Hi all,
I place this movie rather high amoung Duke and his Captain Rolls is sure unforgettable. Even if it is someting not logical in the script, but for me it is sure romantic movie and in the romantic stories are always not so clear story line.
It was much written about chemistry between Gail and Duke, it always impresses me with some kind of sadness about their real stories and storie in the film, it somehow resembles each other to me. And Chata was so bad, and the worst wife for Duke! And she influence their relationship. Not fear.
I was surprised how little this film was descussed here, I remember other topics were it was compared with film noir and even with Big Jim MacLain. May be it will be reasonable to put here a link to these previos descussions.
As for comparisson with Reap Wild Wind - I like The Wake much more. I don't like Duke's hero in Reap Wild winds much, I don't think that his charecter have dark side, he made some foolish mistakes in his life - thats all. Captain Rolls is quite different - his steps can't be explained so easily. It seems he tryes to fight his own demons.
And one last note. I always loved vessels, expecially clippers, read many stories about tea clippers and their races when I was child. And this movie brought back to me this athmosphere of sea and a real beauty of sailing vessel.
Regards,
Senta 
