The Sea Bat
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "redirect hatnote". Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox film/short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[".
The Sea Bat is a 1930 American pre-Code melodrama film directed by Wesley Ruggles, starring Raquel Torres, Charles Bickford. Part of the film was filmed on location in Mazatlán, Mexico. The film was originally intended as a vehicle for Lon Chaney, who was too ill from throat cancer to undertake the project and died a month after the film's release.
Plot
A community of sponge divers are harassed by a large and hostile manta ray.
Cast
- Raquel Torres as Nina
- Charles Bickford as Reverend Sims
- Nils Asther as Carl
- George F. Marion as Antone
- John Miljan as Juan
- Boris Karloff as Corsican
- Gibson Gowland as Limey
- Edmund Breese as Maddocks
- Mathilde Comont as Mimba
- Mack Swain as Dutchy
- James Dime as the sailor
Production
The film was originally announced for filming in early 1929 as a collaboration between Lon Chaney and Tod Browning.Template:Sfn By August 31, 1929, Victor Fleming had taken over as the director, but was replaced by Hunt Stromberg by October 2, 1929, and finally by Wesley Ruggles, as of January 20, 1930.[1] Some contemporary reports state that Lionel Barrymore as an additional director, but his name is not mentioned in any trades at the time of the production.[1]
Filming had begun by February 8, 1930, on location at Mazatlan, Mexico.Template:Sfn[1]
Release
The Sea Bat was released July 5, 1930.[1] It was released in both sound and silent versions.Template:Sfn
Reception
From contemporary reviews, Photoplay declared the film as "Just another talkie, ho-hum!"Template:Sfn Variety felt the film started and ended with exciting scenes but that the middle of the film "sags from lack of expected action, especially following the humdinger opening."Template:Sfn The Bioscope praised the acting and the scenery as did Harrison's Reports, who praised the sea scenes and battles with the sea bat.Template:Sfn Motion Picture News praised the film for its pacing and location shooting.Template:Sfn
From retrospective reviews, Michael R. Pitts stated in his book Thrills Untapped that despite scenery and cinematography, the film was slow-paced and "a pale combination of Sadie Thompson (1928) and White Shadows in the South Seas (1928).Template:Sfn
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Sources
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
External links
- Template:Trim/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:WikidataCheck
- Template:PAGENAMEBASE at the TCM Movie DatabaseTemplate:EditAtWikidata
- Template:AFI film
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with reference errors
- Pages using infobox film with flag icon
- Pages with broken file links
- 1930 films
- 1930 drama films
- 1930s melodrama films
- American black-and-white films
- Films directed by Wesley Ruggles
- Giant monster films
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Films with screenplays by Dorothy Yost
- Films with screenplays by Bess Meredyth
- 1930s English-language films
- 1930s American films
- English-language drama films