Tyrant of the Sea
Tyrant of the Sea is a 1950 American historical war film directed by Lew Landers and starring Ron Randell, Rhys Williams and Lester Matthews. It is set during the Napoleonic Wars, with Admiral Horatio Nelson appearing as a character.
| Tyrant of the Sea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lew Landers |
| Produced by | Sam Katzman |
| Written by | Robert Libott Frank Burt |
| Starring | Ron Randell Rhys Williams Valentine Perkins Doris Lloyd Lester Matthews |
| Music by | Mischa Bakaleinikoff |
| Cinematography | Ira H. Morgan |
| Edited by | Edwin Bryant |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | February 22, 1950 |
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Production
The film began as a project The Return of Captain Bligh and was to star Charles Laughton, who had famously played Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). However Laughton did not want to repeat his performance so the project was rewritten to focus on a fictitious character.[1] Rhys Williams played the part based on Bligh.[2]
The actual lead was Ron Randell.[3] Randell made the film while also appearing on stage in a double bill of Terence Rattigan plays, Harlequinade and The Browning Version.[4] Filming started 16 August.[5] The film's sets were designed by the art director Paul Palmentola.
Cast
- Rhys Williams as Captain Blake
- Ron Randell as Lt. Hawkins
- Lester Matthews as Lord Nelson
- Valentine Perkins as Betsy Blake
- Doris Lloyd as Elizabeth Blake
- Ross Elliott as Palmer
- Harry Cording as Sampson Edwards
- Terry Kilburn as Dick Savage – Sailor
- Maurice Marsac as Phillipe Daumer
- William Fawcett as Shawn O'Donnell
- Don C. Harvey as Moriarty
- James Fairfax as Oliver Sibley
- Stanley Andrews as Officer
- Frank Ferguson as Officer
- Percy Helton as Crewman
References
- THOMAS F. BRADY (Aug 6, 1949). "CLARK GABLE SET FOR DE VOTO FILM: Star to Play Lead in 'Across the Wide Missouri,' Based on Novel About Fur Traders". New York Times. p. 11.
- THOMAS F. BRADY (Aug 13, 1949). "RKO AND WARNERS BUY NEW STORIES: Former Acquires 'Macao,' by Robert Williams -- 'Fires of Orinoco' Goes to Latter". New York Times. p. 6.
- Vagg, Stephen (August 10, 2019). "Unsung Aussie Actors – Ron Randell: A Top Twenty". Filmink.
- Schallert, Edwin (Aug 10, 1949). "Paul Douglas Heralded for 'Man Who Sunk Navy'; Randell to Join Evans". Los Angeles Times. p. 19.
- "'All Passion Spent' Now Talked for Jane Wyman; Paramount Signs Beauty" Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 6 Aug 1949: 7.
External links
- Tyrant of the Sea at the TCM Movie Database
- Tyrant of the Sea on IMDb
- Tyrant of the Sea at Variety