Themes: Disasters at Sea, Forces of Nature, Ship Cruises
Main Cast: Balthazar Getty, Jeff Bridges, Caroline Goodall, John Savage, Scott Wolf, Jeremy Sisto
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 127 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Based on a true incident from 1960, White Squall is the story of the tragic sinking of the Albatross, a prep school educational two-masted schooner, during a Caribbean storm. Screenwriter Todd Robinson wrote the script after meeting one of the tragedy's survivors, Chuck Gieg. In the film, Gieg (Scott Wolf) is the narrator. He and his fellow students, whose parents have paid handsomely for their schooling, which combines classroom work with real-life adventure, are introduced to their grizzled seafaring captain, Christopher Sheldon (Jeff Bridges). Gieg is initially skeptical of Sheldon's authority, but he gradually comes to see the captain as a model of manhood. The other boys aboard include Frank Beaumont (Jeremy Sisto), a self-absorbed snob; Dean Preston (Eric Michael Cole), a troublemaker and bully; Tod Johnston (Balthazar Getty), a returning student; and the naïve Tracy Lapchick (Ethan Embry). John Savage plays the pompous English teacher aboard the ship. Various incidents establish the boys' insecurities and relationships with the authorities -- and foreshadow their eventual fate. The killer squall comes up quietly but soon turns deadly, and the boys are forced to go beyond their privileged upbringings and deal with real danger. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Ryan Phillippe - Gil Martin; Becky Ann Baker - Ms. Boyde; Balthazar Getty - Tod Johnstone; Zeljko Ivanek - Sanders; Jason Marsden - Shay Jennings; Julio Oscar Mechoso - Girard Pascal; James Medina - Cuban Commander; James Rebhorn - Tyler; David Selby - Francis Beaumont; Jordan Clarke - Charles Gieg; Lizbeth MacKay - Middy Gieg; Eric Michael Cole - Dean Preston; Ethan Embry - Tracy Lapchick; David Lascher - Robert March; Camilla Overbye Roos - Bregitta; Charlotte Anderson - Danish School Girl; Emily Chittell - Danish School Girl; Nynne Christiansen - Danish School Girl; Anja Clausen - Danish School Girl; Andrew Hartley - Crew Member; Mette Hocke - Danish School Girl; Nathaniel Ives - Relief Bo'sun; Lene Kristensen - Danish School Girl; Jill Larson - Peggy Beaumont; Nicole Ann Samuel - Girl In Brothel; Jordan Scott - Danish School Girl; Peyton Thomas - Crew Member; Anita Weider - Danish School Girl; Chris Condon - Crew Member
Credit
Joseph P. Lucky - Art Director, Terry Needham - Associate Producer, Louis Di Giaimo - Casting, Nigel Wooll - Co-producer, Todd Robinson - Co-producer, Judianna Makovsky - Costume Designer, Terry Needham - First Assistant Director, David Tringham - First Assistant Director, Ridley Scott - Director, Gerry Hambling - Editor, Ridley Scott - Executive Producer, Hans Zimmer - Composer (Music Score), Jeff Rona - Composer (Music Score), Bob Smith - Camera Operator, Peter J. Hampton - Production Designer, Les Tomkins - Production Designer, Hugh Johnson - Cinematographer, Rocky Lang - Producer, Mimi Polk Gitlin - Producer, Rand Sagers - Set Designer, Joss Williams - Special Effects, Ken Weston - Sound/Sound Designer, Vince Deadrick, Jr. - Stunts, Ethan Embry - Stunts, Nigel Wooll - Supervisor/Manager, Todd Robinson - Screenwriter
The film is based on the fate of the schoonerAlbatross, which sank on 2 May1961, allegedly because of a white squall. The film relates the ill-fated summer school sailing trip led by Dr. Christopher B. Sheldon (Jeff Bridges), whom the boys call "Skipper". In the film, five people aboard the ship perish, whereas in reality six people died in the incident. Characters in the film are Chris Sheldon, Dr. Alice Sheldon, Mr. McCrae, Girard Pascal, 'Chuck' , Gil Martin, Robert March, Shay Jennings, Dean Preston, Frank Beaumont, Francis Beaumont, Tod Johnstone, and Tracy Lapchick.
Reception
The film hold a 62% based on 29 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.[1]
Roger Ebert gave it three stars. In his review he said "I enjoyed the movie for the sheer physical exuberance of its adventure"[2]
