Themes: Behind Enemy Lines, Race Against Time, Disasters at Sea
Main Cast: John Wayne, Lana Turner, David Farrar, Lyle Bettger, Tab Hunter
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 125 minutes
Plot
John Wayne plays anti-Nazi Prussian sea captain Karl Erlich in Sea Chase, one of the many film commentaries released post WWII. Though staunchly opposed to the Nazi regime, Karl (Wayne) feels it would nevertheless be unpatriotic should he refuse to save his ship from destruction. His ship--an old, rusty 5,000 ton freighter named the Ergenstrasse--is being pursued by a British warship on his journey from Australia back to Germany. Captain Erlich does everything he can to save his ship and his crew, but the process is long and dangerous, particularly without a plentiful supply of fuel and provisions. Erlich must face obstacles ranging from horrendous sea storms and shark attacks to false murder accusations, and it seems his only devotee is Elsa (Lana Turner), a beautiful German spy. Despite nearly falling to the determined English ship and a mutiny attempt by his own crew, Captain Erlich manages to survive what was anything but a routine trip back to his home country. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
Franz Bachelin - Art Director, Moss Mabry - Costume Designer, Emmett Emerson - First Assistant Director, Russell Llewellyn - First Assistant Director, John Farrow - Director, William H. Ziegler - Editor, Roy Webb - Composer (Music Score), Gordon Bau - Makeup, William H. Clothier - Cinematographer, John Farrow - Producer, William Wallace - Set Designer, H.F. Koenekamp - Special Effects, Francis J. Scheid - Sound/Sound Designer, Derek N. Twist - Screenwriter, James Warner Bellah - Screenwriter, John Twist - Screenwriter, Andrew Geer - Short Story Author