Slattery's Hurricane

Plot synopsis:
Disgruntled with the service, in part because he was disciplined instead of decorated for a hazardous mission, Willard Francis "Will" Slattery left the US Navy and became a private pilot for candy manufacturer R.J. Milne (Walter Kingsford) on the recommendation of his girlfriend, Dolores Grieves (Veronica Lake), Milne's secretary. He lives an easy life, until the day he literally bumps into "Hobby" Hobson (John Russell), an old Navy buddy. Amused that Hobson stayed in the Navy, he nonetheless accepts an invitation to fly along on a weather flight into the heart of a hurricane. Slattery is disturbed to find that Hobby is married to Slattery's former lover, Aggie (Linda Darnell), who ended their unhappy relationship years before. At dinner for the two couples, he pretends to have just met her, but Dolores immediately suspects their past attachment. Slattery invites Hobby to fly with him the next day, maneuvering Aggie into coming along, to show off his lifestyle, and introduces them to Milne and his shady partner, Gregory (Joe De Santis).
Slattery tricks Aggie into meeting him alone while Hobby is away, and although she initially rejects his "fast one", he seduces her. Dolores confronts Slattery and they argue over his betrayal of Hobby and the effect his job is having on him. He soon discovers Dolores not only moved out, but quit her job as well, alarming Milne and Gregory, who fear she knows too much about their dealings. In the meantime, Slattery's affair with Aggie continues. Milne has Slattery fly him to a remote Caribbean island, where Milne has a heart attack. Slattery tries to save his life on the flight back, and discovers that Milne is smuggling drugs, taped to his chest. Milne dies and Slattery keeps the "parcel". Dolores telephones him and warns him again to get out, but he gets drunk instead. Gregory beats him up to get back the "parcel", but Slattery counters with a warning that he has hidden information about the smuggling ring in a safe deposit box, should anything happen to him.
The Navy unexpectedly awards Slattery the Navy Cross from his wartime heroics. Dolores attends the ceremony, but when she sees Slattery embrace Aggie afterwards, collapses and is hospitalized in a psychiatric ward for "pharmacopsychosis," or drug addiction. Slattery is called in by her doctor and castigated for his role in her illness. He leaves his Navy Cross with Dolores and goes to Aggie's to end the relationship. A drunken Hobby is there, however, having discovered the affair. He beats an unresisting Will, but is ordered to report for a hurricane mission. Slattery sees that Hobby is in no condition to fly the mission and knocks him out to prevent it. He then steals his employer's plane and flies into the storm...
Slattery flies into the eye of the hurricane and reports its position. His warning is instrumental in saving Miami from serious loss of life and property loss, but in returning to Miami, he loses an engine. Believing he will crash, he also radios the tower about the location of the drug-smuggling information. When the plane does crash, he unexpectedly survives. Slattery is accepted back on active duty, and by Dolores.

Tags: flashback

Review:
Storm Number 9-Slattery's Hurricane..
Lt. Willard Francis Slattery {Richard Widmark}, a former Navy pilot, is in control of this Grumman Mallard Aeroplane.
He's flying right into the centre of a storm, a ferocious storm gathering momentum, here Slattery reviews his latter day life.Slattery's Hurricane is directed by André De Toth and also stars Linda Darnell, Veronica Lake, John Russell and Gary Merill.
It's based around a story written by Herman Wouk, and it's with Wouk that the interesting back story to the film belongs.
Herman Wouk was of course the writer of Pulitzer Prize winning novel-The Caine Mutiny {also made into a fabulous film starring Humphrey Bogart}.
It was while Wouk was researching weather data for "Mutiny" that he got the genesis for Slattery's Hurricane.
Pitching it to 20th Century Fox, he got the go ahead for a screenplay, and feeling inspired he turned his short story into a fully fledged book.Adapted by Richard Murphy, Slattery's Hurricane is a real good film stopped from being a great one due to the inevitable interference from the Production Code Administartion.
Research into the film, and those who know the novel, shows the story to be a spiky one about adultery, drug smuggling and drug addiction, with closely formed characterisations leading the way.
The observant will spot these things in the film anyway, but the toning down leaves us with a more melodramatic picture than a sharply dark one that the story deserved.
However, it's with much credit to De Toth and his cast that the film is still an engrossing mood piece set around the birth of a raging hurricane, a hurricane that is not just of the storm itself, but of the emotional state of Will Slattery too.
