White Squall (film)
Encyclopedia
White Squall is a 1996
American drama feature film, directed by Ridley Scott
.
Albatross, which sank on 2 May 1961, allegedly because of a white squall
. The film relates the ill-fated school sailing trip led by Dr. Christopher B. Sheldon (Jeff Bridges
), whom the boys call "Skipper". He is tough and teaches them discipline. He forms a close connection with all-American Chuck Gieg (Scott Wolf
), troubled rich kid Frank Beaumont (Jeremy Sisto
), shy Gil Martin (Ryan Phillippe
) and bad-boy Dean Preston (Eric Michael Cole
). When a white squall threatens their ship, the boys must use what Skipper has taught them to survive the horrific ordeal.
in Malta, with a full-sized ship, the Eye of the Wind
, used to depict the Albatross. James Horner
was originally slated to compose the original score, but was replaced by Hans Zimmer's
protege Jeff Rona
. Zimmer was set to replace Horner, but due to time difficulties failed to commit.
. It was not a box office success, only succeeding in recouping a fourth of it's budget. It formed part of a series of box office failures in Scott's career that includes his biopic of Christopher Columbus and G.I. Jane.
Roger Ebert
gave it three stars. In his review he said "I enjoyed the movie for the sheer physical exuberance of its adventure."
1996 in film
Major releases this year included Scream, Independence Day, Fargo, Trainspotting, The English Patient, Twister, Mars Attacks!, Jerry Maguire and a version of Evita starring Madonna.-Events:...
American drama feature film, directed by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
.
Plot
The film is based on the fate of the brigantineBrigantine
In sailing, a brigantine or hermaphrodite brig is a vessel with two masts, only the forward of which is square rigged.-Origins of the term:...
Albatross, which sank on 2 May 1961, allegedly because of a white squall
White squall
A white squall is a sudden and violent windstorm phenomenon at sea which is not accompanied by the black clouds generally characteristic of a squall. The name refers to the white-capped waves and broken water, its meager warning to any unlucky seaman caught in its path...
. The film relates the ill-fated school sailing trip led by Dr. Christopher B. Sheldon (Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges
Jeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
), whom the boys call "Skipper". He is tough and teaches them discipline. He forms a close connection with all-American Chuck Gieg (Scott Wolf
Scott Wolf
Scott Richard Wolf is an American actor, known for his roles on the television series Party of Five as Bailey Salinger and on Everwood as Dr. Jake Hartman. Since 2009, he has appeared in the Sci-Fi series V as the morally ambiguous journalist, Chad Decker.-Early life:Wolf was born in Boston,...
), troubled rich kid Frank Beaumont (Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Merton Sisto is an American actor. Sisto has had recurring roles as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law & Order on television and also starred in the films Jesus, Clueless and Thirteen.-Early life:Sisto was born in Grass Valley, California, the...
), shy Gil Martin (Ryan Phillippe
Ryan Phillippe
Matthew Ryan Phillippe , better known as Ryan Phillippe, is an American actor. After appearing on the soap opera One Life to Live, he came to fame in the late 1990s starring in a string of films, including I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cruel Intentions, and 54...
) and bad-boy Dean Preston (Eric Michael Cole
Eric Michael Cole
Eric Michael Cole is an American actor, producer and editor.-Early life:Cole was born in Sacramento, California. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest, living in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.-Career:...
). When a white squall threatens their ship, the boys must use what Skipper has taught them to survive the horrific ordeal.
Production
Part of the film was shot using a horizon tankHorizon tank
A horizon tank is a large tank built on the coast and used in filmmaking. They allow filmmakers to film an ocean horizon without having to be in the middle of the ocean.-History:...
in Malta, with a full-sized ship, the Eye of the Wind
Eye of the Wind
The Eye of the Wind is a ship built in 1911 by C Lühring of Brake, West Germany, originally as a topsail schooner named 'Friedrich'.-History:The 'Friedrich' was initially used as a schooner for the South American hide trade...
, used to depict the Albatross. James Horner
James Horner
James Roy Horner is an American composer, orchestrator and conductor of orchestral and film music. He is noted for the integration of choral and electronic elements in many of his film scores, and for frequent use of Celtic musical elements...
was originally slated to compose the original score, but was replaced by Hans Zimmer's
Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film composer and music producer. He has composed music for over 100 films, including critically acclaimed film scores for The Lion King , Crimson Tide , The Thin Red Line , Gladiator , The Dark Knight and Inception .Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the...
protege Jeff Rona
Jeff Rona
Jeffrey Carl “Jeff” Rona is an American composer for film. He was a member of Hans Zimmer's Media Ventures. His credits include Sharkwater, Slow Burn and Whisper.-Biography:...
