Ebb Tide *** (1937, Oskar Homolka, Frances Farmer, Ray Milland, Barry Fitzgerald, Lloyd Nolan) – Classic Movie Review 7225

Director James Hogan’s 1937 Paramount Pictures adventure Ebb Tide is a robust but downbeat drama about three boozy sailor adventurers (Ray Milland as Robert Herrick, Oscar Homolka as captain Robert Herrick and Barry Fitzgerald as Huish), who are hit by a typhoon and hove up on a mystery island, where they fight over religious madman Attwater (Lloyd Nolan)’s stash of pearls.

Ebb Tide is a fascinating adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson-Lloyd Osbourne story with energetic acting (it is Homolka’s Hollywood début), beautiful Technicolor photography by Leo Tover, and a surprisingly bitter temperament (which did it no good at all at the box office). Apart from the male stars, Frances Farmer is another obvious asset as Faith Wishart, in her only colour film.

There were two silent versions of the tale (1915 and 1922) and there is also a remake in 1947 as Adventure Island.

Also in the cast are David Torrence, Charles Judels, Lina Basquette, Harry Field, George Piltz, David Hope, Jim Spencer, Inez Palange and Olaf Hytten.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7225

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