A Fragata Invicta

Hollywood studios have always tried to introduce new technologies to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. Paramount Pictures found an easy solution to make their adventure films more exciting by innovating the "Magnascope." As the name describes, Magnascope was a projection process where, during exciting adventure scenes the projectionist would switch to a larger widescreen lens. The first use of the Magnascope was during the battle scenes in December 1926's "Old Ironsides." Even though the picture quality suffered somewhat since the movie was filmed by the film standard 4:3 aspect ratio, when the projectionist turned his lenses to the widescreen, the on-screen image became close to the modern-day 1:85:1 rectangular sizing. The process was used in several Paramount films, but was retired once newer innovations emerged in the projection booth.

During its December 6, 1926, premier at New York City's Rialto Theatre, when the projector operator turned to the Magnascope lens to increase the picture size during a maritime battle sequence, the audience collectively stood up and cheered. The movie's subject, focused in on the USS Constitution during its early Barbary Coast pirate confrontations, profited greatly from the sold-out premier since Paramount donated all its proceeds from that evening to the restoration fund for the ship's refitting. The frigate was one of the first ships the young United States Navy's had constructed, designed specifically to fight the pirate menace off the North African coast. The USS Constitution was built with durable live southern oak growing on St. Simons Island, Georgia, and milled nearby before shipped to Boston. Despite what the "Old Ironside" movie depicts, the USS Constitution earned its nickname 'Ironside' from the War of 1812's battle against the HMS Guerriere, where the British cannonballs could be seen bouncing off the ship's planking.

"Old Ironsides," directed by James Cruze, who introduced the epic Western genre in his 1923 "The Covered Wagon," filmed a combination of real and miniature ships for his action scenes. During one battle sequence, a real ship, the S. N. Castle, built in 1886, was retrofitted to appear as an early-1800s ship. The S. N. Castle was actually fired upon and sank specifically for the movie. The film had an all-star Paramount Studio cast, including Charles Farrell, Esther Ralston, Wallace Beery and George Bancroft. Even Boris Karloff is seen in a bit part as a pirate guard.

Silent movies somehow found a way to incorporate a romantic angle, no matter how remote the possibilities might be. Actress Esther Ralston finds herself on a mercantile ship journeying the transatlantic when the pirates overtake the boat. Ralston was popular in Hollywood during the making of "Old Ironside," earning $8,000 per week. Once talkies took over the movies, she appeared to be making a successful transition. But she was suddenly relegated to minor roles in low-budget films by small-time studios in the mid-1930s. Ralston claims in her autobiography, 'Some Day We'll Laugh,' that she refused to sleep with MGM's head Louis B. Mayer. She soon discovered her studio contract was canceled and found herself gray listed in Hollywood.

Charles Farrell, playing the love-lorn sailor whose physicality and heroism gains the attention of Esther while she's on the boat, gained one of his first major parts in "Old Ironside" after arriving on the Hollywood scene in 1923. He would receive further prominence by his lead role in 1927's "7th Heaven." Having a relatively successful film career until the early 1940s, he eventually entered city politics at his hometown Palm Springs, California, and was mayor there from 1947 until 1955.

"Old Ironsides" itself was the fifth highest box office movie in 1926. But as par for costly epics, the expensive production didn't quite make its money back for Paramount even though the public flocked the theaters in droves to view the spectacle.

This picture is absolutely fantastic. I just saw it two nights ago when I was clearing out my room and felt in the mood for a sea epic. It's funny how someone like me, who doesn't even know how to swim (and doesn't plan to), indulges himself with every sea picture he sees. Chuck Farrell proves a worthy choice for the lead; a dreamer, seeking adventure on the high seas. Esther Ralston, even though I'm anti-blonde, is gorgeous as his supporting heroine. The portion of the cast that MADE the picture however was Wallace Beery and George Bancroft. They were awesome characters and the fight scenes between them were hilarious. I will NOT reveal anymore important plot elements, see the picture for yourself and enjoy. Just make sure to bring a towel, you're bound to get drenched with excitement.

