After being discredited as a coward, a 19th century seaman (Peter O'Toole) lives for only one purpose: to redeem himself. Based on Joseph Conrad's novel written in 1900.
Brooks, while capturing the spirit of adventure of the novel, only superficially catches the inner emotional and spiritual conflict of its hero.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
8 Apr 2008
rotten:
Something bewildering has happened in Richard Brooks's making of it, and it misses at being either Conrad or sheer entertainment cinema.
– Bosley Crowther,
New York Times,
9 May 2005
rotten:
Joseph Conrad's elaborately structured fiction poses monstrous problems for film adaptation, and the solution proposed here by Richard Brooks -- plodding literal-mindedness -- doesn't come close to working.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
Brooks' adaptation of Conrad's novel is immeasurably better than its reputation.