Irving Johnson
No one has yet mentioned Irving Johnson's classic documentary "Peking Battles Cape Horn". I think it is still available from Mystic Seaport. Unbelievable actual footage of Johnson while a very young man in the waning days of commerical sail aboard the Peking, a full size windjammer, as she makes her way around Cape Horn. Silent, black and white footage with Johnson performing the narration. A completely vanished way of life. In the same vein: Sailing All Seas: this is a documentary shot sometime in the 1930's by a guy who set out to sail the south seas from Seattle. He filmed himself (in color, no less) and his various crew members as they traveled around the world. The video that is out now is his original footage accompanied by some new footage of him now along with contemporary narration. Other movies already mentioned that I enjoyed: White Squall: some great sailing sequences, great production values. A little hackneyed toward the end, but a must-see. Wind: trite plot, bad dialogue, great sailing sequences. Cap'n Ron: sweet boat, a very funny Kurt Russell. Anyone who has actually been below decks on a boat that size knows that the interior shots were all done in a studio, not on board (especially the scenes in the engine room). Master and Commander: one of the few movies I actually own. See it. Nuff said. Damn the Defiant: I really liked this movie, even if it was predictable. Billy Budd: a very literate, historically accurate view of the Royal Navy. Peter Ustinov is terrific as the Captain, and David McCallum (from the Man from Uncle and NCIS) is really good too. B&W. One night about 15 years ago, some cable station showed "Horatio Hornblower" followed by "Damn the Defiant" and then "Billy Budd". I don't think I got to sleep that night.