Item: Devil on Deck
Rating: 5.2
Author: Archivist John

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you are the type of person who digs through archives for early silent-era melodrama, you’ll probably have a blast. If you need pacing that feels like, well, anything modern, stay far away. This is pure 1927 chaos.

It’s the kind of movie where people emote with their entire upper bodies. Every single time Wheeler Oakman is on screen as "Shanghai" Morgan, you just know he’s going to do something truly heinous for no reason at all. It’s almost impressive how much he commits to being the worst guy in the Pacific.

The vibe is… intense.

The transition from the sunny island scenes to the grim streets of San Francisco feels like a total whiplash. One minute it’s all palm trees and romantic gazes, then suddenly we’re in a melodrama factory where people are dropping dead from "shock." That happens in this movie, by the way.

The plot moves like a caffeinated squirrel. You barely have time to figure out why Captain Moore is so upset before he’s already halfway across the ocean to get even. It’s not exactly Treasure Island, but it’s got that same desperate energy.

Small things I noticed

The way the actors stare at each other. It’s like they’re trying to telepathically communicate the entire script.
The background extras in the San Francisco scenes look like they’re waiting for a bus more than acting in a tragedy.
The mustache on the villain is, frankly, a character on its own.

Reed Howes plays John Moore with this weird, permanent intensity. He’s either falling in love or ready to punch a hole through a bulkhead. There’s no middle ground for this guy.

I found myself thinking about The Little 'Fraid Lady while watching this, mostly because both films share that specific, frantic silent-movie pacing. It’s charming in a dusty, "I shouldn't be watching this at 2 AM" kind of way. 🌊

Is it a masterpiece? Absolutely not. Does it have a guy named "Shanghai" Morgan kidnapping people for the fun of it? Yes. Sometimes that’s enough.