Alan Hale Jr.'s career was a fascinating journey, and his brief collaboration with John Wayne in the 1955 film "The Sea Chase" is a testament to that. While it's not a well-remembered film, it holds a special place in the history of both actors.
Hale Jr. was already an established actor by the mid-1950s, having starred in the CBS adventure series "Biff Baker, U.S.A." and sharing the screen with Kirk Douglas in "The Big Trees." He also appeared alongside James Cagney in "The West Point Story" and Audie Murphy in "Destry." But his role in "The Sea Chase" was a unique one, as he played Wentz, an Ergenstrasse crew member with minimal screen time.
The film itself was a World War II drama with an impressive cast, including John Wayne, Lana Turner, and James Arness. It was shot on location in Hawaii aboard a real freighter, which added to its authenticity. However, the film received harsh reviews and was not a box office hit. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times described it as "a conventionally heroic and ideologically silly sea romance," and Variety surmised that it "never quite lives up to its promise."
Despite the negative reception, "The Sea Chase" holds a special place in the history of both Alan Hale Jr. and John Wayne. For Hale Jr., it was a chance to work with one of the biggest movie stars of the century, and for Wayne, it was a departure from his typical Western hero roles. Wayne played Karl Ehrlich, a German sea captain who is vehemently anti-Nazi, which was a departure from his conservative image.
The film's reception was a disappointment for both actors, but it's a reminder that even the most established stars can take risks and explore different roles. Alan Hale Jr.'s brief collaboration with John Wayne in "The Sea Chase" is a fascinating chapter in his career, and it's a testament to the diversity of his acting abilities.
