Early in the War of 1812, Captain James Marshall is commissioned to run the British blockade and fetch an unofficial war loan from France. As first mate, Marshall recruits Ben Waldridge, a cashiered former British Navy captain. Waldridge brings his former gun crew...who begin plotting mutiny as soon as they learn there'll be gold aboard. The gold duly arrives, and with it Waldridge's former sweetheart Leslie, who's fond of a bit of gold herself. Which side is Waldridge really on?
Acting
Angela Lansbury's ice-queen femme fatale steals every scene she's in.
Direction
Dmytryk brings noir tension to a historical swashbuckler—tight and mean.
Director
Edward Dmytryk
Mark Stevens
Capt. James Marshall
Angela Lansbury
Leslie Waldridge
Patric Knowles
Capt. Ben Waldridge
Gene Evans
Hook
Rhys Williams
Redlegs
Robert Osterloh
Feversham, Gunner
Peter Brocco
Sykes, Gunner
Emerson Treacy
Council Speaker
Morris Ankrum
Capt. Radford
Todd Karns
Andrews
Norman Leavitt
Hackett (uncredited)
Michael Mark
Fisherman (uncredited)
Gene Roth
Mr. Potter (uncredited)
Denver Pyle
Gunner / Mutineer (uncredited)
Byron Foulger
Chairman Parson's Secretary (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Edward Dmytryk directed this during his 'friendly witness' HUAC period—his last film before the blacklist lifted, shot cheap and fast to rebuild his career.
This was Angela Lansbury's 'evil woman' era before Mame and Murder, She Wrote—she played three separate husband-poisoners in 1952 alone.
US
