Tuna Clipper
Tuna Clipper is a 1949 American drama film directed by William Beaudine and starring Roddy McDowall, Elena Verdugo and Roland Winters. It was one of a series of films McDowall made for Monogram.[1]
| Tuna Clipper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | William Beaudine |
| Written by | Scott Darling |
| Produced by | Lindsley Parsons |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | William A. Sickner |
| Edited by | Ace Herman |
| Music by | Edward J. Kay |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Monogram Pictures |
Release date | April 10, 1949 |
Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
A young man goes to work on a tuna boat to earn money to pay off debts. When his friend Frankie Pereira fails to place the wager of a ruffian named Ransom at the racetrack and the 10-to-1 longshot wins, Alec MacLennan is left holding the bag after Frankie flees. Forced to pay off the debt, Alec takes a job on the Pereira family's tuna fishing boat.
Frankie's tough brother Silvestre objects to Alec's presence and bullies him. After a while, their sister Bianca notices that the hard-working Alec never has any of his salary. She finds out how he is being extorted by Ransom, who is doing likewise to her brother after finding Frankie working as a stable boy at the track. Ransom's chicanery discovered, Alec is forgiven by all.
Cast
- Roddy McDowall as Alec MacLennan
- Elena Verdugo as Bianca Pereira
- Roland Winters as E.J. Ransom
- Peter Mamakos as Capt. Manuel Pereira
- Rick Vallin as Silvestre Pereira
- Michael Vallon as Papa Pereira
- Russell Simpson as Capt. Fergus MacLennan
- Doris Kemper as Anne MacLennan
- Dickie Moore as Frankie Pereira
- Richard Avonde as Pete, a Pereira crewman
- Victor Sen Yung as Oriental Dock Worker
Reception
The film was reviewed by François Truffaut who described it as "A scenario whose charm lies in its modesty and honesty".[2]
References
- Tuna Fisherman Role Will Star McDowall Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 22 May 1948: 7.
- Dixon p.4
Bibliography
- Dixon, Wheeler Winston. Early Film Criticism of François Truffaut. Indiana University Press, 1993.
- Marshall, Wendy L. William Beaudine: From Silents to Television. Scarecrow Press, 2005.