This 1976 film, adapted from Yukio Mishima’s 1963 novel, “The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea,” tells a story set in coastal England concerning a group of boys, roughly between twelve and fourteen years old. They are manipulated by an unstable man called "the Chief" (Earl Rhodes). Jonathan (Jonathan Kahn) is dealing with complicated feelings related to his mother, a wealthy widow (Sarah Miles), who begins seeing a charming American sailor (Kris Kristofferson), who happens to be the second officer on a ship docked in the harbor. The story then explores what Jonathan and "the Chief" think about this situation. The film combines the uneasy atmosphere of “Last Summer” (1969) with elements reminiscent of films like “Last Tango in Paris” (1972), and even shares some qualities with “Summer of ’42.” “Last Summer” was based on Evan Hunter’s 1968 book, and it makes me question whether Hunter might have drawn from Mishima's novel. Regardless, this is a striking narrative about the darker aspects of growing up, the impact of an absent father figure, the pressure to conform, and the manipulative nature of someone with antisocial tendencies. To gain acceptance within "the Chief’s" group, one must be willing to participate in acts of significant cruelty—because individuals with these traits find pleasure in inflicting pain and reject kindness. It's a compelling look at unsettling behavior and how people follow the crowd. The beautiful seaside scenery is an added benefit. One critic suggested that relocating the story from Japan to England undermined the book’s message, but I disagree. The power of tight-knit groups exists everywhere, and often, young boys who act out don't fully consider the repercussions due to a combination of naivete and overconfidence. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 45 minutes and was filmed in Dartmouth, Devon, England. GRADE: A-

Source on TMDB