WHITE SQUALL
US, 1996, 129 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Caroline Goodall, John Savage, Scott Wolf, Jeremy Sisto, Ryan Phillippe, Eric Michael Cole, David Selby, Julio Oscar Mechoso, Balthasar Getty, Ethan Embrey, Zeljko Ivanek.
Directed by Ridley Scott.
Director Ridley Scott established himself as a significant director during the 1970s with his initial feature film The Duellists and then by making Alien and Bladerunner. He had success during the 1980s with such films as Black Rain. However, during the 1990s he had a leaner period with 1492, GI Jane and White Squall. However, by 2000 with Gladiator he had a new lease of life with such films as Hannibal and Kingdom of Heaven.
This is a film about a group of wealthy teenage boys who have a year on an education ship, a schooner captained by Jeff Bridges, assisted by his wife, played by Caroline Goodall.
The captain is stern, interested in discipline – although he leaves the young men to fend for themselves, especially to make their own mistakes in terms of relationships, alcohol, personal confrontations. The students themselves are not particularly interesting. Scott Wolf (Party of Five) is the central character, considered the glue that keeps the group together. Ryan Phillippe, before he became a leading star in such films as Cruel Intentions, Way of the Gun, Antitrust and Gosford Park, has a strong featured role.
The film also shows the pressure on parents and the captain as a substitute parent. Jeremy Sisto is the spoilt son of an impossible father. When a white squall, a sudden storm overwhelming the boat, kills a number of the boys as well as the captain’s wife, there is an inquiry into the competence of the captain and his boys. In the end, the boys realise they have had an education and are loyal to the captain. The special effects for the storm at sea are certainly one of the most interesting features of the film.
1.The work of Ridley Scott? His interest in action? His interest in characters? In strong leadership? Macho perspectives in his film-making?
2.The locations, the backgrounds of the boys and their families? The Caribbean coast, the islands? The film at sea – in calm, especially the white squall and its special effects? The musical score?
3.The introduction to Chuck Gieg, his voice-over, his own story, comparisons with his older brother, his father’s concern, mother’s support? His going off to sea because he wanted it rather than to go to college? His being considered the glue that keeps the group together? His relationship with the captain, with the rest of the boys? His friendship with Gil? His own journey, the relationship with the girls, sexuality? His support of the boys? Of the captain in the storm?
4.The backgrounds of the other boys, their coming to the boat, assembling, the captain having them on deck, the introduction to each? Their backgrounds? Chuck’s comments on them as characters, their needs, strengths and weaknesses? Seeing them together, working together, as crew? How well did the film and the screenplay give portraits of each of the characters – or not?
5.Captain Sheldon, appearance on deck, his experience, his support from his wife, love for his wife? His attitudes towards the boys, towards discipline, working on the ship, their studies? On shore? Reputation? The importance of the meeting with the Dutch girls, the courtesy, the dance? His knowing about the alcohol on board and not acting? His sternness with each of the boys, Chuck and his being at the wheel? Gil and his forcing him to climb even though he had acrophobia? The confrontations with Frank Beaumont, Beaumont’s father, sending Frank away? His relationship with Girard as cook, his sternness with the boys and the criticism of Girard and his wife?
6.Gil, his background, his dead brother and his fall, his fears, crying, the climbing? His friendship with Chuck? Their confrontation of Preston after his cheating, their helping him to read and spell? His success in exams? Their work together, friendship together, supporting each other? Gil and his being trapped during the squall, Chuck unable to help him, his death?
7.Frank Beaumont, his obnoxious father, laying down the law, arriving late, the devoted mother and her inability to help? Frank as spoilt? His sneering attitudes? His becoming friendly with Chuck an Gil, sharing with them? The shooting of the dolphin, its being lethally wounded, the captain and his wanting Frank to finish the work, to batter the dolphin? His inability? His being sent away? Gil and Chuck pleading with the captain? Frank’s later appearance with his father, the court case, his getting the bell, ringing it in loyalty to the captain?
8.Preston, surliness, brutality, forcing Lapchick onto another bunk? His brutal attitude, his skill at diving? His confession of not being able to spell, his changing attitudes, the support of Chuck and Gil?
9.Lapchick, the conflicts with Preston, his place on the boat, taunts? Tod Johnston, friendly, glasses? The sexual encounter after the dance? The injection for the STD? The others and the injections? The importance of his being at the wheel during the white squall, his differences from the captain, his decisions, his confessing to panic during the inquiry? The sketches of the other boys in the group?
10.Alice Sheldon, her love for her husband, support of the boys, wanting discipline but not absolute control? With the medical aspects, studies? Her being trapped, the pathos of her death and her husband watching her?
11.Mc Crae, tough, relationship with the boys, quoting literature, working with them?
12.Girard, the cook, the incident with the Cubans, boarding the ship, the translations?
13.The setting of the times, 1961, the Cuban missiles, the speeches of Kennedy, the antagonism of the Cuban coast guard, the bluffs, boarding, breaking the compass, the captain’s retort about being guided by the stars?
14.The impact of the squall, the way that it was filmed, the behaviour of each of the characters, saving each other, unable to save each other, the power of the storm?
15.The inquiry, the antagonism of Beaumont, Frank supporting his father, the testimony, the cross-examination of the captain, his accepting responsibility, his walking away, Chuck and his pleading for him not to walk away, their taking and sharing responsibility, the boys gathering round the captain in support of him? The effect on Beaumont and the other parents?
16.Chuck’s final comments, the nature of the year’s experience, their being bonded as a community as the captain wanted, their discovering their better selves, the captain and his withdrawing from the sea?
