Plot
Engineer and inventor Robert Fulton (Richard Greene) comes to New York City in 1807, where he meets tavern and inn keeper Pat O'Day (Alice Faye). O'Day comes to strongly believe in Fulton and his dream after he lodges at her establishment. He pursues the investment capital he needs to build his visionary steam-powered ship. O'Day's longtime suitor, Charles Browne (Fred MacMurray), opens his own shipyard to assist the dapper engineer in building his steamboat after Fulton receives initial financial investment from Chancellor Robert L. Livingstone (Henry Stephenson). Additional funds are raised by O'Day' from her business acquaintances. Fulton eventually acquires the remaining funds needed to complete his revolutionary paddle steamer. After a shipwright named Regan (Ward Bond) has a run-in with Fulton, Regan attempts to turn every local deck hand and sail-powered passenger boat operator against the engineer, exploiting their fear of losing their livelihoods to a steam-powered vessel. In the end, despite adversity, bad luck, and additional interference from Regan, Fulton is able to complete the steamboat, now named ''Clermont'', at Charles Brown's shipyard. She is successfully launched on her first voyage, silencing the local critics and doubters who had previously labeled the venture "Fulton's Folly".Cast
* Alice Faye as Pat O'Day * Fred MacMurray as Charles Browne * Richard Greene as Robert Fulton * Brenda Joyce (actress), Brenda Joyce as Harriet Livingstone * Andy Devine as the Commodore * Henry Stephenson as Robert Le Roy Livingston, Chancellor Robert L. Livingstone * Fritz Feld as Pearl Street tavern keeper * Ward Bond as Ragen * Virginia Brissac as Mrs. Rudolph BrevoortProduction
This is one of Faye's few nonmusical features, and her fans complained about her not singing in the film while it was still in production. A song was later added during an outdoor political rally set in a festive beer garden; Faye's participation in the added song proved minimal. Both a 12-foot ''Clermont'' shooting miniature and a full-size mock-up were built in Hollywood for the Fox production. Both were based on the original full-sized North River Steamboat, ''Clermont'' replica built for the 1909 Hudson-Fulton Celebration, which was eventually broken up for scrap by her New York owners, a result of financial hardships brought on in the 1930s by the Great Depression. ''North River Steamboat'' is the actual name of the historic steamboat upon which this film is based; the vessel was never known as ''Clermont'' in its era.Adams, Arthur G. (19834). ''The Hudson Through the Years''. Westwood, New Jersey: Lind Publications. ''Little Old New York'' is a sound remake of a silent film of the Little Old New York (1923 film), same title made in 1923, directed by Sidney Olcott and starring Marion Davies, Stephen Carr, and J. M. Kerrigan.Soundtrack
*"Who Is the Beau of the Belle of New York", music and lyrics by Mack Gordon; performed by Tyler Brooke, joined by Alice Faye and other dancing patrons of Krausmeyer's Pavilion *"Ach Du Lieber Augustine", traditional German folksong played as dance music at Krausmeyer's Pavilion *"Du, du liegst mir im Herzen", traditional German folksong played as dance music at Krausmeyer's PavilionReferences
External links
* * * * * {{Darryl F. Zanuck 1940 films 1940s biographical films 1940s romantic comedy-drama films American black-and-white films American biographical films American romantic comedy-drama films Films set in 1807 Films set in New York City 20th Century Fox films Films scored by Alfred Newman Films produced by Darryl F. Zanuck Films directed by Henry King 1940 comedy films 1940 drama films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films Films with screenplays by John L. Balderston