FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Cooktopi The acting in this movie is really good.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

wes-connors Seafaring John Gilbert (as Jack) enjoys the rollicking "love 'em and leave 'em" lifestyle shared with merchant marine buddies like accordion-playing Wallace Beery (as Tripod) and brawling Jim Tully (as Ginger). The trio of rum-swilling womanizers look for saloons and girls in every port. But, when Mr. Gilbert meets blonde Leila Hyams (as Joan), the sailor must choose between manning restless ocean waves, or settling down with Ms. Hyams' shore-bound curves...The delayed, poorly-edited "Way for a Sailor" was the first of several attempts to restore Gilbert's damaged movie stardom...Beery essays a typically hammy performance; though second-billed, he was, by now, the bigger box office star. Undoubtedly Beery was present to attract more cinema patrons, who would hopefully give Gilbert a second look. Unfortunately, most viewers had their misgivings about Gilbert reinforced. The picture simply does not serve him well. In their scenes together, re-takes seem to have been inserted to enhance Ms. Hyams' performance, while Gilbert is left looking soppish.**** Way for a Sailor (11/1/30) Sam Wood ~ John Gilbert, Wallace Beery, Leila Hyams, Jim Tully

Michael_Elliott Way for a Sailor (1930)** (out of 4) Early talkie from MGM suffers from a lot of technical issues and the story really lets down the cast. In the film a drunken sailor (John Gilbert) argues with his buddy (Wallace Beery) but soon falls for a questionable woman (Leila Hyams). Soon Gilbert is trying to win her heart but she doesn't want a sailor so the man must try and form a new life but finds out he is what he is. According to legend MGM was really sticking it to Gilbert and trying to ruin him with movies like this. I'm really not sure how true that is because legend also has it that he had a horrible speaking voice but the more sound films I watch I'm starting to realize that wasn't the case at all. In fact, I think the sometimes soft-toned voice perfectly fits some of these rough characters he's playing because he had the body of a tough guy but that voice allows him to work well in the more romantic sequences. In fact, during one of the love scenes he's saying one love line after another and it was actually quite effective as he was clearly very passionate and this really come through on screen. I'm not sure what people in 1930 were expecting but I can only guess that silent movies had people imagining what their favorite stars sounded like and when talkies came along and these voices didn't match, people were left disappointed. Either way, Gilbert is the only reason to watch this film as everything else is pretty bad. Hyams to me was way too flat and I really didn't care too much for the character or performance. Beery isn't too bad but he's pretty much just here to start fights, drink and be loud. We get Ray Milland in a brief, uncredited bit but the rest of the supporting cast are pretty forgettable. I think the biggest problem is the actual screenplay, which is quite boring, predictable and at times laughable. You really can't blame it too much as many of these early talkies were simply made for talking. The story never really progressive in a believable way and by the time it is over you can't help but feel you've been watching it for hours. The technical quality is another disaster as there are several scenes taking place outdoors where it's hard to hear what the actors are saying because of everything else the microphones are picking up. We also get some early rear-projection but it looks quite poor and often doesn't match up with the "real" footage. In the end, this isn't a disaster but it's certainly only recommended to those who want to see some of the Gilbert films that were laughed out of theaters back in the day.

xerses13 John Gilbert has been hammered for the alleged quality of his voice since his first sound film HIS GLORIOUS NIGHT (1929). Which was a disaster in MANY ways. This film shows this for the lie that it is. There is nothing wrong with his voice. He had regular speaking voice with good intonations at the correct time. Nor does he 'ham it up' with silent film pantomime. His acting style is natural and suited for the sound medium.The film features a strong supporting cast which includes Wallace Beery and the attractive Leila Hymans. In a minor role as a 'Brothel Manager' is character actor, Sojin. There is plenty of action and romance. This film has a gritty early 1930's realism very much in the style of WARNER BROTHERS, enhanced by the M.G.M. special effects department who used the Williams 'Traveling Matte Process' too good effect. Something they had been familiar with since BEN-HUR (1925). This integrated live action plates with com-posited filmed action sequences. Occasionally though you can pick up where the 'matte' bled through and the composite failed.The film is of good quality and a solid 'B' film. These were important in filling out the Studio's schedule of fifty (50+) plus features a year. In the early years of the 'Great Depression' even major stars made such films. ANNA Christie (1930) was of no better quality. The difference, Louis B. Mayer backed Greta Garbo, unlike Gilbert whose career he wished to destroy. The plot of this film would be recycled just one (1) year later with Mr. Mayer's new 'fair haired boy' Clark Gable. Seemed the material worked for you when the Studio backed you up.

drednm Oddly likable film even though it's badly directed, edited, and under-lit. There are several "inserts" of closeups that don't come close to matching the rest of the scene, and the rear projections are badly done as well.Still, this fourth talkie of John Gilbert's is fascinating because of the solid performances by Gilbert (no voice problems at all), Wallace Beery, and Leila Hyams.A story of carousing sailors (merchant marine) and their beer brawls is very pre-Code with saloons, whores, and raw language. But Jack (Gilbert) is smitten with Hyams and does everything to win her. Unfortunately he steals money from Beery to buy a suit and pretends he has left the sea for an office job so Hyams will marry him. He ends up going back to sea on the boat she is sailing on for Canada (after she learns of his lies). But then another ship is sinking in a storm.....Several interesting scenes, including one by the sea where Gilbert and Hyams are talking and arguing. The rescue is interesting but under-lit.Gilbert tries so hard here after a series of lousy MGM flops (thanks to Mayer) and is so likable that you forget the story is standard issue. Hyams is beautiful and has a few good dramatic scenes. Beery is his usual self. Supporting cast includes Polly Moran, Doris Lloyd, Ray Milland, Jim Tully, Tiny Jones, etc.This was Gilbert's best talkie to date after the disastrous HIS GLORIOUS NIGHT and REDEMPTION. Whatever the problems were with this film, they were not Gilbert's fault. He looks fit and trim and his voice is just fine. Despite the "B" film qualities of this and most of Gilbert's MGM films (thanks to Mayer), Gilbert always comes off as a solid actor and likable man.John Gilbert should have had a major career in talkies and proved that his acting style and voice were just fine in film after film, but he had lost his audience with the first few rotten sound films MGM gave him.This film is worth seeing just to see how valiant Gilbert was even with Mayer working against him.