Grim nature and the troubled human condition dovetailing to create our finale of Slattery's Hurricane.Richard Widmark is good value {wasn't he always?} as the lead protagonist, mean, moody and even menacing in his selfishness, Slattery called for an actor capable of blending emotional layers.
The studio had wanted Tyrone Power for the role {perhaps showing the high hopes they had for the film?}, but they got Widmark instead, who rewards them {and us} with yet another memorable performance.
Linda Darnell, softly spoken, sexy and exuding a femme fatale sheen, does well with what is a surprisingly underwritten part, tho we can probably thank {not!} the PCA for that issue.
Veronica Lake, then married to director De Toth, had hoped for the film to signal a comeback for her faltering career, it wasn't to be, and that's sad because she's really rather great here.
Heartfelt and giving the story a crucial counter point edge to Widmark's unfolding state, Lake served notice that she still had some quality to offer cinema.
John Russell and Gary Merrill {whose opening narration sets the tone} do what is needed, but rightly play second fiddle to the three principals.It could have done with better villains than the portrayals given by Walter Kingsford and Joe De Santis, but Slattery's Huricane remains a fine movie begging to be seen by more people.
Still not given a DVD release and rarely shown on television, it's a film that if you get a chance to see it then you should grab that opportunity with both hands.
Widmark and Lake.
Slattery's Hurricane (1949) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Mildly entertaining melodrama benefits from some nice performances by the leads.
Pilot Slattery (Richard Widmark) takes off in a plane, flying through a hurricane where he looks back on his life.
Most of this flashback centers on him running into a friend (John Russell) who he eventually stabs in the back and tries to steal his wife (Linda Darnell) while his own girlfriend (Veronica Lake) begins to lose control.
While Slattery tries to steal the wife he has even more trouble from the men he works with who just happen to be involved in narcotics.
At just 80-minutes this thing flies by pretty fast thanks in large part to the performances but in the end it's just way too predictable and full of too much melodrama to really work.
I think the best aspect is the performance by Widmark who gets to act tough, as usual, but also manages to be very believable as the man simply struggling with his attitude and look on life.
Widmark takes what could have been a simple tough guy role and adds some soul to it by really delivering a full character and one we can't help but feel as if we know.
The cruelness that the character has towards anyone but himself is perfectly brought to life by the actor.
Darnell doesn't get too much to do but she's certainly easy on the eyes.
Russell's role is pretty thankless as well but I enjoyed all of his scenes with Widmark as the two certainly had a nice chemistry.
Lake, who was married to the director at the time, doesn't come off nearly as good.
I'm not sure what it was but just watch any scene she's in and it appears as if there's something really bothering her as she's constantly looking around and can't seem to keep her eyes still.
Her role really wasn't written all that well but I still wasn't too impressed with her performance.
The special effects of flying inside the hurricane were pretty good and it should be noted that Ray Kelloogg, director of classic drive-in fluff like THE KILLER SHREWS and THE GIANT GILA MONSTER, did the visual effects.
I think the well-known cast will make people check this film out but the end results are rather mixed.
There's some nice scenes and a couple decent performances but in the end you can't help but feel as if you're going through the motions and that you've seen this countless times before..
solid performance by Richard Widmark.
Richard Widmark flies into what becomes known as "Slattery's Hurricane" as he looks back on his life in this 1949 film.
Directed by Andre de Toth, the film also stars Linda Darnell, John Russell and DeToth's wife, Veronica Lake.Widmark plays Slattery, a former Navy man who, with his girlfriend Delores (Lake), works for drug smugglers.
Slattery is unaware of this, though subconsciously he probably knows, but Delores, an addict, knows everything.
(Delores' addiction is only hinted at.) When Slattery meets an old Navy friend, Hobbie (John Russell), he finds out that Hobbie married his former love, Aggie (Darnell).
Though Delores is in love with Slattery, Slattery is still in love with Aggie and goes after her, not caring about Delores' feelings or Hobbie's marriage.
When a hurricane hits, Hobbie is called in for pilot duty so he can get the hurricane coordinates, but he's too drunk to fly.
Slattery takes his place, and while flying through the storm, looks at his mess of a life.This isn't a particularly good film, but Richard Widmark does a great job, creating a fully fleshed-out character.
It's impossible to believe that Lake, her signature haircut gone, was only 27 when this film was made.
Even with her husband directing the movie, she's not well photographed.
It's a shame, because the petite actress was perfect for films, radiant, beautiful, with a great presence; no matter the role, she projected an intelligence and femininity.
The gorgeous Darnell has very little to do.All in all, mediocre, but worth it for Widmark..
