Fair Wind to Java

Republic Pictures knew how to do two things really well—action and special effects. Both are on showcase display in this south seas epic. Okay, no one expects deep think or character development from the studio of the matinée western, and this 90-minutes doesn't disappoint. For Republic, story was just an excuse to stage barroom brawls and shootouts, anyway. The plot here appears a cut-and-paste job from one of their many Saturday afternoon serials (e.g. a masked mastermind), while the characters seldom rise above stereotype.

Still, studio honcho Yates spent what for them was a bundle. He even went out and hired A- list Fred MacMurray to pair up with his hapless sweetie Vera Hruba Ralston. MacMurray, always the professional, gives his sea captain his all, while native girl Ralston has little more to do than get dragged around. I'm still puzzled, however, by handsome John Russell's presence in what seems a tacked-on role. Maybe it was something of a screen test for bigger and better things.

Anyway, the Trucolor is gorgeous, the action fast and furious if often mindless, while Krakatoa blows up real good. So, if you want your eyes entertained at the same time your brain takes a rest, be sure to tune in.

While watching this adventure film produced by Republic Pictures, I expected Edward Ludwig for directing, he who already gave us the awesome WAKE OF THE RED WITCH several years earlier, one of John Wayne's favorite, and a tremendous stuff too. Edward Ludwig was the adventure films specialist, but mostly for Paramount. So, I guess that in 1953, he was also under contract with Paramount and I presume that's the reason why Joseph Kane, the Republic prolific western maker, finally made this film. And for an excellent result. One of best Jo Kane's films. Please don't miss this one. It is really a great and underrated adventure movie providing amazing action and volcano in eruption scenes.

In glorious trucolour! Another Republic storybook masterpiece from the last 5 years of the studio, this is an Indiana Jones pirate/volcano movie before anyone thought of Indie...or Did Spielberg Lucas see this aged 8 are regurgitate it into the 80s as with Star Wars 70s epics from other Republic (serial) adventures of the 40s. Actually, don't Spielberg Lucas owe Republic Studios a lot!!.......FAIR WIND TO JAVA stayed in cinema circulation even after 1960 and was often seen in cinema screens at Kids matinees with other Republic films like TOBOR or the hopeless western botch PAWNEE. The 1969 cinerama sized KRAKATOA EAST OF JAVA (it was west, actually) might have attempted a bigger screen and scope, but this 1953 version with Fred and the pirates - and genuinely beautiful art direction and great modelwork, is a lot more fun. Even Vera the acting wife came out of this one well.

Good guys vs, pirates in a race for a fortune in diamonds. Lots of action and much violence, especially in a scene where Vera Ralston, who plays an escaped slave girl, is captured by the bad guys and whipped to make her tell where the diamonds are. She dosen't tell and pays for it, leading to the explosive ending of a great erupting volcano scene.

I have no idea why some of the actors who were in this film were so snide about it. As an example of a fun film for all ages with intrigue after intrigue, and the threat of Krakatoa exploding, it has all the ingredients of a first rate adventure film and it does not disappoint. It even has a queer eye, with an on-board relationship between two males that some members of the audience must have picked up on. One is half-naked all of the time, with his fully clothed friend ninety per cent in tow. Whether this was intentional I leave discerning viewers to decide. Excellent ensemble fighting and sparring on ships and a whipping scene that had made the censors reach for their scissors (if you buy the DVD from Germany you can see it uncut and much more clearly then those copies still shown on television). Vera Ralston is quite good as the 'slave' girl who gets the whipping, and she was actually very beautiful, but not successful with audiences. McMurray is good, and the climax of the film is excellent and very well done considering how hard it must have been given the techniques of the time. I give it a 9 for sheer entertainment. Basic film at its best.