HEARTS IN BONDAGE (1936) James Dunn, Mae Clarke & David Manners | Drama, Romance | B&W

Hearts in Bondage is a 1936 American black-and-white war drama film directed by Lew Ayres for Republic Pictures. Set during the American Civil War, the film depicts the Union Navy's deliberate sinking of USS Merrimack, the Confederate States Navy's salvage and refitting of the ship as the ironclad CSS Virginia, the Union Navy's development of the ironclad USS Monitor to counter Virginia, and the subsequent engagement of the two vessels in the Battle of Hampton Roads. It also features many historical characters, including United States President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, and Confederate States President Jefferson Davis. The fictional plot, starring James Dunn, Mae Clarke, and David Manners, pits two friends and future brothers-in-law on opposite sides of the North–South conflict, dividing their families and threatening their survival. Hearts in Bondage is notable as a rare example of a Hollywood film to depict the naval battles of the American Civil War.

SYNOPSIS
Best friends Kenneth Reynolds and Raymond Jordan are U.S. Navy officers, and Kenneth is engaged to Raymond's sister. But the eruption of the Civil War divides them.

Lieutenant Kenneth Reynolds and his good friend, fellow naval officer Raymond Jordan, go ice-skating with their girls in anticipation of being called to war. Reynolds' beau, Constance (Connie) Jordan, who is Raymond's sister, accepts Kenneth's marriage proposal. Meanwhile, at a government war council discussing the secession of six Southern states to form the Confederacy, two officials from Virginia are asked to declare their loyalty to the Union. Captain Buchanan resigns from the Navy to join the Confederates, while Commodore Jordan remains. A similar loyalty test confronts Raymond, who does not want to be separated from his fiancée, Captain Buchanan's daughter Julie, and leaves to join the Confederates in Virginia. Kenneth decides to stay with the Union and is put in charge of USS Merrimack. When the ship is attacked by Confederate troops at Gosport Navy Yard, Kenneth receives orders to burn the ship, but defies the orders and sinks the vessel to save the hull and engines. He is court-martialed and dishonorably discharged from the Union Navy. He cannot find another job because everyone considers him a traitor, so he goes to help his uncle John Ericsson complete his new design of USS Monitor, an ironclad warship.

The Union learns that the Confederates have salvaged Merrimack and refitted her in iron as the CSS Virginia. Kenneth encourages his uncle to submit to the government his design of the ironclad Monitor, which features a unique revolving gun turret. Though the Navy has accepted the plans of Bushnell, another shipbuilder, Commodore David G. Farragut smooths things over and helps everyone see that the Monitor is a better choice to engage in battle with the enemy.

Not enough volunteers answer the call to man Monitor, so Kenneth is accepted despite his dishonorable discharge. Meanwhile, Raymond has been named third in command on the CSS Virginia. When Connie finds out that Kenneth will be fighting against her brother, she is unable to forgive him. Though Kenneth still wants to be with her, he must fulfill the call of duty.

The Battle of Hampton Roads finds Virginia attacking and sinking USS Cumberland and USS Congress in the harbor. The next day, Virginia approaches USS Minnesota and Monitor engages it in battle. Lieutenant Worden is wounded and Kenneth is put in charge of the second gun. After further exchange of gunfire, Raymond suggests that Virginia pull up alongside Monitor and board it. Through the gun hole, Kenneth sees Raymond approaching at the head of the boarding party and is distraught that he must kill him, but orders his men to fire both guns.

CAST & CREW
James Dunn as Lieutenant Kenneth Reynolds
Mae Clarke as Constance Jordan
David Manners as Raymond Jordan
Charlotte Henry as Julie Buchanan
Henry B. Walthall as Captain Buchanan
Fritz Leiber, Sr. as Captain John Ericsson
George Irving as Commodore Jordan
Irving Pichel as Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles
J.M. Kerrigan as Paddy Callahan
Frank McGlynn Sr. as Abraham Lincoln
Ben Alexander as Eggleston
Oscar Apfel as Captain Gilman
Clay Clement as Lieutenant Worden
Edward Gargan as 'Mac' McPherson
Russell Hicks as Senator Pillsbury
George "Gabby" Hayes as Ezra
Douglas Wood as Commodore David G. Farragut
Bodil Rosing as Mrs. Adams
Erville Alderson as Jefferson Davis
John Hyams as Bushnell
Etta McDaniel as Mammy
Warner Richmond as Bucko
Lloyd Ingraham as Timekeeper

Directed by Lew Ayres
Written by Wallace MacDonald (original story), Bernard Schubert, Olive Cooper, Karl Brown
Produced by Nat Levine
Cinematography Jack A. Marta, Ernest Miller
Edited by Ralph Dixon
Music by Hugo Riesenfeld
Production company Republic Pictures
Distributed by Republic Pictures
Release date August 15, 1936
Running time 72 minutes
Country United States
Language English