Poverty, crime, murder, family, love, redemption, the sea. All this and more make up this underrated noir from prolific and versatile director Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, Mildred Pierce). In his penultimate performance, John Garfield plays Harry, a struggling seaman and World War II veteran who can no longer make a living as the captain of his sport-fishing boat, the Sea Queen. For the sake of his wife and son, Harry resorts to helping a crooked lawyer (Wallace Ford) smuggle illegal immigrants and gangsters into the country on his boat. Harry is quickly in over his head and the results could cost him his family and perhaps his life. Garfield considered this his personal favorite of all his performances. PCFF guest Alan Rode will introduce the movie and will stick around after to sign copies of his definitive biography, Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film. — Jack Fields

Rated: NR