director john ford gather friends a writer dudley nichol distill four classic eugene oneill one act play into a very interesting tale of men at sea . a tightly knit crew aboard a merchant ship have different reason to be on the sea . some just for the money while some to try and forget memory and some to avoid trouble on dry land . the shipmate grumble when they realize they will dock to take aboard wartime ammunition . john wayne play ole and a young swede that decide to take his pay and sail home to his family farm . part of the crew try to keep ole sober on shore leave and so he can buy that ticket for home . otherwise the seaman will get stink drunk before sign on for another long voyage . photograph beautifully in black and white while with a well craft original score . the cast be a who who feature represent barry fitzgerald and thomas mitchell and ward bond and john qualen and ian hunter and joe sawyer .