Rulers of the Sea is a 1939 American historical drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Margaret Lockwood and Will Fyffe. The film's story is based on the voyage of the , the first steamship to cross the North Atlantic, from Britain to the United States. The film was made by Paramount Pictures, but featured Lockwood and Fyffe who were two of the leading stars of the British Gainsborough Pictures studios. The supporting cast features Alan Ladd.
Plot
Cast
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as David 'Davie' Gillespie
Margaret Lockwood as Mary Shaw
Will Fyffe as John Shaw
George Bancroft as Captain Oliver
Montagu Love as Malcolm Grant
Vaughan Glaser as Junius Smith
David Torrence as Donald Fenton
Lester Matthews as Lt. Roberts
Alec Craig as Foreman MacNeil
Barlowe Borland as Magistrate
Wilson Benge as Campbell
Harry Allen as Murdock
Barry Macollum as Miller
David Cavendish as First Officer Lewis
David Clyde as Second Mate Evans
Charles McAvoy as O'Brien
Alan Ladd as Colin Farrell
Lawrence Grant as Mr. Negley
John Power as Captain of 'Dog Star'
William Haade as A Stoker
Production
The film was one in a series of million-dollar "spectacles" from Paramount. It was based on the history of the Cunard Line. This subject matter was inspired by the success of the movie Lloyd's of London, which led to a series of movies revolving around the history of companies. (Others from this time include Spawn of the North (1938), Western Union (1940), and Hudson Bay Company (1940).)
The film used the writer and director of the hit MGM film Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), Talbot Jennings and Frank Lloyd.
Will Fyffe, British film star, was borrowed from Gainsborough Pictures in the US to play engineer John Shaw. Filming started on his arrival in Hollywood on 19 April 1939. Margaret Lockwood had also been borrowed from Gainborough.
The film used two real ships, the sailing vessel being Metha Nelson.
The film was made with the British audience in mind, so Paramount were worried on the declaration of war.
Reception
Fairbanks Jr called it "a very boring story... very static. Lost a bundle."