Plymouth Adventure (1952) [VHS]

Plymouth Adventure (1952) [VHS]
by Clarence Brown

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Category: VHS Video
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Product details

Actor: Barry Jones, Gene Tierney, Leo Genn, Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson
Director: Clarence Brown
Cinematographer: William H. Daniels
Editor: Robert Kern
Producer: Dore Schary
Writer: Ernest Gebler
Writer: Helen Deutsch
Edition: VHS Tape
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
Running Time: 105 minutes
Release Date: 1997-06-09
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: MGM (Warner)
Studio: MGM (Warner)

VHS Movie Reviews of Plymouth Adventure (1952) [VHS]

Movie Review: Something Is Missing But Still Worth Viewing
Summary: 4 Stars

I enjoyed "Plymouth Adventure" very much although it is a flawed film. Something is missing. We learn very little about the persecution of the Pilgrims and their beliefs except that they pray "standing upwards" and are very clean. They even wash with the ship's limited drinking water which causes consternation among crew members. It was especially difficult for me to believe that the wife (Gene Tierney) of Pilgrim leader, William Bradford (Leo Genn) would prefer the ship's bloated, craggy, bitter, and alcoholic captain (Spencer Tracy) over her good-looking and articulate husband. The urbane and darkly handsome Leo Genn became well-known as a fine British film and stage actor with the "black velvet voice" and had already received critical acclaim for his excellent acting (and wit) in "Quo Vadis" (1951) and "Henry V" (1944). Bradford is portrayed as a responsible man who is indifferent to his wife and her beauty but not so oblivious to his wife's longing glances at the captain. I doubt that audiences of 1952 would be so critical; this film still holds up well and the special effects are good. It is interesting that Gene Tierney and Leo Genn would go on to star as a married couple in the British film "A Personal Affair" (1953). Final note: Why is this video so expensive?!!

Movie Review: Pity that Hollywood has done so little with the Pilgrims
Summary: 3 Stars

"Plymouth Adventure" is just about the only Pilgrim movie I can think of (I'm not counting the various "Scarlet Letter"s and Salem Witch movies--those are about Puritans already settled in the New Land, not the Pilgrims just coming over). It's not really a bad movie, but it's not really a good one either. Stellar cast: Spencer Tracy as Capt Jones, not really into the Pilgrims' scene, but just doing his job; Leo Genn as William Bradford, intent on leading his followers to religious freedom; Gene Tierney as his wife, devoted to her husband but feeling stirrings for Jones. Van Johnson's on board too as "Speak for Yourself John" Alden. Sad ending actually a slight twist on real life fate of one of the principals. Perhaps a good starting point for a history lesson with the children on Thanksgiving Day.

Movie Review: NOT 1952'S BEST PICTURE
Summary: 2 Stars

With all respect to the other reviewer, this movie did not win the Oscar for Best Picture of 1952. (I believe it was "The Greatest Show on Earth"). Unfortunately "Plymouth Adventure" is one of those movies that has a talented cast which just can't overcome a mediocre script. Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson's half-hearted attempts at English accents are laughable at times. But, on the positive side, any movie with Gene Tierney in it is bound to be nice to look at (though being a Puritan her attire is appropriately modest). And the Mayflower itself looks good. But the film really has no depth. It's a shame the actors, particularly Tracy, weren't better served.

Movie Review: Costumes, adventure and drama -- this movie has it all!
Summary: 5 Stars

This is a great movie! It has the drama of an important historical event, with shades of an illicite affair between the captian of the Mayflower and the wife of a Pilgrim leader. However, it is all done with subtle glances. The storm scene is also very exciting. The signing of the Mayflower Compact is utterly dramatic! There are a few historical liberties, but over all, it is a good movie! In fact, it won Best Picture for 1952.

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Summary of Plymouth Adventure (1952) [VHS]

Spencer Tracy and Gene Tierney star in this Hollywood realization of life aboard the Mayflower on her most historic journey. In one of his meanest roles since Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Tracy is at his gruffest and bitterest as the disagreeable, tempestuous Captain Jones, master of the famous vessel that carried the Pilgrims to the New World. Tierney in Technicolor is as beautiful as ever, despite being cast as a somber Pilgrim. Leo Genn's portrayal of Pilgrim leader William Bradford is memorable, while Lloyd Bridges, Van Johnson, and John Dehner round out the excellent cast. The depiction of the hardships faced by the passengers and crew on the voyage are fairly accurate, despite any minor liberties taken with historical facts. The film won a 1953 Oscar for special effects, and the storm sequence alone is still worth the price of admission today. --Mark Savary

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Plymouth Adventure (1952) [VHS]

Plymouth Adventure (1952) [VHS]by Clarence Brown

Product details

VHS Movie Reviews of Plymouth Adventure (1952) [VHS]

Movie Review: Something Is Missing But Still Worth ViewingSummary: 4 Stars

Movie Review: Pity that Hollywood has done so little with the PilgrimsSummary: 3 Stars

Movie Review: NOT 1952'S BEST PICTURESummary: 2 Stars