SYNOPSIS:

His life was chronicled by writers and journalists, and like a contemporary of his -- T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) -- both fought superbly in World War I and yet both were completely ignored by their native countries or are parenthetical references to that war. In Luckner’s time the world was emerging from the Victorian age, shedding its innocence, and receiving the cruel baptism of the 20th Century. He was a contrast – a bold and blustery sea-faring warrior who ran the British blockade in a converted, square-rigged sailing ship, raided commercial shipping and captured l4 ships and their crews. As a warrior he was highly decorated for valor in combat, he also received a humanitarian medal by the Pope. Luckner ran away from his aristocratic home at age thirteen, lived under an assumed name to hide his nobility and started a life-long love affair with ships and the sea. His adolescence was spent at sea aboard clippers and brigantines, and ashore as a wrestler, a prize fighter, a dishwasher, an assistant lighthouse keeper, and in the Salvation Army. After drifting for seven years he went home to Germany, finished school, and became a Lieutenant in the Imperial Naval Reserve. Only then, did he return home to his parents, who presumed him dead. In WWI he was granted command of a reconfigured clipper ship to run the British blockade and harass enemy commercial shipping. His brilliant deceptive tactics were so effective and his record so impressive, that the British nicknamed him “the Sea Devil.” During the eight months he ran the blockade Luckner and his crew sank 14 ships worth $25 Million in goods and kept countless other ships in port for fear of capture. It was reported that when the Count put to sea, Lloyd’s of London shipping insurance premium rates went through the roof. He was that feared. His ship, the “Seeadler,” was specially configured to house the crews and officer of the vessels he captured. The captured officers of his famous “Captain’s Club” spent many long days at sea seated around a table on the after deck playing cards, drinking, and telling sea stories. When the ship was full to capacity, Luckner would drop off the captured crews on islands where Allied shipping would eventually stop, equipped with enough provisions to last until they were repatriated by the allies. During WWI he was captured twice and escaped once, ending the war as a POW in New Zealand. History is often fickle. Luckner, a legend in his time, is mostly forgotten in the history books. It is a sad commentary, for as Luckner and his sailing adventures were front page news in his day, today he is lost in the archives. In the 1930’s he sailed the world on a goodwill tour, lectured, and ultimately was designated as persona-non-grata by the Nazis. During World War II he helped a young Jewish woman escape Nazi Germany and surrendered the city of Halle under a flag of truce before the ancient city was leveled by the US Army. An 80 year old man who could still rip a telephone book in half, Luckner’s chivalric, swashbuckling gave way to the more technologically-oriented sailors of the 20th Century. Reading his story, however, one cannot help but be drawn to this man of character, principle and riveting action. Just as truth is more interesting than fiction – the most compelling point to remember when telling this story on the screen is that this is a true story. Luckner’s own words however, capture his essence: “Honor, where honor is due.”

THE SEA DEVIL