In a 1984 interview by Claude Ventura & Philippe Garnier, Elisha Cook Jr. described how he lost half the thumb on his left hand making this picture. He was up on deck during a storm scene and they unleashed a ton of water which took him over the side. While trying to catch himself, a piece of piano wire wrapped around his thumb and cut it off. John Ford then came up to him and said "That was a helluva shot Cookie" to which Cook replied "It sure was Mr. Ford. I just cut my thumb off". Ford then passed out.
(Interview is on You ube under the title: Cinéma Cinémas - Elisha Cook Jr. - 1984.)
The home port of the freighter Maria Ann, the ship Susan is on, is Portland, Maine. Director John Ford grew up in Portland, Maine, graduating Portland High School in 1914.
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