The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea

Watch: The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea

Unrated

4/11/19761h 45m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ He gave his soul to the sea and his heart to a woman. Their love will arouse you. The story will disturb you. The ending will startle you. ~

Overview:

When a widowed mother falls in love with an American sailor, her troubled young son is pressured by the bullying leader of his clique to seek revenge.

Director:

Lewis John Carlino

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

based on novel or book
widow
revenge
sailor
seaside town
devon
mother son relationship

Cast

Sarah Miles

~ as ~

Anne Osborne

Kris Kristofferson

~ as ~

Jim Cameron

Jonathan Kahn

~ as ~

Jonathan Osborne

Margo Cunningham

~ as ~

Elizabeth Palmer

Earl Rhodes

~ as ~

Chief

Paul Tropea

~ as ~

Number Two

Gary Lock

~ as ~

Number Four

Stephen Black

~ as ~

Number Five

Peter Clapham

~ as ~

Richard Pettit

Jennifer Tolman

~ as ~

Mary Ingram

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

Wuchak
Written 5 year(s) ago
8
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-