Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

56 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 20, 1923 Big Sea Film Obtained by Hodkinson "DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS" Pictures the Thrills, the Romance and the Hardships Experienced by New Bedford Whalemen Old time whaler getting ready to cast off for the voyage during which "Down to the Sea in Ships" was filmed. W. W. HODKINSON CORPORATION has obtained the distribution rights on "Down to the Sea in Ships," a picture depicting the thrills, romance and hardships experienced by New England whalemen and described by those who have seen it as a super-special. The attraction was produced by Whaling Film Corporation, a group of New Bedford, Mass., business men whose purpose in making the picture was to perpetuate for all time the wealth of tradition that surrounds the whaling industry in New England. Elmer Clifton, former assistant to David Wark Griffith, directed the production which, its sponsors say, will be a monument to his genius. The outstanding fact in conjunction with the filming of this picture is that it is one of the few productions that has for its locale the tempestuous waters of the high seas, and the principal eharacter in this drama of the Atlantic, is a ninetyton whale. * * * The great moment in "Down to the Sea in Ships," comes when the whale, realizing the futility ot escape, turns on his captors, sweeps one side of the boat, leaving but the stumps of broken oars in the hands of the fear-stricken crew. The harpoon is still imbeded deeply in the back of the whale and in one last effort to rid itself of the life-taking iron, the giant mammal of the deep swims off to a distance of several hundred feet, turns, hesitates an instant, then charges the boat with the speed and force of the fastest express. It is only a matter of seconds until the whale has hit the boat square in the middle, smashing it to bits and tossing its crew into the air. Sharks are plainly seen ready to strike the instant any of the crew touch the water. Back of all this action, however, is an appealing love story. Raymond McKee in the part of a young engineer, returns to the scene of his childhood and finds Elmer Clifton who directed Hodkinson special, "Down to the Sea in Ships." Method of unloading oil from hold of the old time whaler upon her return from a successful voyage filming the Hodkinson special. Marguerite Courtot, his playmate of earlier days, grown to charming womanhood. The decree of a stern father, owner of a whaling fleet, forbids his daughter's marriage to anyone but a whaleman who has sunk his harpoon into a whale. To answer this requirement, from which there was no appeal, McKee sets out to sign up as a whaleman, but before he has put his name to the articles, he is shanghaied and carried to sea against his will, under as cruel a mate as ever walked the deck. A mutiny gives the greenhand his chance and McKee, in the bow of a long boat, amid a school of whales plainly discernible on the screen, sinks his iron to the shank into his prey. * * * "Down to the Sea in Ships" would not have been possible to produce in its present state had it not been for the cooperation accorded the producer by the townsfolk of New Bedford. Mr. Clifton had at the very outset the wholehearted cooperation of the old Dartmouth Historical Society and as a consequence he was able to count upon the efforts of every man, woman and child in New Bedford in his endeavor to present a true picture of the whaling city and its curious customs.