Windjammer The Movie

I remember sitting there in the audience eagerly awaiting an awesome experience. The curtains parted, and the film began. At first, the screen image was in the standard 1.33:1 aspect ratio (the normal dimensions of a non-widescreen movie), centered on the screen. People were wondering what was going on. I could hear murmurings of disappointment. I was (figuratively) scratching my head. During this portion of the film, we watched as the crew, and the men and boys of the Christian Radich prepared to embark on their journey, boarded the ship and other mundane things. About 15 minutes into the film, as the ship finally left port, the theater curtains opened wider, and the movie burst into its full 100-foot width.

It was an absolutely stunning effect. Loud gasps of awe rose in the theater, patrons oohing and ahhing, and then thunderous applause.

The motion picture adventure had begun.

I wrote a child's-eye review of the experience for In70mm.com

"Windjammer" is not a fictional movie with a plot. It's not "Mutiny On The Bounty" or "Master And Commander." It is a semi-documentary chronicling the 238-day voyage of a group of raw merchant marine cadets on a training cruise aboard the Norwegian tall ship Christian Radich. Still, there's plenty of drama along the way, mixed with some genuine fun, as these young men journey from their homes in Oslo, Norway across the Atlantic Ocean to the final destination of New York City.

Along the way, they visit Madiera and Porto Santo in Portugal, Trinidad, Jamaica and other exotic locales. They see sights and hear sounds that are new and exciting to them, and perhaps even to the viewer. Remember, this movie was released in 1958 - long before the technology of today that lets us visit far away places with strange sounding names at the click of a mouse!

It's been 52 years since I last saw this fantastic voyage, but I still remember highlights like it was yesterday. One of the most thrilling scenes is a basket ride down the winding cobblestone streets of Madiera, Portugal. The cameras follow as the basket sleigh twists and winds, careening seemingly wildly through the streets, weaving through pedestrian traffic, barreling through cross-traffic, with no brakes! It's thoroughly exhilarating, and more than a little hair-raising.

Along the voyage, the Christian Radich and its young crew rendezvous with a U.S. Navy task fleet, and participate in maneuvers, including searching for an un-detonated underwater bomb. They also encounter and battle one of the worst Atlantic storms of the decade. Big movie productions can simulate these things, but in "Windjammer" it's for real.

One of the young cadets, Sven Erik Libaek, an accomplished pianist, gets a chance to perform with Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops, and in Porto Santo, we are treated to an informal performance of "Catalan Melody" by world-renowned cellist Pablo Cassals.

There are plenty of other songs along the way, performed by the men and boys of the ship as well as local celebrities in the various ports. Most of the songs were written by The Easy Riders (Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, Frank Miller). Some of the titles might be familiar, such as "Marianne," "Everybody Loves Saturday Night," and "Don't Hurry Worry Me."

All in all, "Windjammer" is an exciting excursion into the lives of sailors on a tall ship, recommended for people of all ages. Watch for the re-release, hopefully in early to mid 2011.

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Part of the charm of the whole Windjammer Experience is the music in the film. The main orchestral score evokes life on the ocean with sweeping passages and intimate moments aboard ship. The score was written by world famous composer and orchestra leader Morton Gould, and is performed by the Cinemiracle Studio Orchestra.
Songs in the film, many performed by the men and boys of the ship, the Christian Radich, were written by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr and Frank Miller, collectively known as The Easy Riders.
The Easy Riders are probably best known for their 1957 charting hit "Marianne," and as having been the vocal group backing Dean Martin's hit "Memories Are Made Of This," which they also wrote.
The movie also featured a performance of "Catalan Melody" by cellist Pablo Cassals, and a performance by Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops. In addition, many songs were performed by local musicians in the various ports of call visited by the ship and its crew along the journey.

Original Soundtrack LP Track Listing: Side 1: Overture; Windjammer (The ship); Life On The Ocean Waves; The Sea Is Green; Madeira; Music of Porto Santo; Everybody Loves Saturday Night; Catalan Melody (Song Of The Bird). Side 2: Night Watch (Lullaby); Kari Waits For Me; Marianne; Everybody Loves Saturday Night; Sugar Cane; Don't Hurry Worry Me; The Happy Wanderer; The Crew (Hornpipe); The Village Of New York; New York.

Yes, it's true - the "Windjammer" restoration has indeed been making the rounds in roadshow engagements in theaters over the past few months.

While exploring the in70mm.com website, I came across some pages that confirm that the Windjammer restoration has been completed, and is being presented on a limited basis in theaters, mostly in Europe. Based on what I've read, and images I've seen, it isn't the BIG picture it was when first released. Gone is the need for a 100-foot x 27 foot screen. The new restoration is digitally re-mastered in a size and format that will lend itself suitable for eventual home-theater release, on DVD and Blu-Ray.

See for yourself on these links:

Windjammer - Exclusive Danish Re-Release

Windjammer Sails Again - At the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood

Oslo's Red Carpet Widescreen Event

Windjammer, A Great Adventure In This Baby Boomer's Life, Windjammer - The Story, and Windjammer In CineMiracle 1997:

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