The title character, played by John Payne, is a ship's captain whose embittered behavior after losing his lady love seemingly leads to tragedy. Accused of deliberately scuttling his ship during a typhoon, Captain China hopes to clear himself by signing on as a common seaman on a vessel captain by his former first mate Brendensen. There's no love lost between the two men, and their mutual animosity is intensified when both fall in love with beautiful passenger.
John Payne
as Charles S. Chinnough
Gail Russell
as Kim Mitchell
Jeffrey Lynn
as Capt. George Brendensen
Lon Chaney Jr.
as Red Lynch
Edgar Bergen
as Mr. Haasvelt
Michael O'Shea
as Trask
Ellen Corby
as Miss Endicott
Robert Armstrong
as Keegan
John Qualen
as Geech
Ilka Grüning
as Mrs. Marguerite Haasvelt
Denver Pyle
as Steve
Keith Richards
as Alberts
