Norfolk, England, 1770. The nephew of an innkeeper and the son of a reverend maintain a very close friendship until, after living a great adventure, they must separate their paths. The former will head his footsteps to London and bound his destiny to Lloyd's, a thriving insurance company; the latter will eventually become one of the greatest heroes in the history of the British Empire.
Freddie Bartholomew
Young Jonathan Blake
Madeleine Carroll
Elizabeth Stacy
Guy Standing
John Angerstein
Tyrone Power
Jonathan Blake
C. Aubrey Smith
Old Q
Virginia Field
Polly
Douglas Scott
Horatio Nelson
George Sanders
Everett Stacy
J.M. Kerrigan
Brook Watson
Una O'Connor
Widow Blake
Forrester Harvey
Percival Potts
Gavin Muir
Gavin Gore
E. E. Clive
Magistrate
Miles Mander
Jukes
Montagu Love
Hawkins
John Burton
Lord Nelson
Arthur Hohl
First Captain
Robert Greig
Lord Drayton
Lumsden Hare
Captain Suckling
Will Stanton
Smutt
Murray Kinnell
Reverend Nelson
Billy Bevan
Innkeeper
Elsa Buchanan
Servant Girl
Georges Renavent
French Lieutenant
Reginald Barlow
Second Captain
May Beatty
Lady Markham
Lester Matthews
Captain Hardy
Vernon Steele
Thomas Lawrence
Barlowe Borland
Joshua Lamb
Hugh Huntley
Prince of Wales
Charles Croker-King
Willoughby
Ivan F. Simpson
Old Man
Holmes Herbert
Spokesman
Charles McNaughton
Waiter #1
Leonard Mudie
Waiter #2
Charles Coleman
Waiter #3
Thomas Pogue
Benjamin Franklin
Yorke Sherwood
Sam Johnson
Agostino Borgato
French Miller (uncredited)
Director
Henry King
Screenplay
Walter Ferris
Screenplay
Ernest Pascal
Story
Curtis Kenyon
Writers' Assistant
W.P. Lipscomb
June 19, 2022
6
This is quite an interesting tale that shows us some of a very young Tyrone Power's potential and also tells us a little about the establishment of Lloyd's of London - the world's largest maritime insurance operation. The story starts in rural Norfolk where two boys decide to run away together - one is Horatio Nelson (Douglas Scott) the other "Jonathan Blake" (Freddie Bartholomew). Their plan is thwarted, though, and "Blake" ends up serving on a ship with his uncle - and on returning from his escapades at sea, visits Lloyd's Coffee House with some secret information on dodgy insurance fraudsters. He is taken under the wing of the honest and reputable "Mr. Angerstein" (Sir Guy Standing) and is soon learning the ropes of the insurance business. What follows is quite an engaging tale of his life and loves as he spars with the duplicitous George Sanders ("Lord Stacy") over his wife, whom "Blake" has fallen head over heels for - Madeleine Carroll; and his ambition to make his own fortune by insuring just about anything - including lives - against a background of the war between Britain and Napoleon! The film offers only a slight nod to fact, but the personification of "Blake" as a patriot determined to help his childhood friend and his country at all costs is at times quite brave and rousing - and the ensemble, including cameos from C. Aubrey Smith and Una O'Connor help to keep this interesting for a slightly over-long 2 hours.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$850,000.00
Revenue:
$0.00