Old yellow-stain

Rating: 10/10 (15 August 2012)

Outstanding drama concerning an up-and-coming naval Lieutenant (Johnson) whose loyalty to his new skipper (Bogart) is tested when the captain's odd behaviour raises questions about his competence and stewardship of the boat and its crew. Reluctantly, Johnson is forced to confront Bogart's apparent mental deterioration, but there's another key player in the saga whose role must be exposed.
Bogart made so many great films, and this in my opinion is one of his masterclass efforts. You might take issue with the romantic interlude of Francis and Wynn's largely extraneous characters, but it's difficult to ignore the impact of Bogart, Johnson, MacMurray and Ferrer in their respective roles. Once were a hero, now reduced to a nervous victim, Bogart effortlessly transitions between capable commander exhibiting superior wit and judgment, to pathetic, humourless sideshow as Johnson steps up beyond his self belief to take control of what he believes is a sinking ship. MacMurray is a real sleeper, the scene in which he's chastised by Ferrer is a perfect reckoning.
Boasting a supporting cast of future stars and veteran character actors (Lee Marvin, Claude Akins, EG Marshall, Arthur Franz and Whit Bissell), blacklisted director Dmytryk's movie is an epic character study that is as gripping in its simmering tension as it is poignant in its ultimately bleak conclusion. Top shelf.