. Zimmer was set to replace Horner, but due to time difficulties failed to commit.
Reception
The film holds a 62% based on 29 reviews on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
. It was not a box office success, only succeeding in recouping a fourth of it's budget. It formed part of a series of box office failures in Scott's career that includes his biopic of Christopher Columbus and G.I. Jane.
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
gave it three stars. In his review he said "I enjoyed the movie for the sheer physical exuberance of its adventure."
Cast
- Jeff BridgesJeff BridgesJeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
as Christopher "Skipper" Sheldon - Caroline GoodallCaroline GoodallCaroline Cruice Goodall is a British actress and screenwriter.-Biography:Goodall was born in London, England to a journalist mother and a publisher father...
as Alice Sheldon - John SavageJohn Savage (actor)John Savage is an American film actor, producer, production manager, and composer.- Acting career :...
as McCrea - Scott WolfScott WolfScott Richard Wolf is an American actor, known for his roles on the television series Party of Five as Bailey Salinger and on Everwood as Dr. Jake Hartman. Since 2009, he has appeared in the Sci-Fi series V as the morally ambiguous journalist, Chad Decker.-Early life:Wolf was born in Boston,...
as Chuck Gieg - Jeremy SistoJeremy SistoJeremy Merton Sisto is an American actor. Sisto has had recurring roles as Billy Chenowith on the HBO series Six Feet Under and Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law & Order on television and also starred in the films Jesus, Clueless and Thirteen.-Early life:Sisto was born in Grass Valley, California, the...
as Frank Beaumont - Ryan PhillippeRyan PhillippeMatthew Ryan Phillippe , better known as Ryan Phillippe, is an American actor. After appearing on the soap opera One Life to Live, he came to fame in the late 1990s starring in a string of films, including I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cruel Intentions, and 54...
as Gil Martin - Eric Michael ColeEric Michael ColeEric Michael Cole is an American actor, producer and editor.-Early life:Cole was born in Sacramento, California. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest, living in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington.-Career:...
as Dean Preston - Julio Oscar MechosoJulio Oscar MechosoJulio Oscar Mechoso is an American actor. He is occasionally credited as Julio Mechoso.Mechoso is a character actor in both television and film. He has appeared in several high-profile films, such as Grindhouse, Bad Boys and the controversial Ken Park. His television credits include Miami Vice,...
as Girard Pascal - Balthazar GettyBalthazar GettyBalthazar Getty is an American film actor and member of the band Ringside. He is known for the roles of Thomas Grace on the American action drama Alias and Tommy Walker on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters.-Early life:...
as Tod Johnstone - Jason MarsdenJason MarsdenJason Christopher Marsden is an American screen and voice actor who has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series.-Early life:...
as Shay Jennings - David LascherDavid LascherDavid Scott Lascher is an American actor best known for his roles in Blossom, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and the Nickelodeon show Hey Dude, in which he starred with Christine Taylor.- Life and career :...
as Robert March - Ethan EmbryEthan EmbryEthan Philan Randall , although he is known and usually credited as Ethan Embry, is an American film and television actor. He is known for his role as Declan Giggs on the Showtime television series Brotherhood.-Personal life:...
as Tracy Lapchick - David SelbyDavid SelbyDavid Lynn Selby is an American character and stage actor. He has worked in movies, soap operas and television. The naturally black-headed Selby is best known for playing the roles of Quentin Collins on the ABC-TV serial, Dark Shadows , and as the evil and compassionate...
as Francis Beaumont - Jordan Clarke as Charles Gieg, Sr.
- Zeljko IvanekŽeljko IvanekŽeljko Ivanek is an Emmy award-winning Slovenian American actor best known for his role as Ray Fiske on Damages. He is also known for playing Blake Sterling on short-lived NBC series The Event and Emile Danko on Heroes....
as Capt. Sanders - James RebhornJames RebhornJames Robert Rebhorn is an American character actor who has appeared in over 100 television shows, feature films and plays.-Personal life:...
as Lt. Tyler - Jill LarsonJill LarsonJill Larson is an American dramatic actress. She is most widely known for her portrayal of Opal Cortlandt on the popular daytime drama, All My Children, a role she has played for 22 years, garnering her 2 Emmy nominations...
as Peggy Beaumont - Lizzy Mackay as Middy Gieg