Down to the Sea in Ships | 1922 | Adventure Drama

Title: Down to the Sea in Ships | 1922 | Adventure Drama Director: Elmer Clifton Studio: Whaling Film Corporation Starring: William Walcott, Marguerite Courtot, Raymond McKee, Clara Bow Based on: Original screenplay by John L. E. Pell Release Date: Late 1922 (Massachusetts premiere); wide release March 4 1923 Runtime: Approximately 85–118 minutes Format: Silent black and white with English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Adventure Drama Romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to New Bedford whaling town 00:15:00 Patience Morgan and suitors 00:30:00 Allan Dexter’s return and conflict 00:45:00 Shanghaied aboard whaling ship 01:00:00 Harpooning and shipboard struggle 01:15:00 Return and reunion --- Summary: Down to the Sea in Ships is a 1922 American silent adventure drama set in the 19th-century whaling community of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The story follows Patience Morgan, daughter of a devout Quaker whaling fleet owner, and her childhood friend Allan Dexter, whose love is opposed by her father because he is neither a whaler nor a Quaker. After Dexter is forcibly placed on a whaling ship, he proves his worth at sea and wins a chance to return home in time to reunite with Patience. The narrative blends romantic conflict, family expectations, and vivid depictions of the perilous whaling industry, including semi-documentary sequences of whales being hunted and processed. The film’s title refers to Psalm 107 and evokes the epic nature of life and labor on the open ocean. --- Background: Directed and produced by Elmer Clifton for the independent Whaling Film Corporation, Down to the Sea in Ships was filmed on historic New England locations with authentic whaling footage and period detail. The production includes sequences shot aboard the historic whaling ship Charles W. Morgan and features quotations from maritime literature in its title cards, adding to its historical texture. The film is notable for being one of the earliest substantial screen roles for Clara Bow, who appears as the mischievous granddaughter Dot. --- Trivia: Clara Bow’s appearance in Down to the Sea in Ships marked her first significant film exposure and contributed to her early career momentum. The movie includes extensive on-location whaling footage that provides a rare visual record of 19th-century whaling practices. Title cards in the film quote from Herman Melville’s *Moby-Dick* and other maritime writings to amplify its thematic connection to sea lore. The film was popular with audiences in New York, running for an extended engagement despite mixed critical reviews. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: Late 1922 (regional) / March 4 1923 (wide) Original Studio / Distributor: Whaling Film Corporation / W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #DownToTheSeaInShips1922 #ElmerClifton #SilentFilm #ClaraBow #Whaling #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain