The Christian Radich is a full rigged Norwegian sail training ship. One that has done well on the Tall Ship racing circuit. She is a pretty ship. The voyage in question is round trip to the Americas by the traditional sailing route. The film, produced by Louis de Rochemont, documents the trip.

This is not your typical documentary. It is a big budget high tech production. It is not only in color, expensive in and of itself in 1958, but shot in a form of Cinnarama. That is more than half the point of the film. The reports are that when it premiered the front row moved their feet to avoid being splashed. I would like to see it on the truly wide screen.

There are shots of the ship under sail. She looks good. She meets up with other sailing ships. They transfer crew to a destroyer by highline under sail. But despite the name and picture on the box, the film is mainly a vehicle to show off Cinnarama. The ship and sailing are just one of many things featured.

Besides the shots of the ship, they show the events at each port of call. They are often the guests of honor at the event All shot for the Cinnarama effect. Among other things, there is a firetruck ride through Philly at speed.. They take the big camera underwater for two diving sequences. And, when cruising with the US Navy, strap it to a sub as it submerges and then surfaces. When in New York they use the three screens for some kaleidoscopic effects that would be right at home in San Francisco a decade later; all set to jazz.

Music is a major part of the film, from Calypso steel drums to the Boston Pops. Many ports give them a local music performance, maybe with some dancing.. The boys sing. All recorded in High Fidelity and available on a LP record. Which sold pretty well.

The plot is not going to keep you glued to your seat. It is narrated like a Fifties travelogue. Of course the shots are staged, and look it. The Norwegian kids speak English on camera. They even sing in English. They are not above pretending to be sailing. But that is not what this film is about. It is really about the visuals and the music.

It was moved to DVD without being restored. It could use some work on the color and cleaning up the sound. Redone for Google glasses it could be awesome again, and I mean that literally. However if your only interest is the sailing, you will spend a lot of time with the fast forward.

Steve Worcester, Star 6932