Black Sea (2014)

Black Sea: Directed by Kevin Macdonald. With Jude Law, Karl Davies, Llewella Gideon, Jodie Whittaker. In order to make good with his former employers, a submarine captain takes a job with a shadowy backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a submarine rumored to be loaded with gold.

“One of Edward G. Robinsonu0026#39;s most beloved films is this one in which he totally reverses type and becomes the wise father of Margaret Ou0026#39;Brien. Our Vines Have Tender Grapes and the tender grapes referred to are the children in their innocence, Margaret Ou0026#39;Brien and Jackie Jenkins.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn this rural Wisconsin town where few even have electricity, the settlers are mostly Norwegian immigrants who did like our American Midwest climate because it was so similar to Norway. They are a tight knit group and are a reserved bunch. But as the film shows, during a crisis they do come together.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOu0026#39;Brien and Jenkins are an appealing pair of youngsters. Their childhood is a whole lot like Tom Sawyeru0026#39;s and Huck Finnu0026#39;s. Of course in one instance they try duplicating something Tom and Huck did that nearly turns tragic. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAgnes Moorehead also shows what a capable player she is in playing Robinsonu0026#39;s wife and Ou0026#39;Brienu0026#39;s mother. Iu0026#39;m sure she was grateful for not playing an evil woman for a change.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere is a subplot involving a romance of editor James Craig and new school teacher Frances Gifford. Gifford is first quite resistant to the town, sheu0026#39;s a big city girl, but she warms up to them and Craig.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut the film really belongs to Robinson and Ou0026#39;Brien. Robinson has a tough fight, but he more than holds his own in scenes with the little moppet. Sad he didnu0026#39;t do more films like this.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOur Vines Have Tender Grapes is a timeless classic, I think children and families of any age will identify and love it.”