Sea Wife

Facile dramatics about four disparate characters--three men and one woman (Joan Collins)--shipwrecked off the coast of Singapore in 1942. One of the men grows very fond of the lady, who is secretly a nun. The nun's curious reluctance to divulge her vocation unnecessarily drags out these proceedings (and makes Sister Collins out to be something of a tease, which is touched upon fleetingly). Film verges on camp but is saved from silliness by an adept, surface-pretty production, also by Richard Burton's fiery emoting (predictably, he's colorful and mercurial as ever). Shallow, but certainly entertaining on a minor scale. **1/2 from ****

Enjoyed viewing this classic film from 1957 starring Joan Collins, (Sea Wife) and Richard Burton, (Biscuit). This film opens up with Biscuit running an ad in most of the London papers trying to locate Sea Wife and at first you think this must be some undercover agent trying to locate their partner. However, it turns out to be a love story which occurred during WW II when their ship was sunk by a Japanese Submarine and this couple wound up on a raft together. Biscuit fell in love with Sea Wife, however, she always turned down his sexual advances towards her and refused to give him a civil answer as to why she felt this way towards him. This is a hidden gem of a picture and worth your time to view and enjoy this great classic with great actors.

"Sea Wife" is a film best enjoyed if you don't have particularly high expectations and accept it as it is. I liked it but could easily see folks complaining about one serious problem with the plot.

When the film begins, 'Biscuit' (Richard Burton) has arrived back in England after a very long absence. The first thing he does is arrange for some odd personal ads to be run in the various newspapers with odd messages from 'Biscuit' to someone called 'Sea Wife'. These messages turn out to be fruitless and eventually an acquaintance named 'Bulldog' contacts him and asks him to come see him about the messages. Then a lengthy flashback occurs. The time in 1942 and the setting is Singapore as the Japanese are invading. Biscuit is on board a ship that is trying to escape--as are many, many others on this overloaded ship. Eventually, the ship is torpedoed with it's out to see and Biscuit and four others end up in a life raft together. Oddly, they don't use their real names and they all assign nicknames to each other--Bulldog (for the nasty and extremely bigoted jerk), #4 because he was the fourth one aboard, Biscuit (this one made little sense) and Sea Wife since she was a lady. Their adventures make up most of the rest of the film and during this time, Biscuit falls for Sea Wife and she NEVER bothers to mention to him that she's a nun and that's why she's rebuffing his advances. WHY NOT JUST TELL THE GUY!?!?! And, if the story is being discussed by Biscuit and Bulldog, how can we see and hear conversations that go on between #4 and Sea Wife if they never told the other two about what they said?!?! Huh?!

On the other hand, the film was excellent in many ways. I particularly loved how the film focused on the horrible aspects of human nature. The ship sinking scene was great--very harrowing and exhibiting all the worst in mankind!! Likewise, Bulldog was a great character simply because he was so awful. Overall, a nice adventure film that occasionally didn't exactly make sense. Worth seeing but certainly not a must-see.

Most of the small number of viewers who have commented on this film to date, seem to find it boring or without much substance. But I think "See Wife," has much more than meets the eye – especially than meets the eye of modern movie-goers who are so used to being bombarded with action after action scenes along with lots of CGI. This is a story first, about civilian victims of war; then about survivors at sea and on an uninhabited island; then about return to life after World War II. But the plot develops around four survivors and includes drama, distrust, prejudice and mystery.

Some reviewers like to see parts of other films in this one, but there is something that sets "Sea Wife" apart from "Life Boat" and others. That is in the forbidden and lost love. And, part of the mystery revolves around another love that is held and given for something higher. The script is very good, the scenes are engaging and the acting is very good. A very good film that movie fans who look for big doses of quality acting will appreciate. It doesn't have a usual Hollywood ending, but one that satisfies the mystery and drama of the story.

Joan Collins is a nun (!!) shipwrecked on an island with Burton. This movie is hilarious and sexy. Burton as usual is so serious he's got his tongue in his cheek because the script's morality won't let him use it to plow the ever-gorgeous Collins. I haven't seen it for years, but I still use Burton's growling "I love you, Sea Wife" to make my wife laugh. And a note on Collins: Evidently the eternal self-pitier Russell Crowe was upset to see himself compared to her at an awards show. But she is the one who was shamed; she was, is, and will always be wonderful. Enjoy this flick and "Land of the Pharoahs" as proof!