The story opens in a dark fog, aboard a ship deadened by a hurricane that has killed the captain. Bootleggers have overtaken the vessel. They are hoarding the last barrel of water and forcibly controlling the crew at gunpoint. Pat O'Brien (cast against type) is the lead rumrunner facing off against Alan Hale, the leader of the crew. Ironic that the survivors have 5,000 cases of liquor but are facing dehydration. Through a series of sub-plots, hope is given then shattered again and again until a mysterious stowaway (Ralph Bellamy) appears behind a beam of light. I don't want to give too much away, but with The Passion setting box office records, I have to say that this stranger changes wine to water! The audience loved the peas soup thick atmosphere, surprise twists and at times laughed at the corny resolutions. And again Ralph Bellamy does not get the girl! Thank god for film festivals like this one that make rare films like this available and the folks who provide comments to IMDB for others to share. Please support the IMDB and early film festivals!
