1 9 5 7 – 1 9 6 0 (USA)
39 x 30 minute episodes
Guild Films produced this continuing story of South Sea trader Captain David Grief (Maxwell Reed) and his search for adventure aboard his 63-foot schooner, the Rattler.
He was accompanied by his faithful crew; Boley (former boxer Mickey Simpson) the Bosun’s mate, First Mate, Elihu Snow (Tudor Owen) and Jackie-Jackie (Mel Prestidge).
The series was based on the stories South Sea Tales and The Cruise of the Shark by Jack London which were written around 1906.
Adapting the stories for television cost around $2 million, including the purchase in Honolulu of the 20-year old schooner California, virtually a duplicate of the Rattler described in the London stories.
Filming took place largely on location in the Hawaiian Islands, Tahiti, Samoa, Panama and the Caribbean.
Captain David Grief
Maxwell Reed
First Mate Elihu Snow
Tudor Owen
Boley
Mickey Simpson
Jackie-Jackie
Mel Prestidge
