Desperately Seeking Sea Films

Cafe Society
1

All right, it’s a long story as to exactly why (there is a good reason, though,) but I’m looking for films about ships and ocean voyages. Some stipulations:
1.) They can’t be about Americans. British would be best, but I’ll accept others.
2.) They absolutely cannot be set in the 20th century. I’m hoping for 16th, but I accept that I may have to compromise. A film about Sir Francis Drake’s voyage would be ideal.
3.) They have to be on DVD (or VHS.)
4.) The more historically accurate, the better.

They’ve GOT to be out there… the only one I could think of was Master and Commander… HELP!!!

Anise

2

The Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty
Horatio Hornblower
Pirates of the Caribbean
Cutthroat Island
Moby Dick
Pirates of Penzance
The Crimson Pirate
Captain Blood
Treasure Island
Captain Kidd
Pirates
Pirates of Tortuga
Billy Budd

Of those, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Bounty and Billy Budd are probably the most historically accurate. Maybe Horation Hornblower too.

3

Perhaps if you tried the Cafe Society board. It’s only the board on the net for movie related questions.

4

I’ll move this from General Questions forum to Cafe Society forum…

Also to suggest the new Horatio Hornblower series, not the old movie with Gregory Peck.

5

Master & Commander: The Far Side of The World was a 19th century sea movie- 1812, I believe. Pretty epic, realistic and well-done I thought.

6

This page says that The Sea Hawk

You should be able to get this on VHS, so I think it meets stipulations 1, 2 and 3, but you may need to lower your standards on number 4…

7

Master & Commander

8

Johnny LA: Pirates of Penzance ??? It’s pretty much a stretch to think of this as a movie about ships or ocean voyages.
“I sink a few more ships, it’s true, than a well-bred monarch ought to do.”

9

Hey, she said “The more historically accurate, the better.” Nothing about must be historically accurate and not musical comedies! :stuck_out_tongue:

10

Billy Budd - already mentioned but well worth it. Damn, that’s a good movie.

11

I watched the four hour “Titantic” on TV last night. It takes place at sea, and seems to be accurate.

12

Captains Courageous is an old favorite of mine. Spencer Tracy plays a Portugese fisherman (!) who mentors a spoiled rich kid that fell off a passenger liner and is picked out of the sea by a fishing ship on its way out for a long run.

The book (by Rudyard Kipling) is a good bit more informative about everyday life aboard a fishing/sailing ship in the late 1800’s than the movie. But the movie is far more entertaining and gives the characters some personality and heart that is sorely lacking in the novel. Give 'em both a try!

13

A fine summary of sailing movies can be found here and it includes many I had forgotten.

14

In that case:

Popeye

15

Shame, Sir!
My Second shall call upon you in the morning.

16

For accuracy, you might be better off looking at documentaries, like Sea Warriors - The Royal Navy in the Age of Sail. The link above also provides a free downloadable preview.

17

I loved Horatio Hornblower. I really really loved Master and Commander.
While we are at it: Does anybody knows if they are planning a sequel to master and commander?

18

They’re going to make a gay porn version of it… Called Master and Commander. :stuck_out_tongue: :smiley:

19

I’ll echo your comments. I have both. I’ve watched M&C seven times so far. I’m such a nautical geek.

Hmmm…Well, I’m not sure if they have made back all the money yet. It cost between $125 and 150 million. It made about $95 million while in theatres here, but I don’t know about the international take, or how much it’s made in rentals and sales.

We can hope.

20

Rod Taylor starred as Sir Francis Drake in Seven Seas to Calais (1962). But not available on home video, sorry.