Dangerous Voyage [DVD]

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In 1950, the film "So Long at the Fair" debuted. It was the film about a brother and sister who went to the Paris Exhibition--only to have the brother disappear. Even more odd, no one seems to have remembered seeing him and soon the authorities seem to think she is losing her mind. Only three years later, a very, very similar film is released and "Dangerous Crossing" is essentially the same film but with a very different ending. I know that a few other similar films have been released--so clearly "Dangerous Crossing" won't get points for originality. I know what the voyage is costing,’ says Stirling, ‘but am not prepared to discuss it!’ They have some limited support: The Gino Watkins Memorial Fund and The Arctic Club have funded cold-climate safety and first aid training. The Andrew Croft Memorial Fund has supported the installation of a ‘cross-reference depth sounder’ to mitigate the risk posed by incomplete nautical charts, and Plymouth Gin has also chipped in. Panerai is gifting two watches: ‘One for Will, the other to be engraved and sold at auction next year,’ says Martina Sklenarova of Bucherer Watches, adding, ‘Profits will go either to fund this voyage or support the next.’

Sara grew up on an island off Donegal. After reading psychology, she did an MA in maritime history, set up a boat-building business with her ex, and then did a course in child psychology, while bringing up five children: Oona, now 33, Harry 31, Esme, 23, Alfie, 15 and Grace, 13. (‘Will produced the last two.’) There are two rules,’ says Stirling. ‘No falling overboard, and no shouting – unless someone falls overboard, then lots of shouting.The film ends with Ofosu on the phone with his wife, hearing the cries of his newborn son, whom he pledges to name after his brother. An epilogue notes that the captain and first mate were convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Three other crew members were also convicted and received 20-year sentences, while one crew member was acquitted. Kingsley Ofosu was living in France and hoping to have his wife and child join him. In Blokes Up North, the book in which Oliver and Lancashire record their adventure, there is a telling line: ‘Royal Marines do tend to see themselves as somewhat indestructible and it takes a lot to change that mindset and turn down a challenge.’ Arctic explorers dislike socialising,’ adds Sara. She made ‘socialising’ sound like ‘having to look after lots of children’. The film was shot at Merton Park Studios in London, [2] with sets designed by art director George Haslam. Location shooting took place in the English Channel, in Honfleur in France, and Shoreham in Sussex. Newlyweds Ruth and John Bowman embark on a wondrous cruise, however soon after they set off, John vanishes, and leaves behind no trace, Ruth knows full well he's on board, but people question her very sanity.

Personal discipline is essential,’ he adds. ‘If everyone gets on, has fun, we handle the boat well, and we get through, then we win. If we make it to Alaska having fallen out with each other, then we fail. Tired, hungry, frightened, cold or wet, we must be polite, friendly and kind to each other.’ Needless to say the bookie is willing to overlook the debt for a bit of info on gold cargo deliveries. Watling is less than happy with this idea and tells the gang to get stuffed. He soon changes his mind after a sound beating and being told that the gang has kidnapped his young son.After Amundsen, the St Roch, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police schooner, achieved the first west-east transit in 1940-42; the first yacht was Williwaw, a 45ft steel vessel skippered by Dutch explorer Willy de Roos, in 1970; the first passenger cruise ship was successful in August 2016. However, according to Oliver, ‘By 2013, only about 100 boats had succeeded.’ Beneath his affable, friendly, unassuming manner, Stirling is a driven and determined idealist with a curious innocence that can seem eccentric. After Eton, he read languages at Edinburgh but left after two years. In 1999 he cycled to Morocco then in 2000 sailed the Atlantic. An attempt at crossing France by canoe failed when a canal ran dry. ‘I wanted to be an explorer but wasn’t brave enough,’ he says. While 'Dangerous Crossing' didn't strike me as a great film and could have been better than it was, especially considering that its potential was hardly small in the first place, a lot works in its favour and far outweighs the not so good. And if asked as to whether to recommend 'Dangerous Crossing', my answer would be a solid if not quite enthusiastic yes. There are a lot better films of this type and there are also worse, if this is the sort of film that appeals to you there should be plenty to like even if it doesn't reach masterpiece level. Some quality acting throughout, a whole host of talent, but credit to Jeanne Crain, she was quite brilliant I thought. Also worth seeking are the horse-racing drama "The Great Dan Patch" (1949) and the crime noir "711 Ocean Drive" (1950)starring Edmond O'Brien.