MovieChat Forums > Seven Waves Away (1957) Discussion > They throw a dog overboard.

They throw a dog overboard.

posted 16 years ago by Island-Publius
16 replies | jump to latest

Jesus, I saw this film on TV when I was 4 years old - don't think my parents thought that one through.

The people in the lifeboat decide the kid's dog has got to go. The kid begs and cries and holds onto the dogs neck - and then he gets tossed overboard.

I went into total kiddie hysterics. My dad improvised "Dog's are great swimmers. They put him in the water because they know he can swim back to land."

Hell, I believed that one into my teens.

Haven't seen it since then, but I intend to revisit it. At four years old, it was as intense as heart attack.

[–] Mysteria111 16 years ago

No, it's even worse. The acting Captain wanted to keep the dog to the objections of the retired General and says, "The dog may be even more valuable than you, General" to which the shocked General asks, "Why?" and the acting Captain says, "We can't eat you." After they put the boy's father into the surf, the dog follows his master. I had nightmares when I first saw this film as a child and it still haunts me 50 years later!

[–] Hockeyjunkie2007 15 years ago

Actually, it was not the kid's dog. (I just watched this movie today for my Philosophy in Film class) It was the playwrite's dog. When they threw the playwrite overboard they tried to keep the dog in the lifeboat but he wanted to be with his master. As if this movie wasn't terrible enough to begin with.. they go and kill a dog.

[–] therealman 15 years ago

People > Dogs

[–] zombienut 11 years ago

Disagree

[–] badnomad 15 years ago

SPOILER*******

Actually they throw the kid's mother and father overboard and the Racketeer is left in charge of the boy. The racketeer is later killed so we presume the nurse will take care of the boy.
Can you imagine forcing a child to bear witness to the death of his parents. I thought Tyrone Power's character was a fiend! Especially since he forced others to literally do the executing for him. He deserved the death penalty!

[–] Island-Publius 15 years ago

Thanks for replying to my post. It goes to show how limited childhood memories are on details . . . but indelible in their effect.

Dog overboard - that's all that mattered at 4 years old.

I will really make an effort to see it again.

Thanks everyone.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 15 years ago

Not as good as an enema.

Nothing is more beautiful than nothing.

[–] humility 15 years ago

The dog was not killed. It chose to follow it's master and they were willing to let it do so. This was a powerful film with a great ensemble cast and possibly the smallest Art Department budget ever! I am an avid fisherman and often find myself beyond the sight of land. This film reminded me of how fragile life can be ... and how precious. I am also a veteran filmmaker of 38 years and respect the difficulies this production presented. The black and white format was most appropriate, given the subject matter. I suggest anyone who appreciated this film see "The Road" this October.

Cordially,

BP

[–] Vixtastr43 13 years ago

I was afraid of this. The dog being thrown overboard, I mean. I started watching this film today and the second I saw the dog, I knew. I couldn't continue watching.

Is it hard to watch? I know it's rather sad of me, but, before I go back to it, I have to know how upsetting it is =/

My movie Blog: http://britishfilmlover.blogspot.com/

[–] helibobber 13 years ago

The dog jumped in by itself in order to follow its master. I'm sure that it was not thrown in as the person holding it said that it got a way from him. A sad scene indeed seeing the dog in the water.
This is but one of many scenes in this movie that make it an outstanding one to watch.

[–] Vixtastr43 13 years ago

Thank you for the reply!

My movie Blog: http://britishfilmlover.blogspot.com/

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Ironman54 11 years ago

I love dogs too but man, I mean the kids MOTHER and FATHER were forced overboard to their deaths right in front of the kid !!
Some perspective please !! Wish I could go back in time to live - even when this movie was written/made. People were logical and had common sense still !! No one got freaked out over the dog because .... because its a freakin' DOG !!
A kid was separated from his parents and they .... ah forget it. Calgon take me away.

[–] jescci 11 years ago

Alec gave the excuse that the boy must be saved because he is "the future". Perhaps a symbol of hope? Perhaps in his gut he reasoned that he could persuade the others that his actions to dispose of the weak were necessary and correct, but no one would ever accept killing a kid.

The gangster did his sensitive best to console the kid, but I must wonder what life-long, never-to-be-resolved trauma would he be in for having witnessed such an event?

[–] Dreamsincolour 9 years ago

No, it's even worse. The acting Captain wanted to keep the dog to the objections of the retired General and says, "The dog may be even more valuable than you, General" to which the shocked General asks, "Why?" and the acting Captain says, "We can't eat you." After they put the boy's father into the surf, the dog follows his master. I had nightmares when I first saw this film as a child and it still haunts me 50 years later!

It might be years after this post above, but I remember the same sort of issue. This film gave me the horrors as a child too. Couldn't sleep for months. I went and hid in the bathroom to try to get away from it, but could still hear it. And when I heard it finishing, I went back downstairs just in time to see the writing on the screen saying it was based on a true story. And it still gives me echoes of the same horror. Of all films I would/could never watch again, this is top of the list!

But I absolutely agree re the perspective re the dog. I can still see the dog floating away with his master in my mind's eye, but the dog was the least of it.