Sarah Miles

Kris Kristofferson

Jonathan Kahn

Margo Cunningham

Earl Rhodes

Paul Tropea

Gary Lock

Stephen Black

Peter Clapham

Jennifer Tolman

Lewis John Carlino

Douglas Slocombe

Johnny Mandel

Yukio Mishima

Peter Horrocks

Brian Mann

David Hildyard

Bob Jones

Chic Waterson

Robin Vidgeon

Roy Cannon

Ron Beck

Lee Poll

Hugh Harlow

Graham Attwood

Pamela Davies

John Stevenson

Anthony Waye

Gerry Gavigan

Marilyn Clarke

Michael Peacock

Ken Softley

Ian Whittaker

David Wynn-Jones

Brian Ackland-Snow

Richard Mills

Martin Poll

Kikumaru Okuda

Miriam Brickman

Gordon Bond

Joyce Selznick

Antony Gibbs

Ted Haworth

David White

Drama

Mystery

Thriller

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea

Haworth Productions

Martin Poll-Lewis John Carlino Production

Sailor Company

United Kingdom

**Disturbing, potent, beautiful and undeservedly obscure**

RELEASED IN 1976 and based on the 1963 novel by Yukio Mishima, “The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea” chronicles events on coastal England where a small group of boys around 12-14 years-old are led by an angry psychopath named “the Chief” (Earl Rhodes). Jonathan (Jonathan Kahn) experiences Oedipus complex living with his well-to-do widowed mother (Sarah Miles), who starts dating a handsome American sailor (Kris Kristofferson), the second officer of a ship that anchors in the harbor. But what does Jonathan & “the Chief” have to say about this? 

This mixes unsettling themes and scenic beauty of “Last Summer” (1969) with the eroticism of movies like “Last Tango in Paris” (1972) along with a bit o’ “Summer of ’42.” “Last Summer” was based on the 1968 book by Evan Hunter and I can’t help but wonder if Hunter ripped-off Mishima’s novel. 

In any case, this is a powerful tale about the dark side of coming-of-age, fatherlessness, peer pressure and the misleading of a sociopath. Naturally, to be respected in the Chief’s gang is willingness to engage in an act of great cruelty. Why? Because psychopaths revel in cruelty and despise compassion. It’s a fascinating study of disturbing deviance and the herd mentality. The fact that the seaside locations are breathtaking is a plus.      

Another reviewer complained that switching the events from Japan to coastal England misses the point of the book, nonsense. The social influence of rigid cliques is universal and, generally speaking, neglected boys like this don’t take into consideration serious consequences due to youthful ignorance and arrogance.    

THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 45 minutes, and was shot in-and-around Dartmouth, Devon, England.

GRADE: A-

English

#549) THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA (1976)