Boisterous, rabelaisian Portugese immigrant Mike Mascarenhas is a larger than life tuna fisherman in the waters off San Diego who captains a successful tuna. boat schooner despite having lost a hand to an aggressive tiger shark years earlier. First mate Pipes Foley becomes his best friend after Mike rescues him from a voracious shark. When another crew member, Miguel Silva, is killed by the man-eaters, Mike takes a paternal, later romantic, interest in Miguel's pretty daughter, Quita, whom he marries. The ecstatic Mike doesn't realize that Pipes and Quita are themselves falling in love, which leads to inevitable tragic consequences.
Portugese fishermen have always been depictedy colorfully by Hollywood as subsequent actors would prove (Spencer Tracy in "Captains Courageous" and Anthony Quinn in "The World in His Arms" are other examples.} Hawks was strongly attracted to stories set in unusual locales which feature male protagonists engaged in a dangerous profession which forces them to live according to strict ethical codes of behavior."Ceiling Zero," "Only Angels have Wings," "The Thing,""The Big Sky,"and "Hatari" are other notable examples from the Hawks canon. "Tiger Shark" is set on a tuna clipper in the ocean off San Diego the fisherman risk death daily as they harvest the ocean's bounty and risk,their lives on every voyage.in the process.
The always excellent Edward G. Robinson gives a bravura performance as the ship's captain who has already lost one hand to a voracious shark. Even at this early point in his career Robinson was a consummate film actor, and it is a minor scandal the Academy Awards never once nominated him for a lead or supporting performance during a five decade career.
Co-star Rirchard Arlen was at the height of his undistinguished career and one is puzzled why Warners saw fit to borrow him from Paramount with many other superior actors under contract The bland actor's career soon took him into 'B' pictures. Arlen's performance is totally overshadowed by Robinson, who dominates every scene they share.
Exotic Zita Johann, fresh from her appearance as Karloff's leading lady, in "The Mummy," is markedly different from Hawks' slim and sassy usual leading ladies like Ann and Margaret Sheridan, Angie Dickinson, and Lauren Bacall.
Hawk's overcomes the obstacles and difficulties of shooting on-locaton during the early sound era and all in all, Hawks' and Robinson' professionalism take "Tiger Shark" far beyond other 1932 potboilers and well worth watching despite its age.
Portugese fishermen have always been depictedy colorfully by Hollywood as subsequent actors would prove (Spencer Tracy in "Captains Courageous" and Anthony Quinn in "The World in His Arms" are other examples.} Hawks was strongly attracted to stories set in unusual locales which feature male protagonists engaged in a dangerous profession which forces them to live according to strict ethical codes of behavior."Ceiling Zero," "Only Angels have Wings," "The Thing,""The Big Sky,"and "Hatari" are other notable examples from the Hawks canon. "Tiger Shark" is set on a tuna clipper in the ocean off San Diego the fisherman risk death daily as they harvest the ocean's bounty and risk,their lives on every voyage.in the process.
The always excellent Edward G. Robinson gives a bravura performance as the ship's captain who has already lost one hand to a voracious shark. Even at this early point in his career Robinson was a consummate film actor, and it is a minor scandal the Academy Awards never once nominated him for a lead or supporting performance during a five decade career.
Co-star Rirchard Arlen was at the height of his undistinguished career and one is puzzled why Warners saw fit to borrow him from Paramount with many other superior actors under contract The bland actor's career soon took him into 'B' pictures. Arlen's performance is totally overshadowed by Robinson, who dominates every scene they share.
Exotic Zita Johann, fresh from her appearance as Karloff's leading lady, in "The Mummy," is markedly different from Hawks' slim and sassy usual leading ladies like Ann and Margaret Sheridan, Angie Dickinson, and Lauren Bacall.
Hawk's overcomes the obstacles and difficulties of shooting on-locaton during the early sound era and all in all, Hawks' and Robinson' professionalism take "Tiger Shark" far beyond other 1932 potboilers and well worth watching despite its age.