The Olive Films Blu-Ray edition of "Wake Of The Red Witch" is beautifully produced. The sound is excellent and video clear. Pausing the video and stepping frame-by-frame reveals an astonishing clarity for this 1948 released film. Absolutely excellent technical work by the Olive FIlms crew on this Blu-Ray Disc.The story may be complicated, but is mysterious and engaging, and well directed by Edward Ludwig. The underwater scenes are surprisingly well-done for a movie made in 1948! Even the giant octopus appears as a realistic, actual living creature, quite a feat using the limited special effects available to 1948 film production. Indeed, a modern CGI generated giant octopus may appear more cartoon-like and not as real as the special effects used to create the creature in 1948! The model-work used to create the sunken Red Witch is superbly done and makes a modern viewer truly appreciate the skill and talent of film production crews just after World War Two.Luther Adler really takes the role of a slick, polished charming, villain, "Captain Sidneye" and runs with it in a performance so engaging it is difficult to imagine anyone else as Captain Sidneye. Gig Young, in an early role, is well cast as Captain Ralls' First Mate Sam Rosen, who is also the narrator of the story. Paul Fix is very good as "worry-wort" sailor Ripper Arrezo and many western fans will recognize him from his later role on "The Rifleman" as Town Marshall Micah Torrance. Lovely Adele Mara is very well cast as the beautiful niece of Captain Sidneye, and love interest of Sam Rosen; she would appear the following year in the John Wayne classic "Sands Of Iwo Jima".As the dark, bitter, dangerous-when-drunk Captain Ralls, John Wayne proves he can really act, in a difficult demanding role reminiscent of his superb performance as Ethan Edwards in the John Ford masterpiece "The Searchers" 8 years later in 1956. Unlike Wayne's unsalvageably dark "Ethan Edwards", however, Wayne's "Captain Ralls'" dark side is balanced in his love for Angelique Desaix. Perfectly cast, Gail Russell is breathtakingly beautiful, and totally believable as the frail and tragic Angelique. This was the second and final time John Wayne and Gail Russell would star together; their scenes with each other are so real and touching in genuine affection and chemistry, that it is truly regretful that the two of them did not do more movies together.For those thinking that John Wayne could not act, or was only good in westerns, "Wake Of The Red Witch" is an exciting sea adventure that will prove otherwise. You will also get the added bonus of the genuine tenderness of John Wayne and Gail Russell together. As it is only the second and last time the two of them starred together, "Wake Of The Red Witch" is worth watching or buying for that special Wayne/Russell chemistry alone.