HistoryDrama

Old Ironsides

- WHAT A YARN!

An embellished account of the 1803 expedition by famed frigate U.S.S. Constitution--a.k.a. "Old Ironsides"--against the Barbary pirates then terrorizing American shipping, focusing on the crew and passengers of a fictional merchant ship, The Esther, who fall afoul of the same pirates and thus become involved with the Constitution's mission.

Release Date : 1926-12-06

Language :No Language

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Paramount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : The Commodore

Original Name : Charles Farrell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Esther

Original Name : Esther Ralston

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bos'n

Original Name : Wallace Beery

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gunner

Original Name : George Bancroft

Gender : Male

Character Name : Commodore Preble

Original Name : Charles Hill Mailes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Stephen Decatur

Original Name : Johnnie Walker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Richard Somers

Original Name : Eddie Fetherston

Gender : Male

Character Name : First Mate

Original Name : Guy Oliver

Gender : Male

Character Name : The Cook

Original Name : George Godfrey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Esther's Father

Original Name : William Conklin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Esther's Mother

Original Name : Effie Ellsler

Gender : Female

Character Name : Second Mate

Original Name : Arthur Ludwig

Gender : Male

Character Name : Saracen Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Boris Karloff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Bonner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Arlen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Alexander

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Philadelphian (uncredited)

Original Name : William Bakewell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Darien

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bashaw (uncredited)

Original Name : Nick De Ruiz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Young Decatur (uncredited)

Original Name : Dean Harrell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Herrick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Herbert Janssen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pirate Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Jonasson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pirate Captain (uncredited)

Original Name : Duke Kahanamoku

Gender : Male

Character Name : Second Mate (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Kohler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pirate (uncredited)

Original Name : Tetsu Komai

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pirate Chief (uncredited)

Original Name : Mitchell Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Livingston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Göta Ljungberg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cabin Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Spec O'Donnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seaman (uncredited)

Original Name : Gary Cooper

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-06

There is some grand cinematography in this telling of the early US Navy's attempts to combat the Corsair pirates from North Africa who demanded tribute from all who would sail the seas upon pain of terrible retribution from their well equipped and terrifying fleet should any default. The cast - Wallace Beery, lively as ever, and George Bancroft as his gunner mate, work well together, as do the appearances from the hunky, lovestruck Charles Farrell (rather inappropriately named "The Commodore") and the rather butter-wouldn't melt Esther Ralston ("Esther" - perhaps she had trouble remembering her own name?). To be honest, this isn't a great film, from a narrative perspective, for much of the first half - it really does take a while to get underway. When it does, however, we get some cracking maritime battle scenarios with loads of action, gun battles and technically impressive cinematography that captures some of the genuine jeopardy faced by those sailors from all nations who had to deal with this Tripolitan scourge. From an historical perspective, the fairly embryonic US Navy wasn't quite so successful as this would suggest, but success they had - and the old USS Constitution certainly played her part in arresting these terrors of the Mediterranean and beyond. It's a good watch, this - especially if you like your stories encrusted with salt and a cat 'o nine tails, but maybe the first half hour could have been condensed just a bit better by James Cruze (no puns intended).