I recently rented this DVD from Netflix and noticed that the jacket and website said the film was from D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille. However, Griffith's name was not on the film nor the IMDb credits. As for DeMille, he produced the film only. So, the director, Rupert Julian, is left out in the cold--and it's a shame as he created a nice little film.
The film begins in Britain with Queen Victoria and her court discussing the importance of the Chinese tea trade. Then, the scene switches to the White House where you see who you think is the President (as he is NEVER called by name or addressed as the President) and his staff also talking about the importance of this trade--and how, hopefully, a new type of clipper ship will give the US the edge. According to IMDb, this was supposed to be President Zachary Taylor, though it wasn't at all apparent in the film.
For the duration of the film, you follow the adventures of the Captain of the ship, a young and handsome William Boyd (later known as 'Hopalong Cassidy' in cowboy films). Once in China, he becomes infatuated with an English woman who is engaged to a cowardly scoundrel. Later, by mistake, she and her fiancé are stuck aboard the Yankee Clipper when a race to Boston begins--the winner takes BOTH ships! Will Boyd win the race and/or win the girl? What do you think?! Still, despite few surprises the film is handled very well. It's exciting and fun...and (thankfully) a nice print from Televista. Well worth seeing.
The film begins in Britain with Queen Victoria and her court discussing the importance of the Chinese tea trade. Then, the scene switches to the White House where you see who you think is the President (as he is NEVER called by name or addressed as the President) and his staff also talking about the importance of this trade--and how, hopefully, a new type of clipper ship will give the US the edge. According to IMDb, this was supposed to be President Zachary Taylor, though it wasn't at all apparent in the film.
For the duration of the film, you follow the adventures of the Captain of the ship, a young and handsome William Boyd (later known as 'Hopalong Cassidy' in cowboy films). Once in China, he becomes infatuated with an English woman who is engaged to a cowardly scoundrel. Later, by mistake, she and her fiancé are stuck aboard the Yankee Clipper when a race to Boston begins--the winner takes BOTH ships! Will Boyd win the race and/or win the girl? What do you think?! Still, despite few surprises the film is handled very well. It's exciting and fun...and (thankfully) a nice print from Televista. Well worth seeing.