Hearts in Bondage (1936)

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First-time director Lew Ayres performs miracles on a tiny budget in the Civil War drama Hearts in Bondage. The story offers a romanticized version of the events leading up to the battle between the "ironclads" Monitor and Merrimac. Northern naval officer Kenneth (James Dunn), the nephew of Monitor… More First-time director Lew Ayres performs miracles on a tiny budget in the Civil War drama Hearts in Bondage. The story offers a romanticized version of the events leading up to the battle between the "ironclads" Monitor and Merrimac. Northern naval officer Kenneth (James Dunn), the nephew of Monitor designer John Ericsson (Fritz Leiber) is dishonorably discharged when he sinks the Merrimac instead of burning it, as ordered. He is restored to duty as a crew member on the Monitor, and in the ensuing sea battle with the recommissioned Merrimac he kills Confederate officer Raymond (David Manners), the brother of Kenneth's fiancee Constance (Mae Clarke). The estranged sweethearts are ultimately reunited with the help of Abe Lincoln himself! Both James Dunn and Mae Clarke are miscast in their roles, but they do their best under the circumstances to make their material "work" -- and often succeed. The real stars of Hearts in Bondage are Republic's special-effects mavens Howard and Theodore Lydecker, whose splendid utilization of scale models in the climactic Monitor-Merrimac confrontation is both exciting and convincing. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 12 min.
Directed By: Lew Ayres
Genres: Western, Drama, Classics

On DVD: May 1, 2005

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

A 1936 Film and I give it my highest rating to date on any film before 1940. Reason being it taught me more then any history class ever did about the civil war. I learned that the Norfolk Naval Base was once called Gosport Shipyard, also learned about the Monitor and the Merrimac.… More
A 1936 Film and I give it my highest rating to date on any film before 1940. Reason being it taught me more then any history class ever did about the civil war. I learned that the Norfolk Naval Base was once called Gosport Shipyard, also learned about the Monitor and the Merrimac. Never knew the Merrimac was once owned and sunk by the union only to be raised by the confederacy. Also learned that the Monitor was built in Brooklyn NY at Grrenpoint Shipyard. And the builder of the Monitor. Besides this there is a romantic side of the story. A daughter of Union General is in love with a exunion soldier who is now in the confederate navy, his brother is in the Union Navy, one is on the monitor the other on the Merrimac and they face each other, of course the confederate soldier is killed. All in all an excellent story, the film quality was outstanding for a 1936 film. My copy came from the Mill Creek 50 pack of Combat Classics. 4 Stars

Cast

            James Dunn as Kenneth

            Mae Clarke as Constance

            David Manners as Raymond

            Charlotte Henry as Julie

            Henry B. Walthall as Buchanan

            Fritz Leiber as John Ericsson

            George Irving as Commodore Jordan

            Irving Pichel as Secretary of War Gideon Welles

            J.M. Kerrigan as Paddy

            Frank McGlynn Sr. as Abraham Lincoln

            Ben Alexander as Eggleston

            Oscar Apfel as Cap. Gillman

            Clay Clement as Worden

            Edward Gargan as McPherson

            Russell Hicks as Pillsbury

            George 'Gabby' Hayes as Ezra

            Douglas Wood as Admiral David Farragut

            Erville Alderson as Jefferson Davis

            John Hyams as Bushnell

            Etta McDaniel as Mammy

            Warner P. Richmond as Bucko

            Lloyd Ingraham as Timekeeper

            Hooper Atchley
            
            Smiley Burnette
            
            Lane Chandler
            
            Pat Flaherty
            
            Frankie Marvin
            
            Henry Roquemore
            
            Clinton Rosemond
            
            Maurice Brierre
            
            Arthur Wanzer
            
            Helen Seamon
            
            Eugene Jackson
            
See full cast