STORY

In nineteenth century Scotland, first mate David Gillespie quits his post on the schooner “Falcon” because of Captain Oliver’s brutal treatment of the seamen, which has caused two deaths. While in a tavern, David meets engineer John Shaw, whose idea for a steamship inspires him into toiling day and night with John to create a working model, despite the protests of John’s pragmatic daughter Mary. The model is a success, and David takes the drawings to London, intending to find a backer to finance a ship.

He is unsuccessful, however, and becomes destitute until he runs into Junius Smith, a shipper of perishables who receives the idea with enthusiasm and hires David and John. One night, John becomes drunk and accidentally sets fire to the machine shop, destroying all their work and jeopardizing the deadline to win a commission from the Royal Navy.

Smith then charters the Dog Star , a ship already equipped with a type of steam engine, and rehires David and John to alter the engine to meet their specifications. The Dog Star finally gets underway, with Mary working onboard as a stewardess. David’s dream of being the captain of his own ship is dashed, however, when the Royal Navy insists upon putting their own captain aboard, and David resigns himself to working in the engine room with John.

During the voyage, David and Mary confess their love for each other and agree to marry. All goes well until an exploding pipe delays their progress and mortally wounds John. After a lengthy repair in which everyone’s faith is taxed, David pulls the ship through, and they arrive in New York in time. As he lies dying, John blesses David and Mary’s union, and bids David to carry on his dreams. (TCM)

TECH

Runtime 1 hr 37 min (97 min)
Sound Mix Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Color Black and White
Aspect Ratio 1.37 : 1
Film Length (11 reels)
Negative Format 35 mm
Cinematographic Process Spherical
Printed Film Format 35 mm

The film is based on two original British steamships, the SS Sirius and the SS Great Western. The SS Sirius was built in 1837 and was serving the London-Cork line until the quest for steam-crossing the Atlantic took her to this adventure. She had condensers which worked with fresh water which allowed less maintenance so quicker journeys. She sailed from Cork and arrived in New York in April 22nd. 1838 after a 18-day trip, only a day ahead of the SS Great Western, which had been specially built for the Atlantic steam crossing but left England (Avonmouth, near Bristol) four days later (so she was faster, but left later). In the film the Sirius, a working replica of which was built, is renamed Dog Star (as Sirius is the dog star), but keeps her original Royal Navy captain’s name (Lt. Richard Roberts). The SS Savannah, an American ship, had been the first one to cross the Atlantic in 1819 from Savannah to Liverpool, only partially using steam power and with no passengers daring to embark considering it too dangerous.