PIC of the Week – The Wreck of the Mary Deare
Article series by Ray Schillaci
What can I say, but story matters. You can have all the whiz-bang effects and throw in some sophomoric humor and still a movie is nothing without a great story and characters. That was my feeling when I sat down to a viewing of Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. Tremendous eye candy, but that was about it. Then, I discover that the same company, Warner Brothers, released on the same week a solid action/drama that stars both Gary Cooper and Charlton Heston, The Wreck of the Mary Deare. Face it, you can’t get more manly than these two heavyweight actors. Cooper, who stood tall in Sergeant York and High Noon. Heston, my God, the man played Moses and fought off those damn, dirty apes!
This movie has only been available on VHS for years, and not even a good copy at that. In 2006, the film was afforded to us in a Cary Cooper collection, but never available as a single movie that was easier on the wallet. Yes, Warners does not consider giving it a Blu-ray treatment, but still delivers a far better presentation than has ever been afforded to us. The film is finally presented in the format in which it was meant to be seen, widescreen Cinemascope and Metrocolor (not to be confused with metro males).
The Wreck… is filled with adventure and mystery and is also a courtroom drama. Heston plays a salvage seeker who comes upon a burning derelict steamship. He finds more than he bargained for – a captain, Gary Cooper, missing his crew, and hiding something. So many questions before they can leave the ship and little time for answers. Oh, did I mention the storm and the impending hurricane?
Cooper convinces Heston to forfeit his salvage and guide the ship into some reefs. Returning to London, Cooper stands before a trial for his supposed mishandling of the ship. But, is it incompetence or has the captain been played as a scapegoat? This will lead both men to escape and return to the ship to prove the captain’s innocence.
So many interesting things about this movie. Here, you have a young Heston who could have easily played Cooper’s role. It just feels as if the men could have switched roles. But, Cooper was still a bigger star when the film was being made. Just after this, Heston’s star would explode with Ben Hur, and both films were released the same year. Also, Hitchcock was slated to direct, but after working on the script with Ernest Lehman, Hitch could not see it going beyond a boring court room drama and ended up inspired to do one of his most famous projects, North By Northwest. There were critics that felt the way Hitch did about the courtroom drama, but the film has a strong fan base.
Either way, this is far and above anything else released this week. Here’s a chance to see two great actors together for the first time with an enthralling story, and catch a very young Richard Harris who later became a superstar with Camelot and A Man Called Horse. No CGI, cute references to dozens of other movies, and no obvious lifting from other stories.
The Wreck of the Mary Deare is a solid piece of entertainment. Sadly, Warners does not have faith enough to grant us a Blu or any extras. But, at least it’s been released of its full frame, 4:3 aspect ratio and given the widescreen treatment it deserves.
Best Price – Best Buy – $14.99