Lake without the peek-a-boo hairstyle is only fair....
VERONICA LAKE was married to director Andre deToth at the time she made SLATTERY'S HURRICANE, a tale told in flashback by RICHARD WIDMARK as he pilots a plane through a horrendous storm and recalls a love affair he had with his best friend's wife (LINDA DARNELL).
The friend is well played by JOHN RUSSELL, an actor under contract to Fox who never got to do much of anything but seemed as competent as any of the other up and coming contract players.LINDA DARNELL, looking every inch a femme fatale, is only given a minor role in the proceedings and is quite forgettable.
VERONICA LAKE, on the other hand, this time playing a good, sensible woman and not her usual femme fatale, is convincing enough as the right gal for Widmark.Slow in getting started, it actually only gets into high gear once the storm scenes reach hurricane proportions--but by that time, you might have trouble staying awake through a very mediocre plot.Based on a book by Herman Wouk (THE CAINE MUTINY), it's hardly a distinguished work..
A bumpy ride that benefits from its reasonably short length and solid leading man..
I hardly recognized Veronica Lake when she first appeared.
Too bad she had so little success beyond her first few successful films."Slattery's Hurricane" is a well polished black and white action film that does hold the viewer's interest.
It's not a great film, nor even an exceptionally good one.
Widmark is good as always, and the location work and flying scenes are interesting.
I see in the cast that nearly half a dozen actors had their scenes deleted.
That's a sign that the producers decided to tighten the film up a bit, and I think they probably were right in doing so.As I said, it's worth a look, if only to see how Hollywood in the late 40s was breaking the bonds of the sound stages in which such a high percentage of movies were made prior to that time..
Richard Widmark plays a real jerk in this one!.
"Slattery's Hurricane" is not a particularly good film and is a rare career misfire for a young Richard Widmark.
Oddly, the bizarre and unlikable plot was from a story by Herman Wouk--a very accomplished writer.
Perhaps the screenplay completely botched his story...perhaps he just had a misfire.Slattery (Widmark) is flying into a hurricane when the film begins.
He then has a series of flashbacks that take up most of the rest of the film.
It seems that after leaving active duty in the Navy, Slattery's made money flying charters.
While he might be working for drug dealers, the money is good and Slattery asks no questions.
Additionally, while he has a long-suffering girlfriend (Veronica Lake), he completely ignores her and begins chasing after a friend's wife!!
All in all, he's a total jerk and only later, when receiving the Navy Cross (awarded for service during WWII--it was given to Slattery while he was in the Naval Reserves) does he start to reassess his life.
But who cares?!The film has many problems--the biggest of which is the blandness of most of the characters.
Darnell cheats on her husband...but you know nothing more about her.
Lake is a doormat and nothing more.
And Slattery's 'friend' (John Russell) is also quite bland--which is odd considering he often had a commanding presence in films.
Add to that that Slattery is thoroughly despicable, you really wonder why you're even watching this film in the first place!.
This Hurricane Movie Doesn't Blow.
It has adultery, addicts, and drug dealing gangsters living in a mansion on the water with a private dock and hanger.
All it needs are pastel colors and a Ferrari.The movie starts off with a guilt ridden Richard Widmark flying into a hurricane, reflecting on his screwed up life.
We learn in a late reveal that his downward spiral started during WW2 when he was a Navy pilot who disobeyed orders, broke formation and bombed and sank a Jap cruiser.
He was punished, not rewarded, so he left the Navy and was paid very well to fly a private Grumman Mallard around the Caribbean on errands for wealthy but shady Italian "candy distributors" from Chicago.
Nudge nudge wink wink, but the word Mafia is not used.His girl Veronica Lake is an addict, but this was deemphasized and she is given little to do.
She just complains about being sick, and looks like dog food.
This is sad since the movie was made only seven years after Lake's dazzling magic act in This Gun For Hire.
Considering that Lake's husband Andre De Toth was the director, and that they were trying to restart her career, they did a horrible job.
Anyway, Widmark runs into his old Navy pal John Russell and his hot wife Linda Darnell, who had previously been Widmark's girl friend.
Widmark immediately reignites the old flame, and they start an affair.
Jumping on your best friend's wife is bad form and they know it, but that doesn't stop them.
In sum, Widmark does a fine job of acting like a creep on many levels.There are good aerial scenes with the Grumman Mallard, and Widmark's pal takes him on a ride through a hurricane in a four engine weather plane, probably a Privateer which is a B-24 with a single tail.Of course Widmark hits bottom and his shady life style falls apart because The Wicked Are Punished, at least in the movies.
