The Sea Chase

Starring: John Wayne, Lana Turner, David Farrar, et al.

Product Description

German naval officer Karl Ehrlich loves his country but hates Hitler. Busted to the command of a lowly freighter docked in Australia as World War II erupts, Ehrlich must choose: be interned by the British or sail to Germany so his men can determine their own fates. On a foggy night, Ehrlich decides -- and casts off! John Wayne as Ehrlich and Lana Turner as a woman forced into Nazi espionage are a formidable romantic team in this harrowing adventure directed by John Farrow (Wake Island, Hondo). Through a relentless high-seas pursuit, Ehrlich drives his exhausted men (James Arness, Tab Hunter and others). The pursuing British have the navy that rules the waves. The freighter Ergenstrasse has the Duke. Any action fan knows that's an even -- and exciting -- match!

• Format: DVD
• Language: English
• UPC: 012569692282
• Release Date: May 1993
• Rating: Unrated (Not Rated)
• Publisher: Warner Home Video
• Director: John Farrow
• Starring: John Wayne, Lana Turner, David Farrar, Lyle Bettger, Tab Hunter, James Arness, Wilton Graff, Dick Davalos, John Qualen, Paul Fix
• Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes
• Number of Disks: 1
• Other Video Info: multiple_formats
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Karl Ehrlich just wants to go home.

This story is told secondhand by Cmd. Jeff Napier (David Farrar) as he recalls it. So, it is one long flashback with narration. Capt. Karl Ehrlich (John Wayne) is the German captain of a tramp steamer in an Australian harbor. Cmd. Jeff Napier, an old friend, is showing off his new fiancée, Elsa Keller (Lana Turner). From their eye movement, it looks as though the captain and Elsa know each other. When the commander steps out, Karl confronts Elsa with her past and sends her packing. Things heat up pretty fast from here. Even though the captain is an old naval officer, he was dismissed when he opposed the Nazi régime. But he is still a German nationalist. With the invasion of Poland, Australia is dragged into the war, leaving Karl with only a small chance of sneaking the ship out in the fog. At the last minute, the German Consulate hands him one of their best agents (spies). One guess as to who that agent may be. Now the chase is on, and Cmd. Jeff Napier has a professional and personal reason to track down Karl before he reaches Germany. The real story is that of the action between the different members of the crew. The nature of the agent adds complications to the voyage. And there is a conflict of morals aboard. Will Capt. Karl Ehrlich make it home? Or will Cmd. Does Jeff Napier blow him out of the water? What becomes of Elsa? “What flag is that, sir? It does not have a swastika.” “That is the German Imperial Battle Flag” A fun side interest in this movie is that instead of the standard John Wayne repertoire of actors, this is an interesting mix including Tab Hunter, James Arness, and Claude Akins.