Wake Of The Red Witch

Enjoyed movie!

This was an entertaining film, John Wayne was integral to the silver screen, it would have been a poorer place without him. Now these films can be enjoyed in the comfort of your sitting room.

Unfortunately this dvd is a region one article and will not play on region two dvd players. However, you can play it on your computer.

Rather an underrated Wayne movie; I have a particular liking for this one as it was often shown on TV when I was a boy.Set in the 1860s it's a tale of rivalry between two men – a sea captain (Wayne) and a shipping magnate (Luther Adler) both in love with the same woman (Gail Russell).Wayne's character is an embittered and not very sympathetic one; the evocative sea-faring scenes and it's setting are probably the most attractive elements about it, but it isn't a bad film by any means – I gather that the film has been recently restored by Paramount/The Film Foundation and Martin Scorcese.The currently available UK DVD release is without extras but it does have optional English subtitles.

we love john wayne so this was a film we wanted to add to our collection and well worth the money thanks

I love most Wyne films, this an early one.I allways remember her shall floating in the wreckGood old days.

The DVD is good quality. The transfer (B/W 4.3 ratio) is very good. Crisp picture, good sound and subtitles. Extras are a trailer (fun) and scene selection. Sadly I don't see this as one of Wayne's better films. The story/plot is complicated, with a long flashback, so long I almost forgot where we were with the plot. Also Wayne is playing out of character. He isn't a very nice person, and even tho he played Tom Dunson in "Red River" just a couple of years before, here it jars a bit. In fact once again Wayne shows he can act very fearsome when needs be. Thre is plenty of action but, for me the romance fizzled, which, given that his leading lady was Gail Russell, was surprising, but then that could just be me. The support cast is interesting - Luther Adler is a good villain, and Gig Young, if slightly miscast, does a fair job as Wayne's first mate. For me, a pleasure was in face spotting character actors in this early film. See if you can spot Myron Healey, Jack Pickard, Henry Brandon, Mickey Simpson, Fred Graham, Rory Mallinson - It won't be easy. Finally, a scene stealing performence from Wayne's pal Paul Fix in a role Walter Brennan would play in his sleep. Worth a watch indeed, but not a 5 star film for this horse.

i liked it

Classic sea faring tale with John Wayne. A bit over the top in places but lots of fun.

The Olive Films Blu-Ray edition of "Wake Of The Red Witch" is beautifully produced. The sound is excellent and video clear. Pausing the video and stepping frame-by-frame reveals an astonishing clarity for this 1948 released film. Absolutely excellent technical work by the Olive FIlms crew on this Blu-Ray Disc.The story may be complicated, but is mysterious and engaging, and well directed by Edward Ludwig. The underwater scenes are surprisingly well-done for a movie made in 1948! Even the giant octopus appears as a realistic, actual living creature, quite a feat using the limited special effects available to 1948 film production. Indeed, a modern CGI generated giant octopus may appear more cartoon-like and not as real as the special effects used to create the creature in 1948! The model-work used to create the sunken Red Witch is superbly done and makes a modern viewer truly appreciate the skill and talent of film production crews just after World War Two.Luther Adler really takes the role of a slick, polished charming, villain, "Captain Sidneye" and runs with it in a performance so engaging it is difficult to imagine anyone else as Captain Sidneye. Gig Young, in an early role, is well cast as Captain Ralls' First Mate Sam Rosen, who is also the narrator of the story. Paul Fix is very good as "worry-wort" sailor Ripper Arrezo and many western fans will recognize him from his later role on "The Rifleman" as Town Marshall Micah Torrance. Lovely Adele Mara is very well cast as the beautiful niece of Captain Sidneye, and love interest of Sam Rosen; she would appear the following year in the John Wayne classic "Sands Of Iwo Jima".As the dark, bitter, dangerous-when-drunk Captain Ralls, John Wayne proves he can really act, in a difficult demanding role reminiscent of his superb performance as Ethan Edwards in the John Ford masterpiece "The Searchers" 8 years later in 1956. Unlike Wayne's unsalvageably dark "Ethan Edwards", however, Wayne's "Captain Ralls'" dark side is balanced in his love for Angelique Desaix. Perfectly cast, Gail Russell is breathtakingly beautiful, and totally believable as the frail and tragic Angelique. This was the second and final time John Wayne and Gail Russell would star together; their scenes with each other are so real and touching in genuine affection and chemistry, that it is truly regretful that the two of them did not do more movies together.For those thinking that John Wayne could not act, or was only good in westerns, "Wake Of The Red Witch" is an exciting sea adventure that will prove otherwise. You will also get the added bonus of the genuine tenderness of John Wayne and Gail Russell together. As it is only the second and last time the two of them starred together, "Wake Of The Red Witch" is worth watching or buying for that special Wayne/Russell chemistry alone.

Le dvd était parfaitement emballé, conforme à la description concernant les langues, et le vendeur a été très réactif dans ses réponses, y compris après l'expédition.A recommander sans modération, donc !

Ein meiner Ansicht nach sehr sehenswertes Schwarz-Weiß-Schätzchen von John Wayne aus dem Jahr 1948! Wie bereits in dem 1946 gedrehten Western Der schwarze Reiter spielt eine erneut bezaubernde - und mit 36 Jahren leider viel zu früh verstorbene - Gail Russell an der Seite des "Duke". Diesem in der Südsee angesiedeltem Abenteuer um Gier, Hab- und Eifersucht sieht man zwar das Entstehungsjahr überdeutlich an (so z.B. in der Kampfszene mit dem Riesenkraken oder wenn Gail Russell und Luther Adler vor einer Palmenlandschaft entlang flanieren). Doch das tut der Freude beim Zuschauen wenig Abbruch. Wer John Wayne ausschließlich durch seine Western oder seine Kriegsfilme definiert, der sollte sich gerne "Wake of the Red Witch" anschauen. Und wer eine für die damalige Zeit gemäße Erwartungshaltung in punkto Spannung, Melodram und Romantik besitzt, der wird auch nicht enttäuscht werden. Die DVD hat m.E. eine gute Bildqualität (Format 4:3), die die Tonqualität etwas hinter sich lässt. An Specials gibt's lediglich einen Trailer. Der Film ist ausschließlich in Englisch mit auswählbaren englischen Untertiteln. Wer perfekt Englisch parliert, der benötigt diese natürlich nicht. Für mich war es dem Verständnis aber sehr dienlich. Ein Booklet oder weitere Informationen sind nicht vorhanden.Fazit: Für Freunde von John Wayne (und Gail Russell!) mit Englischkenntnissen ein sehenswerter Film

parfait