SAILOR OF THE KING
UK, 1953, 83 minutes, Black and white.
Jeffrey Hunter, Michael Rennie, Peter Van Eyck, Wendy Hiller, Bernard Lee, Victor Maddern, Patrick Barr, Robin Bailey.
Directed by Roy Boulting.
Sailor of the King (Singlehanded) is based on a 1929 novel by C.S. Forester, Brown on Resolution. Forester also wrote the World War One story, The African Queen, as well as being famous for the Captain Horatio Hornblower series.
This is a straightforward World War One naval action adventure. The focus is on American Jeffrey Hunter as a young man who does not know his father, but serves under him later during the war. Wendy Hiller is his mother. Michael Rennie is the captain who becomes the admiral. There is good support from a British cast including Bernard Lee.
The film was directed by Roy Boulting, one of the Boulting Brothers who were responsible for an interesting series of films in the 40s and 50s including Brighton Rock as well as I’m All Right Jack.
The film works very well as an action adventure at sea as well as an attempt at sabotage of a German warship. (The plot is similar to the film with Peter O’ Toole, Murphy’s War.)
1. The film was originally called Singlehanded. It is based on a story called 'Brown on Resolution' which title is the most appropriate? Indicating themes?
2. How enjoyable was this film? How did it retain audience interest? A film of the early 1950s, as seen with the perspective of later decades?
3. The quality of the black and white photography, photography in Malta, the style of the First World War prologue, a navy war film?
4, The emphasis on the navy in the film: the people in the prologue, the interest and concern about the navy, the World War I heritage, the World War II heritage? How real was the world of the navy, ambitions, achievement and success in war? Was this convincingly communicated?
5. Did the film integrate the human interest well with the naval emphasis? The relationship between Richard and Lucy, the nature of naval leave, the talking in the train. the happiness of the holiday together, the pregnancy, Lucy's reserve in keeping to herself? The fact that there was no marriage? Lucy asking her own way in life? Savell going forward independently? Audience response to these human situations?
6, The presentation of Brown, his explanation of what his mother had done to him? Was the audience satisfied with this knowledge about Lucy's life?
7. The contrast with seeing Savell rise to Admiral? His abilities? no need for achievement? His achievement during the war? The final decorations?
8. How convincing a hero was Brown? The ordinary seamen on the ship? The capture? The heroism of the plan and escape? His clash with the Germans? The nature of hie heroism? The presentation of the Germans? How fair? German ships, repairs, the attack?
10. The irony of the ending as father and son were decorated? Was the film right not to make the relationship known?
11. Was this a good adventure film? A good war film? A good humane film?
