The Sea Wolves

The Sea Wolves

Year: 1980

Runtime: 120 mins

Language: English

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen

WarThrillerActionWar and historical adventureHigh speed and special ops

After a German spy leaks the positions of Allied ships anchored in neutral Goa, British intelligence faces a diplomatic impasse. To avoid a full‑scale assault in the Portuguese‑controlled port, they recall a cadre of World War I veterans—now elderly men whose age offers cover. The seasoned ex‑soldiers are sent to sea for a daring undercover mission to foil the enemy.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Sea Wolves yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Sea Wolves (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Sea Wolves (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II, 1940s

The events take place during World War II, when German U-boats threaten Allied shipping across the Indian Ocean. Neutral territories like Goa become stages for secret operations due to political complexities. The period is marked by rapid intelligence operations, blackmail, and daring raids that test the limits of British colonial forces and expatriate volunteers.

Location

Goa, India, Calcutta, India, Indian Ocean

The action unfolds around the Goa coast, where three German merchant ships lie interned under Portuguese neutrality. Goa serves as a hidden battleground in the Indian Ocean, with a Governor's palace, a brothel, and a carnival providing cover for espionage and diversion. Calcutta and the broader Indian subcontinent act as the base for British expatriates and SOE operations, showing the logistical reach of wartime intelligence. The setting highlights a colonial landscape where neutral ports become flashpoints for covert warfare.

🌊 Oceanic theatre 🏝️ Goa 🌍 Colonial India ⚓ Naval setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:05

Main Characters – The Sea Wolves (1980)

Meet the key characters of The Sea Wolves (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Captain Gavin Stewart (Roger Moore)

A resourceful British operative who masterminds the Goa raid, Stewart relies on bold improvisation, blackmail, and bribery to set diversions and strike at the German ships. His charm masks a calculating focus on mission success, and his actions include a fraught affair with Mrs Cromwell that tests his judgment. He embodies a pragmatic willingness to bend rules for wartime objectives.

🎖️ Intelligence 🕵️ Spycraft 🧭 Risk-taker

Jack Cartwright (Trevor Howard)

A seasoned operative and Stewart's ally, Cartwright contributes steady experience and courage to the mission. He becomes a casualty of German treachery when Mrs Cromwell, revealed as an agent, kills him. His death underscores the brutal costs of intelligence work in war.

🗡️ Loyal Agent ⚔️ War Sacrifice 🧭 Courage

Trompeta (Master Spy) (Wolf Kahler)

The mastermind behind German espionage, Trompeta coordinates the network that feeds information to U-boats and counters Allied plans. His nickname signals a predator-like control of intelligence operations and a chilling detachment. The Interplay with Mrs Cromwell reveals a web of double agents supporting the German war effort.

🎭 Mastermind 🧭 Espionage 🕷️ Cunning

Col. Lewis Pugh (Gregory Peck)

Head of the Indian section of the SOE, Pugh authorizes bold operations against the German spies in Goa. He balances strategic risk with the need for secrecy, mentoring the Calcutta Light Horse volunteers. His decisions shape the execution and moral contours of the mission.

🎖️ Command 🧭 Strategy 🛡️ Leadership

Col. W.H. Grice (David Niven)

A senior British officer who coordinates intelligence efforts in the region, Grice provides the chain of command and ensures resources align with the mission's aims. He embodies the steady, procedural side of wartime operations. His role anchors the volunteers' more improvisational actions.

🛡️ Command 🧭 Coordination 🎖️ Authority

Don Manners (Graham Stark)

Member of the Calcutta Light Horse volunteers who brings practical military skill and a willingness to volunteer for perilous missions. He contributes to planning and execution with a grounded, can-do attitude. His presence reinforces the composition of a diverse, capable team.

⚔️ Field Skill 🧭 Teamwork 🛡️ Veteran

Major 'Yogi' Crossley (Patrick Macnee)

A senior officer in the Calcutta Light Horse, Crossley provides leadership and discipline to the volunteer raid. He helps marshal training and instill confidence in the unusual alliance between expatriates and official forces. His presence stresses the wartime reliance on adaptable, mixed units.

🎖️ Leadership 🛡️ Coordination 🗡️ Veteran

Mr. Montero (Martin Benson)

A diplomatic or local official entwined in Goa's wartime traffic, Montero helps facilitate the raid's background operations. He represents the complex, cosmopolitan layer of the theater where neutral ports intersect with conflict. His role highlights how wartime needs cross political and social boundaries.

🗺️ Neutral Port 🧭 Diplomacy 🧱 Intermediary

Ram Das Gupta (Marc Zuber)

An Indian ally who navigates the local landscape to support the expedition, Das Gupta embodies the collaboration between colonial forces and local networks. He uses knowledge of Goa and its social fabric to aid the mission. His presence signals the broader imperial lattice involved in the conflict.

🤝 Local Ally 🧭 Knowledge 🗺️ Collaboration

U-Boat Captain (Robert Hoffmann)

A ruthless German commander steering the submarine that receives signals from the sunken ship. His crew embodies the threat of the U-boat war and relentless pursuit of Allied shipping. His role underscores the strategic advantage sought by Germany in the Indian Ocean.

⚓ Naval Threat 🧭 Strategy 🧱 Enemy Combatant

U-Boat First Officer (Dan van Husen)

The subordinate aboard the U-boat, he assists in executing orders and maintaining discipline on the enemy vessel. He represents the operational backbone of the German submarine crew. His actions contribute to the tension aboard the captured German ship.

⚔️ Submarine Crew 🕵️ Secrecy 🧭 Command

Captain of Ehrenfels (George Mikell)

A German captain aboard one of the ships used for signals, his crew must manage the tension of scenting danger from British seizures. He embodies the German naval authority and the logistical backbone behind the signals that threaten Allied shipping.

⚓ German Naval Officer 🧭 Signals 🧱 Military

First Officer of Ehrenfels (Jürgen Andersen)

The subordinate aboard the Ehrenfels who executes orders and assists in keeping the ship operational during the raid's operations. He completes the German chain of command in the vessel's signal operations.

⚔️ Subordinate Officer 🧭 Command 🕵️ Secrecy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:05

Major Themes – The Sea Wolves (1980)

Explore the central themes of The Sea Wolves (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Espionage

Espionage drives the plot, as undercover trips to Goa, covert diversions, blackmail, and bribery shape the raid. The mission hinges on intercepting signals and deceiving German guards without triggering a full-scale assault. Trust and betrayal oscillate between allies, keeping danger close and outcome uncertain. The tension comes from balancing secrecy with the need to act decisively.

🤝 Loyalties

Loyalties are tested when a diverse group of volunteers from Calcutta Light Horse join a dangerous mission. The collaboration between British authorities and expatriate fighters blurs lines between duty and personal risk. The German agent Trompeta and the social-intelligence web around Mrs Cromwell further complicate allegiance. The story probes how relationships withstand pressure in wartime operations.

🔥 Sacrifice

The raid demands heavy sacrifice: a decrepit approach vessel, the sacrifice of risk, and the death of Cartwright highlight the cost of war. Victory is not merely about sinking ships but about outmaneuvering enemy intelligence under dangerous conditions. The final scene hints at ongoing danger as a U-boat remains, signaling unresolved conflict. Personal losses underscore the human price of strategic decisions.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:05

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of The Sea Wolves

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Sea Wolves in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Sea Wolves is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Sea Wolves Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Sea Wolves, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Sea Wolves Summary

The Sea Wolves Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Sea Wolves with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Sea Wolves Timeline

More About The Sea Wolves

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Sea Wolves: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Sea Wolves