Birth Of Steam Navigation Theme Of Film

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 70, 15 December 1939, Page 14

Birth Of Steam Navigation Theme Of Film

TUST a year more than a century ago 87 a little steamship ventured out of the port of London bound for New York, the first ship to attempt, the crossing of the treacherous North Atlantic under the power of steam alone. The departure of that ship on its bis-tory-making voyage changed the maritime commerce of the world. and Frank Lloyd, recognizing the inherent. drama of the event, the great story behind that, sailing, has produced “Rulers of the Sea.” telling the story of the courageous men and women who helped to conquer the Atlantic. With Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Margaret Lockwood and Will Fyffe costarred, Paramount will present, the picture during the early weeks of 1940.

“Rulers of the Sea” weaves a human story against a background of epochmaking events. Fairbanks, young mate of the sailing ship Falcon, bound for Greenock, Scotland, from New York in 1539, leaves his berth after the captain’s relentless driving of men and ship to make port in time results in the death of a seaman during a gale. The captain’s efforts to persuade him to change his mind fail, and Fairbanks meets Will Fyffe, inventor and foundryman who contends that lie has perfected a steam engine which can drive a ship across the Atlantic. After some discussion. peppered with the sly humour which only Will Fyffe can dispense. Fairbanks goes home with Fyffe, looks over his plans and meets his lovely daughter. Miss Lockwood. His enthusiasm for the engine—and his interest in Miss Lockwood prompt him to stay on and build a mode] of the engine. When Miss Lockwood insists that her father return to liis old job Fairbanks goes to London in an attempt to secure backing to build the engine and install it in a ship across the Atlantic. His initial failure to sell the plans, his ultimate success, the final sailing of llie DogStar. a converted coastal steamer, from Greenock for New York in IS3B. lead the picture to stirring climatic scenes in which Fyffe ami Fairbanks, strong in their purpose, overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to get the Dog Star to New York.