A drug deal involving an absurdly small amount of white powder goes sour, and heavies are sent to kill Widmark.
His pal learns about the affair, gets drunk and attacks him.
Since the pal is in no condition to fly into an approaching hurricane, his Navy career will be ruined.
Thus Widmark, feeling guilty as hell, snags a plane and flies solo into the hurricane, gathering crucial data for the hurricane warning system.
Good footage of wind and wave damage is spliced in.
Widmark's heroic act redeems him; he rejoins the Navy and is even belatedly decorated for his WW2 feat of arms.
He takes an overseas assignment and wisely ditches Lake.
After being a creep for most of the movie, Widmark straightens up and flies right after all.
The Eye Of The Hurricane.
Slattery's Hurricane has Richard Widmark as a former Navy Pilot who know is a private pilot for Joe DeSantis who is a narcotics smuggler.
Widmark does not look too hard at what he's doing nor at the characters around DeSantis.
One reason he's hanging around is because of Veronica Lake who is the 'secretary' to DeSantis.
By the way DeSantis says he's a candy manufacturer.All that changes when Widmark meets up with John Russell and his new wife Linda Darnell.
Widmark and Darnell have history which Russell doesn't know about and history starts to repeat itself.
Which makes Lake unhappy because she has a real thing for Widmark.This film was Widmark's second with first billing.
The film was directed by Andre DeToth who was married to Veronica Lake at the time.
This was Lake's loan out film from Paramount to 20th Century Fox and as it wasn't her studio, Fox gave Widmark and Darnell their stars billing over Lake.
DeToth however gave his wife the best scenes and Lake does perform admirably.
This film would also be the one in which she walked away from Hollywood after.It was rather obvious that Widmark was supposed to die in this film, yet the studio cheapened it to allow a happily ever after film.
Sadly that decision drops Slattery's Hurricane into a list of mediocre films, not the best for any of the principal players involved..
"Hurricane." An interesting word with curious features, borrowed and mangled by the Spanish from the Arawak Indians of the Caribbean who, in turn, had borrowed it from the Mayan god of storms, Huracán.
He must have been even meaner than Yahweh, who was at least more discriminating in his deployment of destruction.Richard Widmark is Slattery, the pilot who flies his Grumman Goose into the storm and muses about his life course.
He's pretty mean too.
The film open with Widmark preparing to take the seaplane out and beating hell out of the well-meaning guy who tries to stop him.Another guy who gets belted, John Russell, is an old friend of Widmark's from their days as naval aviators during the war.
Russell is still in the service while Widmark has become a civilian pilot for a Florida magnate who imports and exports "chocolate".
(Read "drugs".) Widmark's girl friend, Veronica Lake, works as the magnate's secretary.
The plot is a little twisted at this point, and gets moreso.
When Russell and Widmark first bump into one another in Florida, Russell introduces his wife, Linda Darnell.
We discover, while Russell and Lake are dancing, that Widmark and Darnell had been lovers in San Diego.
How do you think I felt?" Neither Russell nor Lake know about this earlier liaison.
Widmark is so mean that, old friendship notwithstanding, he puts moves on Darnell and succeeds.The noirish interior monologue by Widmark lacks any poetry.
DIDN'T YOU?" At any rate, we get to like John Russell, a typical standard Navy officer, cheerful, competent, uncomprehending of women.
And there's an adrenalin thrill when Widmark takes Russell up for a check flight in that Grumman Goose.
Widmark shuts off one engine and flies it around in a steep bank, while Russell checks out the manifold pressure and so forth.
Russell flies a Privateer for the Navy, a modified B-24.
I flew in one too, in the Coast Guard, and the pilot also shut down an engine over the Pacific.
I didn't care for the flight.It's a complex role for Widmark.
It must be difficult to play a drunk in the movies because Widmark is a competent actor but he can't handle a drunk scene believably.
I was a magnificent drunk in two scenes in the much underrated art house classic, "Too Young The Hero." Lee Marvin does a good drunk too.
Not Widmark.
And Richard Egan and Doris Day were embarrassing to watch when they had drunk scenes.Veronica Lake is not the diminutive femme of ten years earlier.
Her features are slightly more pronounced and they look ready to express some subtle emotion but they never get around to it.
Linda Darnell looks fine.It's not a bad film.
The romantic drama turns the story more sluggish than it ought to be, but, as in Herman Wouk's "The Caine Mutiny," the romance merely reflects the development of the protagonist's character.
The business of flying and dealing with storms is fun.