Rulers of the Sea

Rulers of the Sea is a 1939 American historical drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Margaret Lockwood and Will Fyffe. The film's story is based on the voyage of the SS Savannah, the first steamship to cross the North Atlantic, from Britain to the United States. The film was made by Paramount Pictures, but featured Lockwood and Fyffe who were two of the leading stars of the British Gainsborough Pictures studios. The supporting cast features Alan Ladd.

Cast

 * Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. as David 'Davie' Gillespie
 * Margaret Lockwood as Mary Shaw
 * Will Fyffe as John Shaw
 * George Bancroft as Captain Oliver
 * Montagu Love as Malcolm Grant
 * Vaughan Glaser as Junius Smith
 * David Torrence as Donald Fenton
 * Lester Matthews as Lt. Roberts
 * Alec Craig as Foreman MacNeil
 * Barlowe Borland as Magistrate
 * Wilson Benge as Campbell
 * Harry Allen as Murdock
 * Barry Macollum as Miller
 * David Cavendish as First Officer Lewis
 * David Clyde as Second Mate Evans
 * Charles McAvoy as O'Brien
 * Alan Ladd as Colin Farrell
 * Lawrence Grant as Mr. Negley
 * John Power as Captain of 'Dog Star'
 * William Haade as A Stoker

Production
The film was one in a series of million-dollar "spectacles" from Paramount. It was based on the history of the Cunard Line. This subject matter was inspired by the success of the movie Lloyd's of London, which led to a series of movies revolving around the history of companies. (Others from this time include Spawn of the North (1938), Western Union (1940), and Hudson Bay Company (1940).)

The film used the writer and director of the hit MGM film Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), Talbot Jennings and Frank Lloyd.

Will Fyffe, British film star, was borrowed from Gainsborough Pictures in the US to play engineer John Shaw. Filming started on his arrival in Hollywood on 19 April 1939. Margaret Lockwood had also been borrowed from Gainborough.

The film used two real ships, the sailing vessel being Metha Nelson.

The film was made with the British audience in mind, so Paramount were worried on the declaration of war.

Reception
Fairbanks Jr called it "a very boring story... very static. Lost a bundle."