading for the neutral port of Mormugoa, Portuguese colony... In that port, at anchor is a German ship, the Ehrenfels… Their job is to seize that ship, or sink her where she is… Also in that port are two other German ships so if they can knock them off at the same time, so much the better… As you can see it is a crucial operation where many allied lives might be saved… David Niven is the only man with any experience at sea…Charlie Wilton will remain aboard to nurse the engine of the old tub… Trevor Howard will have his only chance to settle accounts for his boy killed in Burma… Roger Moore has to deal with some spies… Peck has to lead the whole suicide adventure… The film moves along beautifully, reaching an exciting and tense climax… Don't miss it!

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• Intrigue and Adventure for Adults

  msinabottle2003-06-27

  A ponderous, but stately homage to the British Empire and the actual superlative function of British Intelligence. It is beautifully photographed, and in no hurry, which is somewhat refreshing in the light of modern, hyperactive drama. The film features solid acting by some great names supported by a prime polo stable of British character actors. The film makes a conscious effort to keep close to the historical record, which would be the reason for some of its more unlikely episodes. Only the writers of fiction need restrict themselves to the probable. David Niven is worthy of himself, as is Gregory Peck, with an underplayed British accent. Roger Moore has a great deal of fun being a spy who is NOT James Bond, and is clearly enjoying the role. His feminine antagonist is portrayed as lethal and skilled, and Trevor Howard does himself credit in advanced old age. The film's accurate sets and equipment are the results of many of the actual parties involved assisting in the film, which was made two years after the actual records of the Raid on Goa were finally made public by the British government.

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• Very enjoyable tale

  Paul_Jay2004-12-17

  Yes, Peck had a hard time with holding a British accent, Costner's Robin Hood didn't even try. Yes, there were a bunch of older actors in it, it's about older characters. No, it doesn't have an explosion a minute or a bunch of hard bodied guys or gorgeous babes, that's not what this movie is about and it doesn't need them. It's about a bunch of geezer who, despite being a bit over the hill, still have some sense of adventure and a bit of fight left in them. When viewed from that perspective this movie does the job very well. It doesn't need the repeated and obviously fake explosions and computer generated torn body parts that seems to be the requisite for contemporary adventure films. It's a relatively subdued spinning of a yarn based (loosely, I suppose) on a true story. It's heartwarming to watch the bunch of old soldiers (admitedly, not too much older than myself) pull it together one more time. On one of those cold, bleak winter afternoons when you're feeling that you might have missed out on a few of life's adventures, watch this movie and let yourself think, maybe, just maybe there's still a chance to live them.

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• Old Actors Never Die

  drew-1212002-04-29

  They just turn up in films like this. I loved this film. The combination of these great old stars and charecter actors having a lark in a war film. Fantastic. The trick with this film is not to take it too seriously. Just sit back and release your grip on reality for a couple of hours. Pity we don't get more films like this today.

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