Windjammer (1937) User Reviews (5)

A pretty good sea yarn

[pitcairn89 · 6/10 · 31 January 2009]

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.

A better than average B.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 2 November 2011]

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.

A Yaght of Fun!

[Phil Reeder · 5/10 · 22 April 2008]

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.

In the right frame of mind this is very entertaining. At its worst its a forgettable diversion

[dbborroughs · 5/10 · 27 May 2008]

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.

Pirates of the Pacific.

[mark.waltz · 3/10 · 3 January 2013]

In a sparse running time, the issues of a capsized yacht crew is barely dramatized as they are taken aboard a contraband ship while in a yacht race from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Besides the commander, his daughter and the crew, the other passenger is a summons server who pretended to be a drowning man in order to gain access to the eventual sinking yacht to present a summons to the commander. In what seems to be a much edited (or at least streamlined) story, the film is weakly structured and the impact of what could be at least a passable "B" feature becomes more like an edited serial or an early 50's teleplay. While the acting is alright and the actual collision of the two vessels is convincingly filmed, everything wraps up too quickly, too neatly, and ultimately, too forgettably.