Plymouth Adventure (1952)

30% of users liked it
(69 ratings)

Plymouth Adventure earned a footnote in film history as the last directorial effort by the prolific Clarence Brown. Otherwise, this colorful re-creation of the Pilgrims' journey to America is a workmanlike job, never inspired but always interesting. Spencer Tracy stars as bull-stubborn Captain… More Plymouth Adventure earned a footnote in film history as the last directorial effort by the prolific Clarence Brown. Otherwise, this colorful re-creation of the Pilgrims' journey to America is a workmanlike job, never inspired but always interesting. Spencer Tracy stars as bull-stubborn Captain Christopher Jones, who intends to guide the Mayflower to its destination come Hell, high water or any other obstacle. Since Jones is spiritually "wed" to his job, the film's romantic angle is handled by Van Johnson as John Alden and Dawn Addams as Patricia Mullen. Gene Tierney is second-billed as Dorothy Bradford, the ill-fated bride of future Plymouth Colony governor William Bradford. Though the film makes several departures from the facts (there's even a villain!), Plymouth Adventure tells its tale professionally and with satisfactory entertainment value. The film earned MGM artisan A. Arnold Gillespie an Academy Award for best special effects. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Clarence Brown
Written By: Helen Deutsch
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 14, 1952 Wide
On DVD: Feb 5, 2002

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Featured Audience Ratings

Randy T

If you're a student of American history this one will certainly make you cringe. Hollywood's fact altering melodrama casts Spencer Tracy as the captain of the Mayflower who, rather reluctantly, is charged with delivering pilgrims to the new world. With a shipload of… More
If you're a student of American history this one will certainly make you cringe. Hollywood's fact altering melodrama casts Spencer Tracy as the captain of the Mayflower who, rather reluctantly, is charged with delivering pilgrims to the new world. With a shipload of recognizable faces that include Gene Tierney, Lloyd Bridges and Van Johnson you'd expect this historical epic to be a lauded piece of film history. It is not. There is enough deceit, betrayal and adultery here to rival most soap operas. Tracy's character is so one dimensional, so unlikeable, that the H.M.S. Bounty's Captain Bligh looks rather charming in comparison. Watch this if you must but don't come crying to me when the credits roll. You've been warned!

Cast

            Spencer Tracy as Capt. Christopher Jones

            Gene Tierney as Dorothy Bradford

            Van Johnson as John Alden

            Lloyd Bridges as Coppin

            Leo Genn as William Bradford

            Dawn Addams as Priscilla Mullins

            Barry Jones as William Brewster

            Noel Drayton as Miles Standish

            John Dehner as Gilbert Winslow

            Tommy Ivo as William Button

            Lowell Gilmore as Edward Winslow

            Paul Cavanagh as John Carver

            Noreen Corcoran as Ellen Moore

            John Dierkes as Greene

            Elizabeth Flournoy as Rose Standish

            Ivis Goulding
            
            Elizabeth Harrower
            
            Dennis Hoey as Head Constable

            Kathleen Lockhart as Mary Brewster

            James Logan
            
            Murray Matheson as Christopher Martin

            Keith McConnell
            
            Owen McGiveney
            
            Matt Moore as William Mullins

            Damian O'Flynn
            
            Bill Self
            
            Rhys Williams as Mr. Weston

            Gene Coogan
            
            Kay English
            
            Loren B. Brown as Sailor
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