John Wayne

Gail Russell

Gig Young

Adele Mara

Luther Adler

Eduard Franz

Grant Withers

Henry Daniell

Paul Fix

Dennis Hoey

Jeff Corey

Erskine Sanford

Duke Kahanamoku

Fred Aldrich

Fernando Alvarado

Jose Alvarado

George Barrows

Henry Brandon

David Clarke

James Dime

Fred Fox

Fred Graham

Vic Groves

Myron Healey

Mailoa Kalili

Al Kikume

Fred Libby

Harold Lishman

Rory Mallinson

Grant Means

Frank Mills

Forbes Murray

James Nolan

Frank O'Connor

John Pickard

George Piltz

Norman Rainey

Leo C. Richmond

Chuck Roberson

Wallace Scott

Mickey Simpson

Ray Spiker

Carl Thompson

Kuka Tuima

Harry J. Vejar

Harlan Warde

John Wengraf

Harry Wilson

Ward Wood

Edward Ludwig

Harry Brown

Kenneth Gamet

Garland Roark

Nathan Scott

Reggie Lanning

Richard L. Van Enger

James W. Sullivan

Stanley Wilson

T.A. Carman

Howard Wilson

Adele Palmer

Howard Lydecker

Theodore Lydecker

John McCarthy Jr.

George Milo

Bob Mark

Peggy Gray

Edmund Grainger

Adventure

Drama

History

Wake of the Red Witch

Republic Pictures

United States of America

CinemaSerf

John Wayne is veteran skipper "Capt. Ralls" who discovers that his employer has pinched his girlfriend - "Angelique" (Gail Russell) so with revenge in mind, he runs his ship - laden with $5m in gold bullion - aground at a secret location and is soon on the run from his erstwhile boss who knows the scuttling was deliberate and who wants his loot back! What ensues now are series of entertaining escapades as Duke wrestles all sorts of giant sea monsters; tries out pearl fishing; saves his best pal and tries to get his gal back - all as well as salvaging his plunder and staying one step ahead of the scheming "Sidneye" (Luther Adler). It's a well constructed, fairly action-packed film this - and it gives the star much more chance to demonstrate a little more depth to his character, with a script and pace that gives the story quite a compelling nature. Adler is great as the sleazy magnate, and the direction creatively uses the sweaty and moist environment to good effect - you almost expect Orson Welles to appear somewhere. It doesn't always work - there are some flatter moments especially in the third quarter of the film, but it all picks up well and Russell is on really good form engendering some charming and lively chemistry with both of her gentleman friends. I was a little underwhelmed by the conclusion, but all told this is certainly at the top end of any of their work - and it is well worth a watch.

English