Plot- In the south seas, an ex-ship's captain conspires to get a new sailing ship to captain. In the process he gets a morally indebted friend to help. It seems to be working until they land on a mysterious island full of natives and one imperious white guy. Then too, who is that strange woman hiding below decks.
Despite the brief runtime (66-minutes), Paramount was likely boosting it's two rising stars with better than average programmer material. The screenplay features a complex friendship between Calhoun and Kelly, plus an emotionally conflicted Fleming. I especially like that tense quicksand struggle where the friendship is established. Trouble is Kelly has few scruples while Calhoun is basically a straight-shooter. How Calhoun manages to balance morality with friendship drives the plot line. After all, he has obligations to both. Also, the island natives prove over time to be more than atmospheric décor. Too bad that Napier's soulless island tyrant amounts to a bad guy contrivance but at least it's well performed. Then too, Fleming's role is clearly a device to inject some glamour into the proceedings.
Nonetheless, the Technicolor canvas is captivating, especially when the clipper's majestic white sails are framed against ocean and sky. All in all, the flick's better than expected for a programmer time frame. So viewers could do a lot worse.
Despite the brief runtime (66-minutes), Paramount was likely boosting it's two rising stars with better than average programmer material. The screenplay features a complex friendship between Calhoun and Kelly, plus an emotionally conflicted Fleming. I especially like that tense quicksand struggle where the friendship is established. Trouble is Kelly has few scruples while Calhoun is basically a straight-shooter. How Calhoun manages to balance morality with friendship drives the plot line. After all, he has obligations to both. Also, the island natives prove over time to be more than atmospheric décor. Too bad that Napier's soulless island tyrant amounts to a bad guy contrivance but at least it's well performed. Then too, Fleming's role is clearly a device to inject some glamour into the proceedings.
Nonetheless, the Technicolor canvas is captivating, especially when the clipper's majestic white sails are framed against ocean and sky. All in all, the flick's better than expected for a programmer time frame. So viewers could do a lot worse.