Little Old New York

In this historical drama, Richard Greene stars as the designer of the steamboat. At first, no one's interested enough to finance his project, but with the help of his new friends, the low class but tenacious Fred MacMurray and Alice Faye, he shows his model to more and more people. Added into the mix are brawny bully Ward Bond, silly sailor Andy Devine, and Ben Carter, Alice's hired hand whom she treats terribly and always accuses of stealing drinks.

A warning for all Alice Faye fans: it's just as obvious that she's out of Richard's league as it is that she's falling in love with him, and it's a bit sad. Richard falls for Brenda Joyce and her wealthy uncle Henry Stephenson, who's financing his steamboat. Alice looks very cute in this movie, and it's not fun to see her getting her heart broken over a fellow who isn't worth it-which, let's face it, is the only type of fellow who goes around breaking hearts. Also, this isn't a musical, and the only song, "Who Is the Beau of the Belle of New York," is sung and danced to during an outdoor celebration. It's a very cute song, but so brief that this movie qualifies as one of Alice's only non-singing roles.

Robert Fulton after trying and failing to develop a ship powered by a steam engine is having trouble getting some new backing. A prototype vessel blew up on the River Seine as he was trying to impress Napoleon Bonaparte with steam's potential. Now he's back in Little Old New York trying to sell the idea to the movers and shakers of his day.

Richard Greene plays the idealistic and gentlemanly Fulton. But the only two converts he makes are his landlady, tavern owner Alice Faye and Fred MacMurray, who works for Ward Bond at a shipyard. But after Fulton beats bully boy Bond in a fight, MacMurray loses his job. But Fred starts his own shipyard and his first client will be Fulton if he can raise the money.

Little Old New York had the story of Robert Fulton grafted on to a play by Rida Johnson Young of the same name that was the basis for the film. There's no mention that in real life Fulton was as handy with his dukes as he is in this film. It is true he married the niece of Chancellor Robert Livingston played by Brenda Joyce and Livingston did finally sell some of his friends like Nicholas Roosevelt, John Jacob Astor, and Washington Irving to finally back Fulton's steamboat.

Livingston is played by one of my favorite character actors Henry Stephenson who always brings a touch of old world class to all his roles. Livingston's title of Chancellor stems from the fact the chief judicial officer of New York had that title, a carryover from colonial days. Among other things Livingston did was swear in George Washington to his first term as president. There was no Supreme Court yet because Washington hadn't appointed anyone yet.

Little Old New York probably was seen by Darryl Zanuck as a fitting sequel to In Old Chicago which was Alice Faye's first period costume film. The parts that Fred MacMurray and Richard Greene have are those that would normally have been played by Tyrone Power and Don Ameche. In fact I could see both of those guys playing either of the MacMurray or Greene parts.

If Little Old New York is not the real story of Robert Fulton it certainly is a nice bit of entertainment served up by a fine cast at the direction of Henry King.

This film sports winning performances (Alice Faye is delightful and very accomplished as a light comic actress), plenty of well-played comedy and well-staged action, a fine Alfred Newman score. But what really impressed and intrigued me were some elaborately staged outdoor scenes which appeared to be at least partially shot on a real 18th century seaport, not just the back lot. Either Fox spent a whole lot of money constructing a very large and realistic looking seaport set, or some of this was shot on location at some historic recreation site, or the art director was a genius in making the back lot look a lot bigger than it was. Interesting to see what a muscular hunk Fred MacMurray was, very different than his image in later years.

Richard Greene and Alice Faye are extremely likeable in this memorable movie about "Fulton's Folly" and his eventual success with the Steam Engine driven Paddle boat. An invention that changed America and contributed greatly to the prosperity of the newly independent America.

It is a shame that Greene, though he did achieve some fame, did not achieve the name status his debonair looks and likeable charm deserved.

Fred MacMurray, Andy Devine, Ward Bond and Fritz Feld have wonderful smaller roles. The perfect music of Alfred Newman gives each moment just the right effect and feeling.

I recommend this movie even if one already knows what the ending shall bring. History told this enjoyably affords us the chance to relive the wonderful moments in the struggles necessary to bring about man's achievements.

"Little Old New York" is a fictional story about Robert Fulton's invention of the first successful steamboat. It is based on a 1920 Broadway play by Rida Young of the same title that ran for 308 performances. Young was a playwright who became best known for her lyrics to Victor Herbert's operetta, "Naughty Marietta."

Fulton had been living in Europe for some 20 years where he first made a living as a painter and then began working on inventions, sometimes with others. Back in the States, Fulton set out to find backing to build the first steamboat to navigate rivers. Henry Stephenson plays Robert Livingston, a former U.S. ambassador whom Fulton had met and befriended in England. Livingston helped raise the funds for Fulton's steamboat.

Richard Green plays Robert Fulton, and while the story is about his invention, it revolves mostly around another couple. Much, if not most of this is fictional, of course. Alice Faye plays Pat O'Day, a wharf front tavern owner who first is smitten by Fulton, and then helps round up support and finances for him. Her cohort in this adventure is Charles Brownne, played by Fred MacMurray. He's been Pat's beau all along.

This is a light comedy and drama about Fulton's invention. It does have some historical value, but mostly in its pictorial presentation of the docks and shipbuilding of 18th and 19th centuries, The Fox studio did a superb job in replicating the shipbuilding works of New England of the day. And in portraying the craft of shipbuilding at the time.