Two Years Before The Mast (1946)

Set in 1834, the spoiled and privileged son (Alan Ladd) of a Boston shipping magnate (Ray Collins) is shanghaied and forced to serve on one of his father's own ships. The ship's captain (Howard DaSilva) is a sadistic man who treats his men cruelly. Based on the non fiction book by Richard Henry Dana (played by Brian Donlevy in the movie) and directed by John Farrow (THE BIG CLOCK). An above average sea yarn, the film takes many liberties with Dana's book which had a profound effect on the way seamen were treated without any rights of their own. Perhaps the most notable addition is Ladd's character which doesn't exist in the book and a romance between Ladd and a Spanish senorita (Esther Fernandez) traveling on the ship. There are no women in Dana's book. But what we get is an exciting adventure along the lines of MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, not as good mind you but more than passable. The public lapped it up and the film was a big hit. With William Bendix, Barry Fitzgerald, Albert Dekker, Darryl Hickman and Luis Van Rooten.