Arnold Ridley - a well-known playwright and Daisy Ridley's (Star Wars) great uncle, wrote his first original film scenario and screenplay entitled Royal Eagle.
Arnold had already spent some time prior to this at studios, learning film skills such as directing,riptwriting and other production jobs.
The film was a crime drama, partly set and filmed on the real life 'Royal Eagle' paddle steamer, which ferried passengers fromndon Tower Pier to Southend, Ramsgate and Margate. Most of the action takes place on board the steamer and these location scenes were the first to be filmed, commencing the 16th September 1935. 'The Royal Eagle' was chartered, to enable scenes to be shot during a voyage. Studio scenes, including some on mock-ups of sections of the ship, were then filmed at British International Pictures, Borehamwood.
The plot involved a clerk (played by John Garrick), wrongly suspected of committing a murder and warehouse robbery.
The real crooks (Edmund Willard and Lawrence Anderson) escape to sea, but are surrounded by a police cordon.
The film garnered good reviews and did well at the UK cinema, apparently. Ridley went on to write more plays but his second film screenplay was mired in financial problems and filming was never completed.
Arnold later became the completely unforgettable Private Godfrey, in Dad's Army.
No footage of Royal Eagle has ever been found.
