Alaska Seas, from 1954, is a crime-drama starring Robert Ryan, Jan Sterling, and Brian Keith. This was a film I discovered in Net Flix instant viewing, solely because I was looking for Robert Ryan films, and I will be honest, Ryan is the only reason I watched until the end.
The setting is a remote Alaskan fishing village in 1924. Ne'er-do-well Matt Kelly (Ryan) has just finished serving a 6-month jail sentence for poaching seal skins. Upon his release, Matt is handed a $920.60 bill from the local boat repairman; however, since Matt can't pay the bill, he sneaks off into the night, intent on returning to his home village and his old girlfriend, Nicki (Jan Sterling).
Matt's return home is met with contempt. No one in the village likes or trusts him, and they don't want him joining in the fishing cooperative. Add to that, Nicki, with whom Matt hopes to reconcile, is engaged---to Matt's old friend, Jim (Brian Keith). Nicki and Jim both are willing to give Matt a chance, and despite the fact that Matt continually shows himself as untrustworthy, his old friends repeatedly stand up for him. Eventually, though, Matt takes things too far, and Jim and Nicki are forced to acknowledge Matt's wickedness.
This film dragged for me; in fact, I was going to turn it off when there were about 30 minutes left---only my regard for the fabulous Robert Ryan kept me going. As always, Ryan is extremely good and solid in the role. He definitely played the unlikeable cad to perfection. Maybe the subject matter just didn't interest me, I don't know. I just know that with the exception of the final two minutes, which were exciting, the last half of the film was hard to get through. (And the first half wasn't a whole lot better.) I didn't hate the film, though. For me, a "hate it," 1-star rating is a film that I detest so much I turn it off. This one was just rather boring. (That's why there are no 1-star films on my blog...I don't watch 1-star films...I just turn them off and, thus, don't know enough about them to review them.)
However, we're all unique, so what may be boring to me, someone else may like. So, if Alaska Seas sounds interesting to you, you can catch it on Net Flix instant viewing, or perhaps it will be on TCM's schedule in the near future.
Happy viewing!!
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Tuesday, October 04, 2011
5 comments:
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oh - I know that one.. It was on Telly someday afternoon a few years ago.. and I remember that I was watching the clock more avid than this film.. though I like Jan Sterling and yes I am fascinated by Robert Ryan - and for I grew up with FAMILY AFFAIR I always have kind of a soft spot for Brian Keith.. but still..
ReplyDeleteLove the way how you avoid watching 1 star films! Your fairness and objectivity is really adorable.
Have a great day, Patti! And all my best to Ginger!
Never heard of this one -- thanks for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't think I would bother with this one but I'm laughing at your one star movie rating comments:) Maybe you should just make a list of movies you had to turn off!
ReplyDeleteI watched In a Lonely Place with Humphrey Bogart last night, I've seen it years ago but it was soooo good to see it again. I was fascinated with the apartment complex they lived in...I want to live there!
Irene, speaking of Brian Keith, did you ever see "Tight Spot," with him, Ginger Rogers, and Eddie G. It's very good, though, my husband (who loves Ginger) has a hard time seeing her in that role, as she's hard-as-nails and not very pretty. But if you like Brian Keith, you gotta see that one.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I used to love Family Affair, so, of course, I turned my kids on to it years ago. They told me they read somewhere (maybe Wikipedia) that Glenn Ford was first choice for the role of Uncle Bill. He would have been great...though Brian Keith was wonderful.
And, yes, I DO 1-star movies...I just don't put them on this blog. My philosophy is "so many movies, so little time," so if a film doesn't grab me within 15 minutes, I usually quit watching and move on to something that does catch me. And since I don't know enough about it to write about it, I just don't say anything. Sometimes, though, if it's Coop or Holden or another of my loves, I DO suffer through it and give it 2 stars.
Victoria, that IS an idea...to list the movies I turn off. And believe me, I do turn off many. Some nights, I can turn off 3 movies before landing on something. My DVR gets backlogged with all the things I record on TCM, and there is only so much time to watch a movie. After all, my family wants the TV occasionally too. So, if I can't get into a movie, I just turn it off and look for one I CAN get into. As it is, I have about 20 movies in the DVR, plus the other ones I want to record this month, plus what I want on Net Flix, plus the films I already love and want to see again. So, I just don't stick with films that bore me...which makes me a half-hearted film critic.
ReplyDeleteIn a Lonely Place is a very good movie. I thought Bogey was fantastic in that role...so was Gloria Grahame. And, yes, great apartment complex. I often love apartment living from the old movies.