When I read that this film consisted of a series of one-act plays all stitched together I was worried that it would feel episodic. I also feared that it would feel visually un-cinematic as filmed versions of stage plays often do. But thanks to the talented screenwriting of Dudley Nichols and the visual genius of director John Ford and cinematographer Greg Toland (who would later go on to photograph Citizen Kane) this film was able to come off as something all together unique and magical. The photography and sets cast a spell on you by creating a mood that is inescapable. You feel as though you are living on that boat with those men. Combine that with the joy of watching so many great character actors being given their proper moment in the spotlight, and what you get is something really special. The only truly sour note is John Wayne's Swedish-ish accent. Thankfully there's really only one prolonged scene of that particular torture. The rest of this voyage is certainly a journey worth taking.
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