Wake of the Red Witch (1949)

57% of users liked it
(2,119 ratings)

This unusual, dreamlike John Wayne vehicle is set in the East Indies. The focus of the film is the deadly rivalry between two men of the sea. Ship's captain Rails (John Wayne) nurses a long-standing grudge against shipping magnate Van Schreeven (Luther Adler). The reason for the animosity: Van… More This unusual, dreamlike John Wayne vehicle is set in the East Indies. The focus of the film is the deadly rivalry between two men of the sea. Ship's captain Rails (John Wayne) nurses a long-standing grudge against shipping magnate Van Schreeven (Luther Adler). The reason for the animosity: Van Schreeven stole away Rails' love, Angelique (Gail Russell). Revenge has warped Rails to point that sometimes he seems to be the heavy of the picture. Complications involving valuable pearls ensue before the offbeat climax, which finds Rails scuttling his own vessel, the Red Witch, as means of getting even. The film's resolution is one of the strangest ever concocted for a Wayne picture. Wake of the Red Witch represented the second screen teaming of John Wayne and Gail Russell; the film must also have held some special significance for Wayne, since he named his own production company, Batjac, after the shipping firm depicted in the picture. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr.
Directed By: Edward Ludwig
Written By: Harry Brown, Kenneth Gamet
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Mar 1, 1949 Wide
On DVD: May 22, 2001
Studio: Republic Pictures Home Video

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Who said Wayne couldn't act?

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

This is an outstanding early John Wayne Film. Another early days at sea movie. When I first saw the title cover I thought maybe this was the same movie as Reap The Wind but I was wrong so wrong. This movie out does Reap the Wind by 10 fold. John Wayne is a sea captain who scuttles the… More
This is an outstanding early John Wayne Film. Another early days at sea movie. When I first saw the title cover I thought maybe this was the same movie as Reap The Wind but I was wrong so wrong. This movie out does Reap the Wind by 10 fold. John Wayne is a sea captain who scuttles the Red Witch because of the cargo which is 5 million dollars worth of gold in 1948 so imagine the price today. The man he stole the gold from wants it back so this makes for a very exciting movie. 4 stars for this old Black and White.
jay n

Decent enough retread of Reap the Wild Wind but nothing extraordinary. Good cast, both Gail Russell and Adele Mara look great and Gail is properly ethereal.

Cast

            John Wayne as Capt. Ralls

            Gail Russell as Angelique Desaix

            Gig Young as Sam Rosen

            Luther Adler as Mayrant Ruysdaal Sidneye

            Adele Mara as Teleia Van Schreeven

            Eduard Franz as Harmenszoon Van Schreeven

            Grant Withers as Capt. Wilde Younger

            Henry Daniell as Jacques Desaix

            Paul Fix as Antonio "Ripper" Arrezo

            Dennis Hoey as Capt. Munsey

            Jeff Corey as Mr. Loring

            Erskine Sanford as Doktor Van Arken

            Duke Kahanamoku as Va Nuke

            Fernando Alvarado as Maru

            Henry Brandon as Kurinua

            David Clarke as Mullins

            Fred Graham as Sailor

            Myron Healey as Seaman on Red Witch

            Al Kikume as Native servant

            Fred Libby as Sailor

            Rory Mallinson as Officer

            Jim Nolan as 1st diver

            John M. Pickard as 2nd diver

            Norman Rainey as Lawyer

            Chuck Roberson as Stunts

            Scott Wallace as Sailor

            Mickey Simpson as 2nd officer

            Carlos Thompson as Hekkim

            Harry J. Vejar as Jarma

            Harlan Warde as Seaman handling diving line

            John Wengraf as Prosecutor

            Robert Wood as Young sailor

            Jose Alvarado as Taluna

            Fred Fox as Ship's Surgeon

            Grant Means as Dirk

            Leo C. Richmond as Native Priest

            Kuka Tuitama
            
See full cast