The Sea Spoilers (1936) User Reviews

That Aleutian Hideaway

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 27 October 2007]

Sea Spoilers finds John Wayne as the commanding officer of a Coast Guard Cutter on duty in the Pacific Northwest looking for seal poachers. This was the first of six films that Wayne did in 1936-1937 for Universal in an effort to broaden his acting horizons. Not one of these B films for Universal was a western.

It gets real personal after Wayne's sweetheart, Nan Grey, witnesses the murder of a drunken playboy on his yacht. The playboy, Ernest Hilliard realizes he's been the dupe of these seal poachers for some time and threatens to spill to the authorities. The head of the outfit, Russell Hicks, has a thing for Grey and instead of just killing the only witness, kidnaps her and takes her to his Aleutian hideaway.

In the meantime Wayne also has been superseded in command of his vessel by William Bakewell who is the son of the commanding officer George Irving. Believe it or not Bakewell has a phobia about water and wants to be in the air. He eventually gets his wish, but the villains capture him for his trouble.

Sea Spoilers is a competently made action film and the final battle with the Coast Guard and the poachers is very well staged, especially considering this is a B film. Fuzzy Knight fulfills the role of sidekick, just as if this were a western. He and the Duke worked well together, a pity he didn't do any more films with Wayne other than Shepherd of the Hills.

I have a hard time though wrapping my mind around the concept of a Coast Guardsman with a water phobia. It's explained, but how did Bakewell get in the service in the first place even with a father that had a lot of pull? And did Russell Hicks have that bad a thing for Nan Grey?

Sea Spoilers could have used a better story. Still it's not a bad action film and some of the westerns the Duke was doing for Lone Star films were a whole lot worse at this time.

Waterbound Western with the Duke

[gordonl56 · 7/10 · 12 May 2015]

SEA SPOILERS – 1937

This one plays out as a western set on the sea. The story is by veteran western writer, Dorrell McGowan. McGowan pumped out stories or screenplays for 50 plus dusters between 1936 and 1950. These were mostly low budget fare for Gene Autry and Roy Rogers programmers. They all followed the same formula, with a good guy getting mixed up with a bad guy, and a damsel in distress somewhere in the tale. In this one, screenwriter George Waggner takes one of McGowan's standard tales and transfers it to the sea. Instead of rustlers stealing cattle, we have the villains poaching seals. The Coast Guard stands in for the US Cavalry. It was also the first of a six picture deal Universal Pictures signed with the then, 30 year old John Wayne.

Wayne is a Coast Guard officer in temporary command of a large Cutter. He receives a radio message to report to his Commanding officer, George Irving. Wayne assumes the meeting is to give him full command of the ship. Not so, Irving assigns his own son, William Bakewell to command, with Wayne as second in command.

While in port, Wayne pays a visit to his girl, Nan Grey. Grey is a popular up and coming singer at the better clubs. Wayne is called back to the ship as orders to leave port have arrived. At the same time, Miss Grey is doing a gig on-board a yacht. This turns out to be for Miss Grey, the wrong place at the wrong time.

The yacht has been used to smuggle seal-skins out of Alaska. The owner had been duped by the villain of the piece, Russell Hicks. Hicks now kills the yacht's owner, kidnaps Miss Grey, then beats a hasty retreat before the Coast Guard shows. (The story here could have been better) Anyways, Hicks and his mob sneak back to Alaska to hide out taking Grey as a hostage. They have a large cash business in poached seal-skins to run. One lost load is not the end of the world. Wayne of course is rather distraught over the kidnapping of his lady fair.

Wayne and the cutter, now under Bakewell's command, are soon in Alaska waters searching fishing boats etc for seal. One of the native fishermen, Chester Gan, shows them a small island where the local seal population has been slaughtered. During the landing on the island, Bakewell messes up and the small boat is swamped. It is only the swift action of Wayne that saves the day.

It now turns out that Bakewell is not all that keen with being on the water. He only accepted a waterborne assignment to please his father. He is really a pilot by training. When back at port, Bakewell is transferred to the air patrol branch of the Coast Guard.

Wayne is offered command of the cutter. He declines and asks to go undercover to try and find the seal poachers. And of course look for his girl, Grey at the same time. He is given the okay by Irving to try. Wayne, along with Fuzzy Knight, take, a small fishing trawler through all the towns along the coast looking for clues.

Several weeks go by with no luck. Then they catch a break when young Bakewell's sea plane is forced down with engine trouble. Wayne and Knight happen to be close and race to the location. No aircraft or wreckage is found, but there is a small out of the way hamlet nearby.

Needless to say this turns out to be the hideaway for the sealskin smuggling racket. Wayne and Knight try to bluff their way into the gang but are recognized. They are tossed in a locked room where they find Bakewell. The pilot and his plane had been collared by the poachers. Of course the damsel in distress, Grey, is also in the village.

