THE CAPTAIN HATES THE SEA (1934) DVD

The Captain Hates the Sea is a 1934 comedy film directed by Lewis Milestone and released by Columbia Pictures. The film, which involves a Grand Hotel-style series of intertwining stories involving the passengers on a cruise ship, is notable as the last film starring one-time silent film icon John Gilbert and the first Columbia feature film to include The Three Stooges in the cast. The film co-stars Victor McLaglen, Arthur Treacher, Akim Tamiroff, Leon Errol and Walter Connolly.[

During production, the film went over budget due in large part to the alcohol-fueled partying by members of the cast. Harry Cohn, the head of Columbia, became alarmed by the cost overrun and sent a cable to Lewis Milestone that read: "Hurry up! The cost is staggering!" Milestone, in turn, sent a cable to Cohn that read: "So is the cast!"

Cast
Victor McLaglen
[Junius P.] Schulte
Wynne Gibson
Mrs. Jeddock
Alison Skipworth
Mrs. [Yolanda] Magruder
John Gilbert
Steve Bramley
Helen Vinson
Janet Grayson [also known as Blanche Ditworthy, or "Michigan Red]
Fred Keating
Danny Checkett [also known as "Fairaday"]
Leon Errol
Layton
Walter Connolly
Captain Helquist
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Tala Birell
Gerta Klangi
Walter Catlett
Joe Silvers
John Wray
Mr. Jedock
Claude Gillingwater
Judge Griswald
Emily Fitzroy
Mrs. Griswald
Geneva Mitchell
Miss Hackson
Donald Meek
Josephus Bushmills
Luis Alberni
Juan Gilboa
Akim Tamiroff
[General] Salazaro
Arthur Treacher
Major Waringforth
Inez Courtney
Flo
The Three Stooges
Orchestra
G. Pat Collins
Donlin
Dell Henderson
Mr. Holman
George Andre Beranger
Jeweler
George Humbert
Head barber
Frank Conroy
State's attorney
Mathew Betz
Gus
Frederic Howard
Reporter
Fredric Santly
Reporter
James Blakeley
Pinky
Mike Morita
Sato
Tamara Shayne
General's wife
Serge Temoff
Mexican captain
Lowden Adams
First butler
Pietro Sosso
Butler
Emmett Vogan
Ship's doctor
Harry Holman
Passenger
Harry Dunkinson
Passenger
Harrison Greene
Passenger
Gladys Gale
Passenger's wife
Maude Truax
Passenger's wife
Isabelle La Mal
Passenger's wife
Edmund Burns
Assistant jeweler
James Farley
Conductor
Gladden James
Clerk
Budd Fine
Keeper
A. R. Haysel
Detective
Charles Hickman
Pilot
Raymond Turner
Sam
Joe Dominguez
Sergeant
Charles Moore
Train porter
Harry Tenbrook
Taxi driver
Charles Sullivan
Taxi driver
Charles King
Taxi driver
Monte Carter
Barber
Franco Corsaro
Officer
Robert Canterio
Officer
Captain Fernando Garcia
Officer
Heinie Conklin
Assistant bartender
B. B. Creary
Quartermaster
Eddie Baker
Purser
Abdullah Abbas
Felix
Frank Walsh
Sailor
Buddy Mason
Sailor
Harry Wilson
Sailor
Blackie Whiteford
Sailor
Ray Spiker
Sailor
Max Wagner
Sailor
Lew Davis
Deck steward
Fred Watt
Deck steward
Sam Tong
Sin Kee
Tony Casten
Mong
Sam Rice Jr.
Newsboy

As passengers board the cruise ship San Capador , its captain, Helquist, tells a group of reporters how much he hates the sea, and that he only became a sailor to escape his father. He also informs the reporters that, in the case of an accident, he plans to be the first man in a lifeboat, having no intentions of "going down with the ship." Newspaperman Steve Bramley arrives at the dock, delivered there by his fiancée, Gerta Klangi. Steve is leaving Hollywood, where he has failed as a screenwriter, to go back to New York, in the hope of both writing a book, and giving up the bottle. Once aboard the ship, Steve runs into his old drinking buddy, Layton, the ship's chief steward. They are soon joined by another old friend, private detective Junius P. Schulte, who is aboard the ship in search of $250,000 in stolen bonds. Just after the ship leaves the dock, the pilot ship pulls alongside, and notorious crook Danny Checkett boards the cruise ship, under the name "Fairaday." He is immediately greeted by Schulte, who asks him to hand over the bonds. Danny declares his innocence, and their game of "hide-and-seek" begins. Also aboard the cruise ship are Mr. and Mrs. Jeddock, a seemingly distinguished couple; Mrs. Yolanda Magruder, a feisty rich widow; General Salazaro, a revolutionary; and Bostonian Janet Grayson, a librarian on vacation. At dinner that night, Danny and Schulte both vie for Janet's attention. Afterward, Steve goes back to his room, where he finds a phonograph record of Gerta, in which she proclaims her love and belief in him. Despite her encouragement, Steve immediately "falls off the wagon," and soon becomes a close friend of the head bartender. When Steve sees Mrs. Jeddock for the first time, he recognizes her as an old prostitute he knew under the name "Goldie." Mr. Jeddock is so upset by this that he attacks Steve, but the writer, though intoxicated, still beats the hapless husband to the punch. Later, when Danny is alone with Janet, their true relationship is disclosed: they are actually accomplices, engaged to be married. While Danny is pleased that Janet has attracted the attention of Schulte, he, in turn, is being pursued by the elder Mrs. Magruder. Janet, thinking that Schulte is completely taken by her, hides the stolen bonds in the detective's cabin. Schulte, however, is on to her, knowing that her real name is Blanche Ditworthy, and is otherwise known as "Michigan Red." Layton discovers the truth about Danny and Janet, and blackmails the crooks to keep their secret from Schulte. After four days at sea, Salazaro is greeted with a hero's welcome by his old friend Juan Gilboa when the ship docks in his country. The other passengers are shocked to learn, a bit later, that Salazaro has been executed by a firing squad, as his revolutionary group had been defeated prior to his arrival. Back at sea, Schulte proposes marriage to Janet, and she accepts as part of her ruse. As Schulte announces their engagement, the band plays "The Wedding March," just as the Jeddock's arrive in the dining room. Mr. Jeddock explodes at the group, thinking that the song is a snide comment on his wife's past, and is taken away by the ship's crew, who throw him in the brig. Mrs. Jeddock then attempts suicide by jumping off the ship, but both Danny and Schulte jump to her rescue. Janet goes to Schulte to tell him the truth, only to discover that he knows all, having found the bonds, yet still wishes to marry her. As the ship arrives in New York, Mr. and Mrs. Jeddock are reunited in the captain's quarters, where Mrs. Jeddock gives her husband a piece of her mind, as well as part of a blackjack. At the dock, Danny, who realizes that he has lost both Janet and the bonds, renews his acquaintance with the rich Mrs. Magruder, whom, he learns, is worth $7,000,000. Schulte gives his business card to Janet, and tells her to meet him there, which she does. Finally, Steve leaves the ship, in no better condition than he boarded, only to be met by Gerta. Though she realizes he has lost yet another battle with the bottle, she accepts him back in her arms, and they drive away.