Botany Bay *** (1952, James Mason, Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, Cedric Hardwicke) – Classic Movie Review 6789

Director John Farrow’s 1952 adventure movie Botany Bay stars Alan Ladd as unjustly convicted prisoner Hugh Tallant, an American medical student who is locked in a battle royal with vicious, sadistic ship’s Captain Gilbert (James Mason).

Based on a novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, the authors of the similar Mutiny on the Bounty, Farrow’s colourful costume drama tells the dramatic story about a 1787 convict ship sailing from London bound for New South Wales in Australia. Tallant and Gilbert fight for the hand of beautiful Sally Munroe (Patricia Medina), who flirts with Mason but eventually proves just the lady for Ladd.

Having been falsely jailed in Newgate prison as a highwayman, Tallant tries to escape from the ship, and Gilbert decides to return him to England on a charge of mutiny.

In the acting stakes, there is no contest: Mason wins hands down in his Captain Bligh-style role. And that was really Ladd’s problem. One unpleasant wag said he had only two expressions, hat on and hat off. However, he has enough talent to play Tallant. Sir Cedric Hardwicke also has a jolly good time as Governor Phillips.

Botany Bay runs a fast-moving 93 minutes, is well directed by John Farrow, decently scripted by Jonathan Latimer, handsomely produced by Joseph Sistrom for Paramount Pictures, is beautifully photographed in lovely Technicolor by John F Seitz, and comes complete with a rousing Franz Waxman score.

Also in the cast are Murray Matheson, Jonathan Harris, Dorothy Patten, Noel Drayton, John Hardy, Hugh Pryse, Malcolm Lee Beggs, Anita Sharp-Bolster, Alec Harford, Brandon [Brendan] Toomey and Ben Wright.

Charles Nordhoff (1887–1947) and James Norman Hall are also known for Mutiny on the Bounty, The Hurricane, Passage to Marseille and High Barbaree.

Avoiding costly location shooting, Paramount opted to film on the Hollywood back lot. It was Ladd’s last film under his Paramount contract before moving to Warner Bros.

Ladd recalled: ‘I’m a hell of a hero in this picture. I kill nine guys and duel and talk, and talk and talk, and make love all over the place. Don’t miss me. I’m very big.’

Mason said his portrayal of the sadistic ship’s captain was based on director Farrow.

Ladd had previously made the similar Two Years Before the Mast (1946) with Farrow.

 © Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6789

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