Two Years Before the Mast

Dramatizes incidents from Richard Henry Dana's log book, and stresses the significance of his writing in bettering the conditions of merchant seamen. Excerpted from the feature film., Teaching Film Custodians classroom film of excerpts from the 1946 Paramount Pictures feature film, "Two Years Before the Mast", based on incidents from Richard Henry Dana's log book. This film dramatizes the cruise of the merchant ship Pilgrim "around the horn" to California. Dana is portrayed recording in his diary between watches, the events of the journey and the brutality and hardships endured by seamen. Charles Stewart, the ship owner's son, finds himself shanghaied on his father's ship commanded by cruel Captain Thompson. After scurvy breaks out, he leads a mutiny and is slapped in irons. Floggings and torture abound before the crew takes the law into their own hands. Upon his return to Boston, publication of Dana's book is influential in effecting legislation to improve the working conditions of merchant seamen.

In 1834, Charles Stewart 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. One of his crewmates is Richard Henry Dana Jr. (Brian Donlevy) who will ultimately recount the entire voyage on paper.