Souls at Sea was released on September 3, 1937, starring Gary Cooper and George Raft. Directed by Henry Hathaway, it was an enormous success for the studio and was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Art Direction, Best Music Score and Best Assistant Director.
This action/adventure/romance film is based on a true story about the slave trade in 1842, and the friendship between the leads along with a good measure of romance. Coop was a friend off-screen, but George nevertheless initially refused the unsympathetic role. Following a rewrite, he accepted the part with enthusiasm and delivered an outstanding performance as did the entire cast.
It’s a shame this film has been lost to contemporary audiences, but you can view it at the movies section of this site or it can be purchased from Amazon.