Wayne manages to get a radio signal off and the cavalry, er, I mean, the Coast Guard are soon on the scene. There is a full-fledged gun battle between the poachers and the Coast Guard before the former are beaten. Villain, Hicks, is good enough to have himself blown up in the battle. Wayne and Miss Grey are united and the surviving bad types tossed in the ship's brig.

The film overcomes the less than stellar story by McGowan, and sloppy screenplay from George Waggner. Waggner was capable of better work. Still, with only a 62 minute runtime it speeds by and is entertaining enough. Waggner would score a big hit with THE WOLF MAN in 1941. He would also direct John Wayne in several late 40's features. The film's director, Frank Strayer was best known as the helmsman on a dozen or so of the very popular Blondie and Dagwood films. Future Oscar winner Archie Stout handles the cinematography duties.

Fuzzy Knight was known as the ultimate cowboy sidekick. He appeared with Gene Autry, Russell Hayden Tex Ritter, Johnny Mack Brown and others in dozens of low budget westerns. Nan Grey was out of films by 1941. She would later become the wife of singer Frankie (Rawhide) Laine. Also in the film with a small part, is the drop dead gorgeous, Lotus Long.

A good early role for John Wayne

[csteidler · 5/10 · 24 April 2012]

John Wayne is Bob Randall, the best boatswain in the Coast Guard. His ship is heading home and he's looking forward to two things: he expects to be promoted to skipper of his ship, and he knows he'll see his girl Connie. Alas, things don't work out—at least not right away.

First, the commander back in port passes over Bob and appoints his own son to command the ship. The Duke is disappointed but grits his teeth—he is too much the professional to let it affect his work. But second, Connie is kidnapped by a gang of seal smugglers and taken out to sea and who knows where. Can this be allowed to stand?

Sea Spoilers does not exactly stretch the intellect, but it's fun, nevertheless.

Nan Grey is spirited as Connie, the girlfriend. Her part is not large but she has a few good scenes—she directs some fiery speeches at the head bad guy (Russell Hicks), and she displays smarts when a swift escape becomes vitally necessary.

Hicks is a particularly nasty baddie; suave in appearance and manner, he exults in the early success of his evil plans and freely insults his captives and enemies.

Some minor subplots distract briefly, such as the young commander's fear of rough water, and the seal brought on board by the Duke's assistant and pal (Fuzzy Knight, as combination right hand man and comic relief). But it's really John Wayne's show: he plays a handsome, dutiful and daring young officer who's tall and strong and not a big talker. What's not to like?

Coast Guard's John Wayne hunts seal poachers in Alaska waters

[SimonJack · 6/10 · 15 September 2021]

"Sea Spoilers" is one of the occasional adventure, drama and other genre films that John Wayne interspersed with the plethora of Westerns he was staring in during the 1930s. Wayne made nearly 40% of his films - 70, during the that one decade in a career that spanned five decades. In this film he plays a U. S. Coast Guard ensign playing the waters of the North Pacific off the Coast of Alaska.

Back in that day, the seal fur market was a lucrative one and seal hunting and poaching in breeding grounds was illegal. This film is about the Coast Guard efforts to break up a big seal poaching operation. Along the way, Wayne's Bob Randall has to take a young officer and son of his commanding officer under his wing. And he winds up having to rescue his girlfriend from the poachers as well.

The film has some shorts scenes of Coast Guard boats in action, and some good film clips of the various ports along the Alaska coast. The final battle action wreaked havoc on lots of shanty shacks in a hidden harbor. This is a good film to judge Wayne's acting talent, and he's quite good compared to all the rest of the cast. The screenplay is just fair and the production quality is just so-so. John Wayne fans should enjoy it and those who like outdoor and coastal scenes should be entertained.

One of many Bs John Wayne made during the 1930s...and one of his more unusual ones.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 5 May 2022]

During the 1930s, John Wayne made dozens of B-movies....and nearly all of them were westerns. However, "Sea Spoilers" is one where he isn't a cowboy...but is an officer with the US Coast Guard in Alaska.

When the story begins, Bob is the acting commander of a patrol boat and he anticipates being made the captain full-time. However, the commander appoints his son as the new captain...and it's an obvious case of nepotism. But Bob is a professional and serves his new commander faithfully...even when it turns out the guy has aquaphobia!!! The new captain also just isn't very competent and this is a problem when some murderers and poachers kidnap Bob's girlfriend...and the captain's poor skills result in the crooks getting away with the lady. Can Bob somehow manage to stop these jerks and get the girl...without a mutiny or insubordination?

By this point in his career, Wayne was much more natural on screen and here, despite the film having an unusual theme and locale, he does a very good job. Overall, a very good example of a B...one that's been colorized and recently posted to YouTube.

Seeking "The Sea Spiolers"

[vitaleralphlouis · 7/10 · 6 January 2015]

This was a good, but not great, action film made by Universal in 1936, about fighting the seal pirates off the coast of Alaska.

As with other films by the #1 star of all time, it obviously has commercial value even today.

The movie was re-issued to theaters in 1949.