Like Orson Welles with Citizen Kane, James Cruze spent the rest of his directorial career trying to top the success of the epic western The Covered Wagon. The sea serves as the prairie landscape for this film, Old Ironsides the story of the first days of that valiant ship of the line in our new US Navy for Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes penned his immortal poem.

In this film the Constitution is a new ship and it's off to fight in the war against the Barbary pirates of Tripoli. In what I think is a rather unnecessary prologue we're shown scenes of the debates in the 5th Congress as to whether we should have a navy at all.

When the meat of the story gets served it's a slice of action and romance. Young Charles Farrell goes off to sea in search of adventure and gets recruited in a grog shop by boatswain Wallace Beery. Also recruited that way is George Bancroft who is a gunner on the new Constitution. Bancroft ain't happy on the way he was drafted and he and Beery have a running feud going.

As for Farrell, he's got eyes for passenger Esther Ralston, but she's out of his league. But they all get into the same fix when the Barbary pirates capture them and the ship. After that it's the US Navy and the as yet to be named Old Ironsides to the rescue. Most important for Ralston as the pirates have a choice place in the sultan's harem for her.

The Constitution was as yet to be named Old Ironsides. That would occur later on in the era before the War of 1812 when she battled the British ship of the line Guerriere. The battle scenes are well staged, the recently departed from Paramount Cecil B. DeMille couldn't have done better than Cruze.

The film holds up very well and if it isn't history it's good entertainment.

Old Ironsides a good film but you have to wait for the real action to start,which does not come in to play until you near the end of the film.But do watch and wait for there is a fantastic ship explosion which is well worth waiting for.Wallace Beery plays a right devious hard nut character and he looks the part.Esther Ralston looks great and once again toward the end of the film she lets her hair down and looks even better.The start of the film is a bit slow then when it moves on to life on the ship there are some funny parts and you get a glimpse of what life on board may have been like.Just one downside to the film for me,the Wurlitzer organ,after ten minutes it drove me mad,what did I do?, I simply turned off the volume sat back and enjoyed the rest of the film.I must say take the time to watch Treasure Island (1934)which also stars Wallace Beery, he plays a fantastic Long John Silver.

Having enjoyed MASTER & COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD with Russell Crowe and its incredible depiction of life aboard an early 19th century frigate, I decided to re-view this 1926 film of shipboard life. I was surprised to note that several scenes in OLD IRONSIDES are quite similar to scenes in MASTER & COMMANDER. Surely director Peter Weir must have screened this movie before making his. The battle sequences are very similar with sand being spread on deck to absorb blood, the crew hitting the deck to avoid a volley, young boys dying during the fighting, and fierce close up hand to hand combat. Both movies are set during the same time period but this story is very different with the USS Constitution versus the Barbary Pirates being the setting here.

Charles Farrell who was a big romantic lead in the 20's especially when paired with Janet Gaynor, shows here why he was so popular. He is vulnerable but heroic, reserved but not stoic and he possesses an effortless charm that makes him appealing. Although playing the standard damsel in distress role, Esther Ralston makes an engaging heroine who is not a total wimp when the going gets tough. Character actors Wallace Beery and George Bancroft have a field day as feuding sailors while George Godfrey is featured in a more significant role than black actors of the time were usually given. Add to that some brief nudity and a discreetly sexy performance from Ralston (she was once known as The American Venus) and you have a real winner on your hands.

This epic film was well directed by movie pioneer James Cruze (THE COVERED WAGON, THE GREAT GABBO) who is all but forgotten today due to virtually all of his films being lost. Finally Paramount with the help of Kino Lorber has released this on DVD/Blu-Ray along with several of the others in their VHS silent film series of over 30 years ago including THE COVERED WAGON and a new release of Rudolf Valentino's THE SHEIK. Now if we can just get a restored version of Erich von Stroheim's THE WEDDING MARCH, then we will have them all. Special features included with this release are background commentary, a booklet, and Rodney Sauer's piano reduction of the original 1926 orchestral score...For more reviews visit The Capsule Critic.