Two Years Before the Mast

Two Years Before the Mast (1946)

The world famous novel on the screen at last!

In 1834, Charles Stewart (Alan Ladd), the spoiled, dissolute son of a shipping magnate, is shanghaied aboard the Pilgrim, one of his father's own ships. He embarks upon a long, hellish sea voyage under the tyrannical rule of Captain Francis Thompson (Howard Da Silva), assisted by his first mate, Amazeen (William Bendix). One of his crewmates is Richard Henry Dana Jr. (Brian Donlevy).

Date of release
1946-11-22
TMDB
6.5 / 10 (10)
Runtime
1h 38m
Genres
Adventure, Drama
Director
John Farrow

Casting

Interesting facts

Two Years Before the Mast is a 1946 American historical adventure film directed by John Farrow and starring Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, and Barry Fitzgerald. It is loosely based on Richard Henry Dana Jr.'s travel book of the same name and was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Production

In 1936, Republic Studios announced plans to make a version of the film starring James Dunn and produced by Bert Clark. Actor Lew Ayres was mentioned as a possible director and Lionel Barrymore, or, if he refused, Walter Connolly was going to star. The movie was meant to be an attempt by Republic to move into bigger budgeted productions.

Republic never made the movie. Edward Small announced plans to film the book in 1939 under his deal with United Artists. However this was postponed when World War II was declared, as Small was reluctant to make such an expensive film in an uncertain marketplace. Plans to film the book were again announced in 1940 and 1941 but no movie resulted.

In March 1944 it was announced Ladd would be re-inducted into the army but that this would be delayed so he could make Mast.

Brian Donlevy was originally going to play the sadistic captain but was given the role of Dana instead. Howard da Silva, who had just achieved fame playing Judd in Oklahoma! on Broadway, played the captain.

Mexican film star Esther Fernández had been signed to Paramount for two years without making a film. John Farrow watched some test footage she made and was impressed; she was brought back to play the female lead.

Read on Wikipedia · Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Data from Wikidata.

Recommended