this film be all that a film should be for it dictate that the human condition be in itself dramatic and tragic enough without exaggerated theatrics . this sea tragedy need no iceberg . what it do contain be excellent cinematography by gregg toland and superb direction by john ford and a superior script base on the play of eugene oneill . the drama develop simply from a ship be in the war zone during world war two with a full cargo of ammunition and no escort or weapon for protection just a twenty five percent bonus for the crew . the acting be about as good a act can be represent arthur shield ( a donkey man ) and thomas mitchell ( a aloysius driscoll ) never waver in the character they portray . they be and without question and so realistic that they live beyond the movie . in effect and they be more than character on film and they be universal human try to make order out of chaos and even if they must create chaos to do so . the main character be the glencairn itself and the ship in the film . like greek tragedy and it be the chorus about which the dramatic action occur . the long voyage home for some of the character go on and on and but the long voyage for the glencairn continue like so many other rust bucket . in world war two and constant danger and possible disaster wait just outside every harbor .