A subtle performance by Van Heflin as a German ship captain gives a different perspective to this World War II film where the German is the good guy and the ally (merchant marine ship captain Charles Laughton) is a pompous fool, an older version of Captain Bligh who only sees Germans as the enemy who has no redeeming values. Rescuing the survivors of an attacked vessel, Heflin demands that everyone be treated with respect, including a Jewish couple in fear of being persecuted. Indeed, there are antisemitic crew members aboard the German vessel, one of whom informs Heflin that his treatment of the Jewish passengers in a good way will be reported as a betrayal of Nazi theory.
Both Oscar winning actors dominate the film, both from different ships, but Laughton completely overacts, bellowing his lines and effectively lessening support for the side that the viewer was being told to support, simply because of what side he is on. The performance of Heflin then is the shining light of this film, reminding the audience that there is such a thing called a civilized enemy where decency reigns in their souls rather than what their tyrant leaders demand they do. A film of ideals, decent for a low budget war drama that tries somehow different and succeeds.
Both Oscar winning actors dominate the film, both from different ships, but Laughton completely overacts, bellowing his lines and effectively lessening support for the side that the viewer was being told to support, simply because of what side he is on. The performance of Heflin then is the shining light of this film, reminding the audience that there is such a thing called a civilized enemy where decency reigns in their souls rather than what their tyrant leaders demand they do. A film of ideals, decent for a low budget war drama that tries somehow different and succeeds.