Away All Boats

1/8/2022

A bit of a slog, is <em>'Away All Boats'</em>. I never quite felt the intended high stakes of the film, except right at the end when events reach the final destination - which is the only noteworthy part of the film. Aside from that, the whole plot just comes across as one whole training exercise as opposed to a war-torn trip across the Pacific Ocean. Jeff Chandler is fairly good in his role, though those behind him kinda just mesh into one character in my mind to be honest. Clint Eastwood features in the absolute definition of a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance - in the penultimate 'uncredited' (exc. cameos) role of his career. This 1956 picture isn't one to rush off and watch, unfortunately. I was hoping for something more along the lines, if not an improvement, of <em>'<a hr

6/18/2022

Jeff Chandler may have had top billing, but most of this film belonged to my peplum hero "Lex Barker" in the supporting role as "Cmdr. Quigley". Chandler, never an actor I rated in anything really, is the captain ("Hawks") of a US naval support ship. He wanted command of a cruiser, but he got this - and boy, is he determined to make sure he gets noticed. He drives his crew to breaking point with faster drills, speedier launches, target practice until, in the best tradition of Captain Bligh, they loathe him - he even maes them make him a sailing dinghy (aptly named "Albatross"). As their exercises in the Pacific start to morph from training to the real thing though, they begin to respect his visionary attitude a bit more and coupled with his experienced sidekick "MacDougall" (George Nader)