Two Years Before the Mast (1946)

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Based on a famous book by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., this grueling saga of shipboard oppression is set in the mid-19th century. Charles Stewart (Alan Ladd), the wealthy son of a Boston shipowner, is hijacked by Amazeen (William Bendix), the first mate on a ship bound for California. Francis Thompson… More Based on a famous book by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., this grueling saga of shipboard oppression is set in the mid-19th century. Charles Stewart (Alan Ladd), the wealthy son of a Boston shipowner, is hijacked by Amazeen (William Bendix), the first mate on a ship bound for California. Francis Thompson (Howard Da Silva) is the tyrannical captain of the Pilgrim who was booted out of the U.S. Navy for mistreating his sailors. Now he wants to set a record sailing time, and he and Amazeen mete out severe punishment for the slightest of infractions. They even deny the men permission to go ashore and pick fruit when they stop in California and pick up the beautiful Maria Dominguez (Esther Fitzgerald). Without fruit, the men develop scurvy and begin to mutiny. Stewart allies himself with the author Dana (Brian Donlevy), whose brother died on one of Captain Thompson's previous voyages. Dana wants to write an expose of Thompson. Stewart steals guns and tries to take over the ship, but Amazeen subdues and imprisons him. The film was shot on a Hollywood set, but with devices on the set that simulate rolling waves so effectively that much of the cast got seasick. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: John Farrow
Written By: Richard Henry Dana Jr., Seton I. Miller
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

On DVD: Mar 31, 1998

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The ensemble drama was effective largely because of the superb acting, the salty dialogue and the strong direction that kept things authentic.

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Cast

            Alan Ladd as Charles Stewart

            Brian Donlevy as Richard Henry Dana

            William Bendix as Amazeen

            Roman Bohnen as Macklin

            George Bruggeman as Sailor No. 4

            Barry Fitzgerald as Dooley

            James Burke as Carrick

            Howard Da Silva as Capt. Francis Thompson

            Esther Fernández as Maria Dominguez

            Ray Collins as Gordon Stewart

            Pedro de Cordoba as Don Sebastian

            Albert Dekker as Brown

            Clint Dorrington as Sailor No. 5

            Frank Faylen as Hansen

            Darryl Hickman as Sam Hooper

            David Kashner as Sailor

            Bob Kortman as Bobson

            Ethan Laidlaw as Clark

            Michael Lally as Sailor No. 9

            Kathleen Lockhart as Mrs. Gordon Stewart

            Theodore Newton as Hayes

            Tom Powers as Bellamer

            Rosa Rey as Mercedes

            John Roy as Sailor No. 1

            Carl Voss as Sailor No. 7

            Stanley Andrews as Policeman

            George Carleton as Hallet

            David Clyde as Butler

            James Flavin as Crimp with Amazeen

            Rex Lease as Rider

            Arthur Loft as Crabtree

            Barry Macollum as Chief Clerk

            Duncan Renaldo as Mexican Captain

            Edwin Stanley as Blake

            Luis Van Rooten as Foster

            Pierre Watkin as Staunton

            Blackie Whiteford
            
            Crane Whitley as Broker

            Joe Palma
            
See full cast

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