Tyrant of the Sea

Tyrant of the Sea
Directed byLew Landers
Written byRobert Libott
Frank Burt
Produced bySam Katzman
StarringRon Randell
Rhys Williams
Valentine Perkins
Doris Lloyd
CinematographyIra H. Morgan
Edited byEdwin Bryant
Music byMischa Bakaleinikoff
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • February 22, 1950 (1950-02-22)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Tyrant of the Sea is a 1950 American historical war film set during the Napoleonic Wars and starring Ron Randell, Rhys Williams, Valentine Perkins and Doris Lloyd. It was directed by Lew Landers.

Plot

In 1803, Royal Navy Captain Blake is forced into retirement by Admiral Lord Nelson for his harsh treatment of the crew of his ship, HMS Warrior. However, when Napoleon gathers barges for an invasion of England, Nelson and Lieutenant Hawkins devise a risky plan to sneak a ship into the midst of the barges under cover of fog and blow them up, but this plan requires a superb sailor to navigate the shallow waters. Nelson believes that only Blake has the skill required for such an undertaking.

Lieutenant Hawkins is sent to fetch Blake. He obtains directions to Blake's home from an attractive young woman, who turns out to be Blake's daughter Betsy. Blake turns down the Admiralty's request, but his wife Elizabeth makes Blake change his mind. Meanwhile, Hawkins accepts a dinner invitation and becomes better acquainted with Betsy.

Nelson orders Blake to give his crew must consist solely of volunteers, but Blake sets sail aboard Warrior immediately before giving his men the choice. When asked what would happen to any man who refuses to volunteer, he states that the man would be thrown overboard. Lieutenant Hawkins expresses his disapproval of Blake's behavior.

They sail to the Scheldt, but the weather proves uncooperative. Food runs very low, and rations are cut again and again. The crew become ever more disgruntled. Daumer suggests sneaking ashore for food, but Hawkins overhears and warns the men against it. However, when a man collapses from the effects of scurvey, Hawkins decides to take three men ashore, among them the Frenchman Daumer. When they separate to search for food, Daumer goes to the authorities. When they return to the ship, Blake has them all confined for their actions.

Finally, in November 1804 a fog appears. Blake releases Hawkins. However, Daumer steals a flare, climbs the rigging and ignites the flare, before diving overboard. That enables a French ship of the line to locate them and start firing, but Blake sinks the other ship in a nighttime engagement. The crew expects to return to England since they have been discovered. However, Blake intends to carry on with the attack, believing that the French will not anticipate such an action. The crew mutiny, and Sampson Edwards, one of their ringleaders, fires at Blake. Oliver Sibley, Blake's longtime cabin boy, shields his captain at the cost of his own life. Before Edwards can fire again, Hawkins asks to speak to Blake. He proposes that Blake turn over command to him, as he might be able to persuade the crew to do their duty. When Blake refuses, Hawkins fights him, but then the French invasion fleet is sighted. While Blake fires on the barges, Hawkins leads a boarding party onto and captures a French ship of the line, killing Daumer in the process. He also saves Blake's life. Nelson's fleet arrives to seal the victory.

Despite their success, Blake has both Edwards and Hawkins brought before a court-martial. Edwards is convicted, but Hawkins gets off with a mere "public censure" ... and his self-appointed "punishment" of becoming Blake's son-in-law.

Cast

Randell made the film while also appearing on stage in a double bill of Terence Rattigan plays, Harlequinade and The Browning Version.[1]

Production

The film began as a project titled The Return of Captain Bligh and was to star Charles Laughton, who had famously played Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). However, Laughton did not wish to repeat his performance, so the script was rewritten to focus on a fictitious character[2] based on Bligh.[3]

Filming began on August 16, 1950.[4]

The sets were designed by art director Paul Palmentola.

References

  1. ^ Schallert, Edwin (August 10, 1949). "Paul Douglas Heralded for 'Man Who Sunk Navy'; Randell to Join Evans". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.
  2. ^ Brady, Thomas F. (August 6, 1949). "Clark Gable Set for De Voto Film: Star to Play Lead in 'Across the Wide Missouri,' Based on Novel About Fur Traders". The New York Times. p. 11.
  3. ^ Brady, Thomas F. (August 13, 1949). "RKO and Warners Buy New Stories: Former Acquires 'Macao,' by Robert Williams -- 'Fires of Orinoco' Goes to Latter". The New York Times. p. 6.
  4. ^ Schallert, Edwin (August 6, 1949). "'All Passion Spent' Now Talked for Jane Wyman; Paramount Signs Beauty". Los Angeles Times. p. 7.
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