Customer Reviews

Blood Alley / Sea Chase

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Both only recently released on DVD, 1955's "Blood Alley" and "The Sea Chase" are now available together in a single package, at a very affordable price. Each film offers a view of John Wayne's film work away from the western genre, and are interesting, if not entirely successful, 'period' adventure tales.

The older of the pair, "The Sea Chase", has a novelty value uniquely its own, as the Duke plays a GERMAN sea captain, at the start of WWII! A decorated veteran of WWI, Wayne hates Hitler and the Nazis, but when ordered to return his freighter and crew to home port, he feels honor-bound to comply, despite a British mandate to 'stand down'. Joined prior to departure by a mysterious spy (Lana Turner, in her only teaming with the Duke), Wayne gets his aged ship out of the harbor, and is quickly pursued by a British force, headed by his old friend, Commander Jeff Napier (David Farrar). The story becomes a cat-and-mouse tale, as the freighter attempts to elude British sea power, and reach Germany, safely.

Produced and directed by John Farrow (who had directed Wayne in 1953's "Hondo"), "The Sea Chase", despite earnest performances, never really builds much suspense, and there is a marked lack of chemistry between Wayne and Turner, which sabotages their romantic scenes. Still, the cast includes young Tab Hunter, and many lifelong Wayne friends (including James Arness and Paul Fix), that helps establish an air of camaraderie. Wayne, suffering from a severe ear infection throughout the shoot, makes no effort to adopt a German accent or persona, which gives the film a somewhat surreal 'feel'.

All in all, "The Sea Chase" is, at best, an interesting misfire!

Far more entertaining and successful, "Blood Alley", director 'Wild Bill' Wellman's final collaboration with Wayne (preceded by "Island in the Sky" and "The High and the Mighty"), is not only a rip-roaring 'sea chase' adventure, but another of Wayne's many films endorsing his conservative political ideology. Produced by Wayne, himself (who'd initially hoped to get Robert Mitchum or Humphrey Bogart for the lead), this tale of a sea captain, rescued from the Communist Chinese to transport an entire Chinese village to safety on a broken-down steam ship, never drags.

The film has many 'pluses'; leading lady Lauren Bacall, both beautiful and tough, has terrific chemistry with the Duke (and became a lifelong friend, co-starring in his last film, "The Shootist", over 20 years, later); Wayne's character, 'Tom Wilder', has equal shares of bravura and madness (he talks, frequently, to an imaginary girlfriend, created to help him withstand being tortured), and the Duke obviously enjoyed the role; longtime friend Paul Fix, in Oriental make up, gives one of his better film performances, as a kindly old doctor; and the film is extremely well paced, with tension building as the Communists relentlessly pursue the tiny ship. On the negative side, the politics are stridently right-wing, some of the Chinese characters are stereotypes, and several definitely non-Oriental actors have key 'Chinese' roles (including Mike Mazurki, and an unrecognizable but certainly not Chinese Anita Ekberg). Nonetheless, after fifty years, the film continues to 'hold up' as a very entertaining adventure!

At a 'budget' price, this double feature is certainly worth including in your 'John Wayne' collection!

I have searched the stores for a long time, without finding these two great movies, and I was so happy to see that I could get both of them at the same time on the same disc.....Thank you so much.

More Great Classic films from John Wayne. I saw both "Blood Alley and The Sea Chase and will watch them again and again. John Wayne, Layren BeCall, Ward Bond and many others, are the real actors we loved to watch. I do recommend getting these movies, Again if you like The Duke. These two movies were really good. Thanks Amazon.com and Muller404 for this great package, like new condition and fast delivery. Thanks and have fun watching the movies, Terry

The humor and story lines are definitely different and offer some great backgrounds and locations. Creativety used to be so good, and this sure was no less: okay, they are not so well known as others, they are not "The Great Classics of All Time", but they offer some good enjoyment for those who loved the Duke. Cute plots, fun people involved, and good (evolving plot) love stories that I enjoyed a lot and had to have my own copy of them.

Recently I purchased Blood Alley / Sea Chase. It was fast, it was easy and it got here in record time. In excellant condition. I would recommend this service to everyone. THanks, Gert

The two movies of Blood Alley and The Sea Chase were both in excellent condition. The only complaint that I have is that it took a good deal of time to receive the movies in the first place (17 days). Thanks RWM

GREAT JOHN WAYNE FLICK. FULL OF EXCITEMEMT, GREAT STORY. THE ACTING BY THE FULL CAST WAS REALLY GOOD. I ENJOYED THIS MOVIE VERY MUCH AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT, I'VE WATCHED IT SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY.

I have always loved Blood Alley for its pure unabashed flag waving tone. Hell I was only nine years old when it came out and I already knew the "Reds" were the bad guys, we were the "Good Guys" and John Wayne was the all American Hero. Politics aside that movie rocked. The idea of taking an entire Chinese village, men,women,children,animals,dead ancestors and even the "Commie family" on a tiny flat bottom Ferry Boat down Blood Alley with the entire Red Chinese Navy in pursuit was thrilling. Of course even at nine I couldn't keep my eyes off of Lauren Bacall. "Huh baby?" A real fun ride.

On the other side of the disk is the Sea Chase a dull ride in comparison. Where John Wayne's politics and rugged personality cut loose in Blood Alley. Those same factors worked against him in the Sea Chase.You can see that he is very uncomfortable in the part of an ex-World War One German Naval Officer attempting to escape Nazi Germany with his ship and crew. Lana Turner as a widow of a German Naval Officer turned spy works, because of her beauty. However, when the script convolutes to get her on Wayne's German Freighter which is being pursued by the British Navy and the exact same Navy Officer Turner was using to get information out of for Germany. The story goes astray. Had the story stayed a chase film like the Pursuit of the Graf Spay it might have worked. Possibly had "Wild Bill" Wellman also directed this picture as he did Blood Alley and Turner stopped being the beauty queen and showed the sex appeal of Bacall the story might have also worked.

However, at this price this double film pack is still worth every viewing moment.

Blood Alley is a story set in a period of time in Chinas past where the people often took great risks to survive. And with John Wayne and Lauren Bacall as the leads the story cannot help but be good! Becall was far better than she was ever given credit for being. And plays a character that is quite believable. The Sea Chase is a naval story set at the beginning of WWII. There is action, drama, intrigue, betrayal, and romance in the story set on a German vessel that inot what one would think of as a ship of war. Both movies are well worth the price alone but you get both.

Two great John Wayne films. Was happy to be able to find them. Blood Alley has been a favorite of our family. Arrived on time and in great condition.