John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones is a 1959 biographical adventure film from Warner Bros. Pictures, filmed in the Technirama process, about the American Revolutionary War naval hero. The film, shot in Denia, Spain, was produced by Samuel Bronston and directed by John Farrow, from a screenplay by John Farrow, Ben Hecht, and Jesse Lasky Jr. The film is based on the story Nor'wester by Clements Ripley. The music score was by Max Steiner and the cinematography was by Michel Kelber. It was the final film directed by Farrow.
Plot
A United States Navy officer recounts the life of John Paul Jones to new midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. In 1759, a young John Paul undergoes an apprenticeship on board a merchantman, serving on several ships and becoming the master of his own ship by 1773. In Tobago, a mutinous subordinate challenges Paul, who kills him; the governor of Tobago, not wanting him arrested, advises Paul to go to Virginia, where his brother lives. Paul agrees, changing his name to "John Paul Jones" to disguise himself. After arriving in Fredericksburg, Jones finds his brother has recently dead and left his estate, including two slaves Scipio and Cato, to him. As Jones is opposed to slavery, he frees the duo, who continue to work for him. Jones also retains the services of his brother's attorney Patrick Henry. Jones shares Henry's hostility towards British rule in the American colonies, but finds himself torn between their friendship and his romantic feelings for Henry's love interest Dorothea. The will of Jones' brother required him to settle down as a father, but Jones finds himself ill-suited for the profession, and having been rejected by Dorothea's father for her hand in marriage decide to return to sea.
Cast
- Antonio Mayáns
- Archie Duncan
- Basil Sydney
- Bette Davis
- Bruce Cabot
- Charles Coburn
- David Farrar
- Eric Pohlmann
- Erin O'Brien
- Ford Rainey
- Frank Latimore
- George Rigaud
- Georges Rivière
- Jean-Pierre Aumont
- John Crawford
- José Nieto
- Judson Laire
- Macdonald Carey
- Marisa Pavan
- Mia Farrow
- Peter Cushing
- Phil Brown
- Robert Stack
- Susana Canales
- Thomas Gomez