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The Boatswain's Mate

Delightful adaptation of a sailor’s yarn starring the irrepressible Florence Turner and pre-John Ford Victor McLaglen, with novel illustrated inter-titles.

Comedy 1924 30 mins Silent

Overview

A fake burglary is a good plot device for a meet-cute. The Boatswain’s Mate, which appeared in WW Jacobs’ 1905 short story collection ‘Captains All’, tells of an ex-boatswain (Johnny Butt) who is eager to win the hand of the local pub landlady. He bribes an ex-soldier to stage a house-breaking, so that he can win her in a heroic last-minute rescue. The plan begins to unravel when the ‘burglar’ (Victor McLaglen) and his victim (Florence Turner) are instantly smitten. It’s the feisty shotgun-wielding landlady, who triumphantly puts the boatswain in his place.

At only 30 minutes this delicious little featurette has charming stick-figure illustrated intertitles that humorously counterpoint the action and the sight of Turner’s ‘little woman’ (as the Boatswain describes her), sitting up at midnight reading ‘Dracula’ and munching biscuits is a rare joy – added by ace screenwriter Lydia Hayward.

Director

Manning Haynes

Featuring

Florence Turner , Johnny Butt , Victor McLaglen and J. Edwards Barber

Genres

Comedy

Country

United Kingdom

Language

No Dialogue with English subtitles

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