Windjammer

August. 06,1937      
Rating:
5.5
Trailer Synopsis Cast

The fourth and last of the George A. Hirliman-produced films starring George O'Brien (preceded by "Daniel Boone", "Park Avenue Logger" and "Hollywood Cowboy") that were distributed by RKO Radio. Hirliman sold O'Brien's contract to RKO, which then produced 18 series westerns starring O'Brien that ended when O'Brien went into the Navy at the outbreak of WW II. Long-time (past and future) O'Brien director David Howard served as Hirliman's Associate Producer on this film. "Windjammer" finds O'Brien as a subpoena server ordered to serve a subpoena on Brandon Evans (The Commondore) for a senate inquiry or lose his job. Posing as a playboy, he boards the Commodore's yacht during a yacht race, and the yacht is wrecked by a gun-running windjammer commanded by Captain Morgan (William Hall.) All hands are picked up by the windjammer, including the Commodore's daughter (played by Constance Worth) and put to work as galley slaves.

George O’Brien as  Bruce Lane
Constance Worth as  Betty Selby
William Hall as  Captain Morgan
Gavin Gordon as  J. Montague Forsythe
Stanley Blystone as  Peterson
Lal Chand Mehra as  Willy
Ben Hendricks Jr. as  Dolan
Lee Shumway as  Yacht Captain
Frank Hagney as  Slum
Sam Flint as  Marvin T. Bishop

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Reviews

Karry
1937/08/06

Best movie of this year hands down!

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AniInterview
1937/08/07

Sorry, this movie sucks

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Kidskycom
1937/08/08

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

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Guillelmina
1937/08/09

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

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MartinHafer
1937/08/10

This B-movie stars George O'Brien. O'Brien had a very unusual career. While he was a star in the silent era (appearing as the lead in such prestige pictures as Murnau's "Sunrise"), during the 30-40s, he re-wrote himself--becoming a B-movie star--mostly in westerns. In this capacity he had a pretty good career--though most people wouldn't recognize him if they saw a picture of him or hear his name today--which is a shame as he was a decent actor.Here in "Windjammer", O'Brien is in one of his Bs--though not a western. The story finds him playing a process server who is trying to give a subpoena to an illusive rich guy nicknamed 'the Commodore'. To get near the guy, O'Brien poses as a playboy and goes aboard the Commodore's yacht before a boat race. While the boat really looks nothing like a racing yacht, I found this easy enough to ignore. Once aboard, O'Brien is forced to go on the race--and it's a very, very long one. So, to stop the Commodore, he sows dissent among the crew. Well, his plan works too well and not only the Commodore and his family but O'Brien find themselves lost at sea. Unfortunately, they are rescued by a ship full of gun runners--and these cut-throats aren't about to return a rich guy to shore without a hefty ransom. So, it's up to our intrepid hero to come to the rescue--and impress the girl to boot! Overall, this is a decent adventure film--briskly paced and with pretty decent production values for a B. While not exactly brilliant, it's all pretty good fun.

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pitcairn89
1937/08/11

This is a pretty good George O'Brien "B" film. O'Brien was always a likable leading man, and, as everyone knows, was popular in the late-silent, early-talkie era. He is noteworthy for his role in Murnau's "Sunrise." He did much of his best work for John Ford, who seemed to be a kind of guardian angel for him. When his career was running out of steam, Ford put him in supporting roles in some of his later films. If what you read is true, O'Brien must hold some kind of military record. Aside from being a boxing champ in the navy, he fought in WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, and was highly decorated in those wars. He's good here as the cocky government attorney, determined to get his man. The story segues from a light adventure yarn into a sort of variation of "The Sea Wolf." The actors playing the cutthroats on the ship our heroes encounter are pretty convincing. Particularly William Hall, who plays the captain. I'm not familiar with him, and he seems to have had a career playing small parts and bits. He's good, though, and convincing as a ruthless, piratical type. I'm not familiar with most of the actors here, though in a way that makes it more convincing, as they seem like real-life types. After O'Brien, and leading lady Constance Worth, the best known actor here is probably Gavin Gordon. He attained some kind of screen immortality by playing Lord Byron in the classic "The Bride of Frankenstein." And he played that part very well. He also appeared in "The Mystery of the Wax Museum," and dozens of other films, usually as a nasty, bullying villain (see "The Silver Horde," 1930, with Joel McCrea). This isn't a great film by any means, but it is fun, and is the kind of sea adventure that you don't see anymore. For sailing ship fans, it is a treat as well. There are plenty of shots of 30s- era yachts, motor boats, and sailing ships, the kinds of ships that you don't see around the world any longer, except perhaps in offbeat locations. Places like the islands of Indonesia, or harbors in Djakarta. You really can see these vintage vessels in such places, and not as museum pieces, but as working ships. If you can't get to those places in reality, films like this might be of interest.

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dbborroughs
1937/08/12

Rich man who has been buying up land with government funds for his own use has been evading subpoenas from the attorney general. The attorney general sends one of his best men after him and he manages to get the man in Hawaii during a yacht race. During the race there is a collision between boats and the yacht goes down and the survivors from the yacht end up on the other boat which is where things get interesting.Light adventure drama with heavy doses of comedy and romance. Its the sort of thing that you'll be way a head of simply because its not very clever, then again I don't think its trying to be. In the right frame of mind this is going to be a winning film. In the wrong frame of mind you'll want to change the channel. Personally I watched about half before I had enough and then I kind of scanned through the rest (Though it must be said I wouldn't mind seeing it again). Worth a look depending on your mood.

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Phil Reeder
1937/08/13

Short, entertaining sea yarn with George O'Brien as a state attorney general's right hand man sent to serve a subpoena on a tycoon, only to find himself a prisoner along with the millionaire and his daughter aboard the ship of an arms smuggler, bound for Macao. The action is pretty good, along with the characterizations - particularly Hall as the roguish, mad-eyed Capt. Morgan (there even seems to be a tongue-in-cheek reference to the pirate Henry Morgan!) Blond Constance Worth is cute as Betty, playing the she-hates-him/she-loves-him cliché for all it's Worth. Overall a decently spent hour.5/10 stars, check it out.

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