South Sea Woman (1953)

In the midst of the turmoil of war, the San Diego Marine base becomes a stage for the trial of Marine Sergeant James O'Hearn. Accused of a dazzling array of crimes - desertion, theft, scandalous conduct, and wartime destruction - O'Hearn remains stoically silent, neither defending himself nor pleading his innocence. His silence is not born of guilt but of loyalty, as he seeks to shield his comrade-in-arms, Private Davey White, from the scandal. However, the stakes are raised when Ginger Martin, a fiery showgirl, takes the stand. She weaves a tale of two marines she met in Shanghai just a fortnight before the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor. Stranded and penniless, Ginger accepts White's proposal of marriage as a ticket out of China. But before they can say 'I do', a violent clash with local natives forces the trio to make a daring getaway aboard a humble motorboat. Their escape brings them to Namou, a Vichy French island and an unlikely sanctuary. Here, their refuge, a dilapidated hotel, becomes a backdrop to the friction between the marines. When O'Hearn uncovers a Nazi plot involving a yacht laden with radar supplies, he plans a daring seizure with the aid of the Free French. White, however, refuses to join, announcing his desertion and intention to stay on the island with Ginger, who brands him a coward. O'Hearn, unable to accept White's desertion, forces him aboard the commandeered vessel, setting course for Guadalcanal. South Sea Woman is a thrilling roller coaster ride of morality and loyalty, set against the backdrop of war. The fate of Sergeant O'Hearn hangs in the balance, with each charge levied against him threatening 143 years in the stockade or even the ultimate punishment - death. Yet, he refuses to aid in his own defense, leading us to question: what is the price of loyalty in times of war?

South Sea Woman is an adventure movie featuring Burt Lancaster.

It is possible to buy South Sea Woman on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.