Excellent production design and performances makes this TNT version of the Jack London novel one of the best Ted Turner remakes of the classic library he had purchased. He was getting TCM off the ground at this time and the library of classics were then airing on his various cable channels (TBS and TNT), including the excellent 1941 version with Edward G. Robinson and John Garfield. This version, starring Charles Bronson and Christopher Reeve, is extremely intense, and the two men are phenomenal together. Reeve is a stuffy member of the upper class who along with the pretty Catherine Mary Stewart (in the Ida Lupino role) is brought aboard the Ghost (the ship captained by Bronson's Wolf Larsen) and treated with cruelty by the crew. Bronson, secretly wanting intelligent conversations with Reeve, makes him his cabin boy, and Reeve is shocked by the conflicting character that Bronson shows. The crew wants to be free of the sometimes insane Bronson, but he's seeking revenge against his unseen brother, and when doctor Len Cariou is murdered, it seems mutiny is underway.
So we don't have as brutal a Wolf Larson as Edward G. Robinson played, but his interest in literacy, improved navigation and other intellectual ideals gives him an interesting character development that is fascinating. The real villain is veteran actor Clive Revill as shipmate Cookie, initially threatening to Reeve, but grateful to Reeve after he is exposed as the ship's rat. Reeve is excellent, subtle yet strong even if he doesn't have the courage when he has the opportunity to kill the increasingly insane Larsen. The excellent photography and pacing makes this extremely watchable, and the Emmy nominated musical score is perfect. Stewart isn't a weak link, but she's no Lupino. One thing I'm not sure about is that Reeve providing the narration because the tone of voice is off. Practically perfect, this is one of the greatest modern remakes of a classic film, stunning to watch and one which could have looked great on the big screen.
So we don't have as brutal a Wolf Larson as Edward G. Robinson played, but his interest in literacy, improved navigation and other intellectual ideals gives him an interesting character development that is fascinating. The real villain is veteran actor Clive Revill as shipmate Cookie, initially threatening to Reeve, but grateful to Reeve after he is exposed as the ship's rat. Reeve is excellent, subtle yet strong even if he doesn't have the courage when he has the opportunity to kill the increasingly insane Larsen. The excellent photography and pacing makes this extremely watchable, and the Emmy nominated musical score is perfect. Stewart isn't a weak link, but she's no Lupino. One thing I'm not sure about is that Reeve providing the narration because the tone of voice is off. Practically perfect, this is one of the greatest modern remakes of a classic film, stunning to watch and one which could have looked great on the big screen.