Oddly, virtually all Universal pictures from this era were reissued to theaters either by Realart Pictures or by Universal. "The Spoilers" is one example: reissued over-and-over to theaters, then by VHS, DVD, etc. But not "Sea Spiolers."

"Sea Spoilers" was offered a few times in bootleg on eBay; not lately.

Incidentally, Humphrey Bogart is being pushed right now as the #1 star of all time. Love Bogart, but #1 he is not.

Wayne is Wayne!

[JohnHowardReid · 6/10 · 11 March 2017]

It's real nice to find a movie on which all we IMDb reviewers agree for once. I've little to add to what my comrades have already written. "Sea Spoilers" is a low budget movie, but Wayne is his usual capable self, despite the fact that he obviously received very little help from the director, whose work here is decidedly amateurish. In fact, that word, "amateurish", could be applied to the whole movie. Even the tinny sound recording hits a new low in incompetence. And as for the script that furnishes a plot that seems to have been stolen straight out from "The Boys Own Paper"...

A trained seal and Fuzzy Knight are also on hand to unintentionally delight us with some boobishly inept comic relief.

For all that, you couldn't say the movie was dull. It's lively enough. And it certainly packs a curiosity appeal. Despite everything - and largely thanks to Big John - it all adds up to passable "B"-picture entertainment.

John Wayne Universal action film

[Shotsy · 5/10 · 25 March 1999]

I believe this is the first Wayne film for Universal. As such, not bad for its type. Low budget hurts but it does move along well. Why aren't these older Wayne films run on television?

Didn't They Know What They Had On Their Hands?

[boblipton · 5/10 · 13 July 2019]

That's what a friend said in reaction to this movie, another cheap production from Paul Malvern and Trem Carr, with John Wayne slowly pulling himself out of the mass of cheap westerns and bit parts as corpses he had played over the past six years. If they wanted to make a movie about the Coast Guard, why didn't they look at Wayne, throw away the script and write something fo this obviously nascent star? Didn't they know what they had?

I think they knew what they had. That's why they gave him the part, instead of telling Wayne that he should do another western. However, producers Trem Carr and Paul Malvern weren't in the business of rewriting a B movie for a B movie actor. They didn't get a Universal release -- a definite step up from the States Rights distribution network they had been selling through -- because they could make a real star out of someone who had gotten his shot with Raoul Walsh half a dozen years earlier, and nearly sunk Fox Films. They got it because of their track record of being able to make a passable B western for no money, and passing the savings on. Could Wayne act? Well, they probably replied, we've got Frank Strayer directing, and he's good with no money. Wayne? He'll stand where Frank tells him, and do what Frank tells him, and he can say any old tripe with conviction. Is that what you mean? Besides, the movie isn't really about Wayne. It's about Bakewell redeeming himself, the discipline and service of the Coast Guard, and the big battle scene at the end -- that's where your money is going -- and there's a seal for comedy relief. If you wanted an actor, why'd you let Lew Ayres get away? We can get Wayne cheap.

Even ten years later, John Ford would look at RED RIVER and say "I didn't know he could act." If he didn't know -- or hadn't cared to find out earlier -- why should Carr and Malvern? They weren't creating art. They were creating B movies to be rented out at a flat rate for kiddie matinees. Rewriting the script, delaying production, restaging the sequence would add to the cost, and cut into their thin profit margin, and annoy Universal executives. They weren't in the business of risking a quarter of a million dollars on a production, and if it didn't pay back its costs, the other 51 productions on the slate would make up the deficit.

Besides, it's actually a pretty good example of the Poverty Row B action movie of the time. It's about redemption and forgiveness, and natural resources. And it's got a cute seal. AND Fuzzy Knight.

Wayne Adroitly Handles Many Subplots

[frank4122 · 10/10 · 3 November 2019]

John Wayne as the dutiful young officer and the best boatswain in the Coast Guard is denied his promotion by the Commander's son played by William Bakewell. That plus dad, George Irving hopes he can get over his fear of the sea. The plot thickens as the seal poucher, well played by veteran actor Russell Hicks kidnaps Duke's girl, played by gorgeous Nan Grey. The actors superbly bring the suspense to breakneck speed save for great comic relief. The best comic western sidekick, Fuzzy Knight and Oil (Chester Gan) put on a world class rescue of their own. To get some information from Oil, the landing crew has to give him a 'bottle'. Another surprise is what's in the bottle. Sea Spoilers provides great suspense with just the right amount of comic relief.

Competent but far-fetched seaborne cat-and-mouse

[shakercoola · 5/10 · 14 May 2022]

An American mystery drama; A story about sealskin smugglers who kidnap the girlfriend of an Alaskan coast guardsman who has recently been made temporary boatswain of a patrol cutter. The film has reasonable production values for a short feature, good location work too. Alas, the B-movie story has some unbelievable elements like a captain with sea phobia, a lot of plot consequences that are coincidental, and detours that make this an overfilled pie. Nevertheless, the final battle is very well staged. John Wayne has a cool charm which shines through as the man overlooked for promotion and placed second in command to a green Captain played adequately well by William Bakewell.