The Sea Wolves is a 1980 war film directed by Andrew Mc Laglen.
During World War II, British Intelligence brings a crew of ex-soldiers out of retirement, using their age as cover, to take to the seas and pull off an unlikely undercover mission in neutral Goa.
The movie stars Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven, Trevor Howard, Barbara Kellerman, Patrick Macnee, Kenneth Griffith, Patrick Allen, Wolf Kahler, Robert Hoffmann, Dan Van Husen, and George Mikell.
It was released on July 3, 1980.
Tropes for the film:
- Crying Wolf: While sailing to Goa, the lookout sounds the alarm over what he thinks is a U-boat's periscope, only to get derided by everyone when it turns out to be a shark fin. Later, he sees a real periscope, but is afraid of making a fool of himself again so thinks It's Probably Nothing. Fortunately, the Germans think their tiny rustbucket vessel is not worth wasting a torpedo on.
- Deadly Hug: There's a beautiful German spy who goes around stabbing people with a flick knife hidden in her purse. She tries to stab Gavin Stewart during a kiss, but he's ready for her, grabbing her hand mid-thrust and sending the blade into her instead.
- Dissonant Laughter: While at a formal ball, a Femme Fatale Spy gets Captain Stewart to go somewhere private so she can assassinate him, only to get killed herself. A Portuguese official who's working with Stewart then enters the room and is shocked to see a dead woman on the floor. Stewart says I Was Never Here and threateningly tells the official to laugh, so they'll be seen leaving the ball with smiles on their faces so it won't look like were up to anything sinister.
- The Film of the Book: Based on James Leasor's Boarding Party.
- The Greatest Story Never Told: The movie is about a group of middle-aged reservists from a unit that hadn't seen war in forty years being called up to destroy a German communications post that is bird-dogged Allied shipping for U-boats in the Indian Ocean. Because the communications post is in a boat anchored in a neutral port, the mission has to be kept top secret (hence why middle-aged reservists are called in, so that the whole raid can be claimed to be an act of drunken vacationers rather than an act of war should they be caught), and as such, the reservists go in knowing they will receive no pay, honor, or recognition for their service, and will never be able to tell anyone about it afterwards. The film was Based on a True Story, the events of which were declassified thirty-five years after the fact, making it technically an aversion, but most of the Calcutta Light Horse likely died long before anyone outside the unit or the intelligence department that called them up knew that they were more than a social club for ex-soldiers who hadn't fought since the Boer War.
- Incredibly Obvious Tail: Gavin carries out a ridiculously unsubtle tail of a German agent (as he's doing it in India he particularly stands out).
- Neck Snap: Gavin is dispatches a Nazi mook this way.
- Shame If Something Happened: Gavin is a British agent who is bribing a Portuguese official by funding his children's schooling. He then points out that it would be a shame if the official didn't keep his side of the bargain, both for him and the children.
- Tagline: "An adventure so dangerous, a Mission so secret!".
- Training Montage: The Calcutta Light Horse (a Dad's Army-type unit in WWII India) are recruited for a deniable mission by British Intelligence, and there's a montage of its middle-aged and over-the-hill members trying to get themselves in shape.Secretary: [seeing her boss struggling to do a push-up] Mr. Melbourne, are you alright?
Melbourne: No, I'm having a private heart attack! Now Get Out! - We Need a Distraction: To remove most of the crew of three German merchant vessels interned in Goa harbor so they can be boarded and sunk, British Intelligence arrange a reception at the Governor's palace (to which the ship's officers are invited), a carnival with plenty of loud fireworks (to cover any explosions or gunshots), and the services of a local brothel to offer free sex to any sailor for three days.
