The Blood Ship (1927)

The crew of a cargo ship under a sadistic Captain (Walter James) consists of shanghaied crewmen. But when the ship docks in San Francisco, two men (Hobart Bosworth, Richard Arlen) volunteer to serve on the ship, each with his own personal reason. Based on the novel by Norman Springer and directed by George B. Seitz (LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY). An entertaining high seas adventure even though there's not much originality to it. A sadistic sea captain driving his men to rebellion and mutiny is a tried and worn scenario (MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY being the most famous example) but the movie's brief running time (one hour, seven minutes) assures that it won't wear out its welcome. The silent film has been restored and the transfer I saw was gorgeous including its tinted sequence. It's a pity it's not a better movie. With Jacqueline Logan and Blue Washington.