i come to this movie expect a peek into the genius of gregg toland and have be a long time fan of citizen kane . i be not disappoint at all and the cinematography be excellent throughout and even if the pacing of the movie and it subject make it quite dull . the main problem be that hollywood have little experience with focus on a group rather than on a single character and so ford attempt be indeed laudable . a year later in stagecoach he try something similar but the action be much more focused on the ringo dallas story . in the grape of wrath the story be much more coherent and have be make after a novel not after a series of play ( even if splendidly adapt by dudley nichols ) . much of the story seem to be too contrived and i mean how lonesome do those seafarer do get at sea that they behave so erratically when they be ashore . i think for a modern audience the best thing in the movie come from toland ( the movie really look good and the guy truly have the eye of a painter ) and for wayne who be not necessarily great in his impersonation of a sweede a he ain not holdin a gun in his hand and he ain not chassin no apache or comanche but he do a good job still . my favorite image be near the end when the sailor be drunk and theyre look for ole and the lighting and camera angle produce an uncanny atmosphere that combine very well with the puzzle state the drunken men must be in . the first shot of the movie be also brilliant and if it wouldn not have be direct by ford i could have imagine something surreal about it . much of the movie actually remind me of querelle and fassbinder last film and a surreal story about the hardship of sailing .