THE SEA WOLVES
UK, 1980, 120 minutes, Colour.
Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven, Patrick Macnee, Barbara Kellerman, Trevor Howard, Kenneth Griffith, Patrick Allen.
Directed by Andrew V.McLaglan.
The Sea Wolves is old-fashioned adventure: anti-German commando activity in Goa, 1943; good old British derring-do; old stars cavorting (Roger Moore is the youngest) . From the production team of The Wild Geese, especially director Andrew Mc Laglen who used to specialise in Wayne-Stewart? westerns, this true story (far¬fetched heroics) is entertaining with its blend of stiff upper lips and explosions in Indian locations. Gregory Peck and David Niven blew up the Guns of Navarone, so we now expect them to succeed. Barbara Kellerman provides some glamour as the chic society spy. The younger generation may enjoy this kind of action history but the ageing cast and plot is for an ageing audience.
1 . The perennial popularity of this kind of war adventure? The con¬ventions from the forties and fifties? The Guns Of Navarone? A seventies' adaptation of this kind of material - for what audience? British, Commonwealth, International? The age of the potential audience?
2. The conventions of the war genre: the mission, the difficulties, espionage, heroics? The group of people involved - the intrepid com¬mander, the subordinate with impertinence, the spies? The group in¬volved - range of personalities, backgrounds, senses of humour, daring? How well were these characters presented here?
3. Colour photography, the use of Indian locations? The atmosphere of India? The special effects? The mission, the explosions? The rousing musical score - and the song based on the Warsaw Concerto?
4. The film based on fact - presented as fact, as fiction? World War I and espionage in India? The British in India? The veterans of World War I still living in India? Their patriotism - their jingoism? The need for secrecy and cover for the mission? The Lighthorse and their way of life, business? Skills? The going on the mission - the sailing of the boat? The attack on the ship? The background of Pugh and his command? Stewart and the encounter with Mrs. Cromwell? The facts pre¬sented in a screen heroic light?
5. Gregory Peck as Pugh? British background, role in India, discussions with the commander about the espionage? His seeking out of Stewart? The connection with Bill Grice and his address to the Calcutta Light Horse? The preparations for the mission? His arrangements for the ship' The sequences on the ship - difficulties, timing, the engine stopping? The leading of the siege? His being wounded and falling from the ship? The importance of Pugh himself being technical adviser to the film?
6. The contrast with Roger Moore's style as Stewart? Suave manner? (younger than the others?). The encounter with Mrs Cromwell, the fas¬cination, the affair? His link with Grice, with Jack Cartwright? Cartwright's murder? Stewart's persuading of the authorities to have a cover-up carnival? The killing of Mrs Cromwell? The role that Stewart played on the beach? The final heroics?
7. Bill Grice and David Niven's suave style? Representing the men? The old Englishman in India - Mrs Grice? His leadership of the group? The voyage and his role? The siege of the ship?
8. Jack Cartwright and his health, his contribution to the mission, his murder? The range of personalities of the Calcutta Light Horse and their presence on the ship, participation in the mission? Age? Comradeship? (and the irony that these actors had been in so many war films of the fifties and sixties?).
9. Mrs Cromwell and her place in Goa - place in society, access to people? German connections? Her cover? The affair with Stewart? Her using Stewart? Her death? The background of the other interna¬tional spies - their mode of operation? The confrontation by Pugh and Stewart - the necessity of their deaths? The melodrama of their deaths?
10. The basic ingredients of the mission and audience involvement -the danger to British shipping, the need for the destroying of the radio The details of the explosions on the ship?
11. How enjoyable this kind of material? Its particularly British style? The enhancing of heroics and the memory of World War II? Themes of war, heroism, courage?
