Main Cast: Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, Roman Bohnen, George Bruggeman, Barry Fitzgerald, James Burke, Howard Da Silva
Release Year: 1946
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
Plot
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, All Movie Guide
Review
A box office winner in 1946, Two Years Before the Mast hasn't borne the passage of time particularly well, but it's still an agreeable way to pass an hour and a half, especially for those who are devotees of all things having to do with the high seas. Mast should be a better picture than it is, as it has a lot of good things going for it. Its cast, for example, ranges from the fine to the exceptional. Star Alan Ladd belongs to the former; his work here is more than adequate, but not the star turn that one wants. He also feels distinctly out of period and not exactly comfortable at all times in the part. Better is Brain Donlevy, whose quieter performance has some surprises, and William Bendix as the second-in-command who helps keeps his fellows down. Best of all is Howard Da Silva, whose tormenting, torturous, heartless captain burns in the memory like a hot brand. John farrow's direction is appropriately muscular, and he does a good job of filming ocean sequences on a studio set; but Farrow doesn't seem as in control of his movie as Da Silva is of his ship. It sputters along rather than sailing, and the whole ends up lesser than the sum of its parts. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Franz Bachelin - Art Director, Hans Dreier - Art Director, John Farrow - Director, Edna Warren - Editor, Victor Young - Composer (Music Score), Ernest Laszlo - Cinematographer, Seton Miller - Producer, Gordon Jennings - Special Effects, Devereaux Jennings - Special Effects, George Bruce - Screenwriter, Seton Miller - Screenwriter, Richard Henry Dana Jr. - Book Author
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 (Brian Donlevy).
