Copyright 24 February 1949 by Republic Pictures Corp. New York opening at the Mayfair: 9 January 1949. U.S. release: 1 March 1949. U.K. release through British Lion: 6 June 1949. Australian release through British Empire Films: 17 November 1949. 10,030 feet. 111 minutes.NOTES: Filming from mid-July 1948 to early November 1948. COMMENT: Superbly photographed, Garland Roark's solid adventure yarn boasts an arresting title, a great cast and a most promising story — all somewhat undermined by occasionally lethargic direction and unadventurous film editing. Judicious cutting by around twenty minutes would instantly convert an often feeble and unexciting picture into a ripping tale of derring-do and intrigue. True, it passes muster as is — just!Wayne's performance is not only hard-hitting in itself but is adroitly given added impetus by contrast with the beautifully fragile and graceful Gail Russell. Mind you, we have to wait a mighty long time for Miss Russell's entrance. This is one of the plot's problems. Another is that the story is basically told in one long flashback, with two additional scenes later pegged on by another witness.The large roster of support players is justly dominated by Luther Adler (who wages a successful but continuous battle against unconvincing make-up), Paul Fix (as the hero's obligatory pal), Gig Young (as the patsy narrator), the lovely Adele Mara (as the patsy's vis-à-vis), Grant Withers (a sadistic but not over-bright Youngeur), Henry Daniell (French and patronizing), Dennis Hoey (jovial minion of the law) and Jeff Corey (the dispossessed first mate). The rest are mostly walk- ons.

I agree with others who liked this 1948 Republic gem of a film. And, although I could see where the story seemed disjointed at times, I think that worked in the film's favor. After all, this is a story of intrigue. Should not the plot have some mystery and inexplicable parts to it? I'm probably not the only movie reviewer here who did not read the book the film is based on. Nor had I ever heard of the book or its author, Garland Roark. I did look him up and found that he wrote a number of seafaring adventures as well as Westerns.So, I thought the plot developed very nicely with the right amount of intrigue mixed in with some action, sea scenes, and romance. We gradually discover the background of the animosity between John Wayne and his nemesis, played quite ably by Luther Adler. The acting was very good all around, with Adler and "Duke" having the more dramatic and expressive parts. I enjoyed John Wayne in most of the films he did outside his usual genres of Westerns and War flicks. Besides the good acting and plot, "Wake of the Red Witch" had some good cinematography with sea and sailing shots, and very good underwater action. All of this adds up to a very good and entertaining film.

I enjoy most John Wayne films, notably his Westerns, and a long time ago read several books about him, but Wake of the Red Watch was all but unknown to me. (British TV frequently screens his better-known films butI can't recall "Wake" being shown before.)It wasn't at all bad, if one overlooks some of the clichés and limited production values, and Wayne portrays a character more complex and less sympathetic than in any other of his films, even Red River and The Searchers.Some of the plot twists were a bit hard to follow, and I'm still not sure about the relationship between Ralls and Sidneye - it seemed to mellow towards the end.Before watching the film I hadn't bothered to note its date and, going on Wayne's youthful appearance and the unsophisticated aspects of filming and plotting, I guessed it was early 1940s. I was a little surprised to see that it was 1948, just as Wayne was about to film some of his greatest Westerns.

We're in the 1860s somewhere in the Pacific. John Wayne is looking for riches surrounded by natives, Gail Russell, Luther Adler and a very young Gig Young.The picture should have been in color for starters. Wouldn't you really like to see The "Red" Witch of a boat?The story is one of revenge between Luther Adler, a vicious, cunning individual who stole Gale Russell from the clutches of Wayne.To get revenge, Wayne sunk Adler's Red Witch boat and Adler shall reciprocate as the film goes on.Miss Russell must have thought that she was Merle Oberon in the way that she attempted to play her death scene similar to Oberon's "Wuthering Heights." The uneven writing doesn't help one bit.Wayne joining Miss Russell in death at the end while searching for gold at the bottom of the sea is Hollywood mush.This film needs to be waked.