Little Old New York
Little Old New York
NR | 09 February 1940 (USA)
Little Old New York Trailers

Inventor Robert Fulton receives support from a tavern owner and a shipyard worker to help realize his dream of a high-powered steamboat.

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Reviews
Hadrina

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

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Robert Joyner

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

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Derry Herrera

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

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Yash Wade

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

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jjnxn-1

Though it probably has zip to do with the actual story of Robert Fulton and the invention and manufacture of the first steam engine this is a very pleasant little drama with light overtones. That's mainly due to the cast, all very competent performers who have a nice chemistry together.Alice Faye, not singing this time, is full of brassy snap as the most virtuous waterfront innkeeper who never existed who longs to leave the docks behind and become a lady. She's matched by Fred MacMurray full of cheery bonhomie as a shipbuilder, the now amusingly named Charley Brownne, who has a yen for Alice. Richard Greene is a bit of a stick as Fulton but he and Brenda Joyce make an attractive pair. And Andy Devine is along to add his squeaky voiced charm as a buddy of the lead pair.The title, an obvious attempt by Fox to conjure up thoughts of Alice's big hit of a few years before, In Old Chicago, has very little to do with the picture. You hardly see any outdoor shots of the city but the interior sets are handsomely mounted if unimaginatively lit as you'd expect for a Fox feature for their top star. If you're looking for a history lesson about the progress of navigation during the country's early years you won't find it here but if a enjoyable diversion for about an hour and a half is what you seek this will fill the bill. Nothing spectacular but a nice hidden gem for fans of the stars.

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Robert J. Maxwell

In order to really get anything out of this movie, with being irritated, you must "bracket" this story, as the phenomenologists would put it. I happen to consider myself very knowledgeable when it comes to phenomenology, having read the Wikipedia entry. The phenomenologist, Husserl insisted, must "bracket," that is "suspend his belief in," "not make any use of" all presuppositions, all that he already believes in, in order to be able to accept presuppositionless description of a film. Or -- we could put it this way: Forget what you know about steamboats. Sit back and enjoy the simple-minded myth.Now, boys and girls, we all know that Robert Fulton invented the steamboat even though it isn't true. But let's make believe it is. Richard Greene is Robert Fulton, a well-dressed English gentleman who arrives in New York in 1807, when Thomas Jefferson was president, books a room in Alice Faye's rough-hewn boarding house and tavern, and hires Fred MacMurray to build the hull of his new "steamboat." The hull should be finished at about the same time his steam engine reaches New York from England. The problem is that Greene has no money and must find an angel.Little old New York is some city, by the way. MacMurray muses about getting a farm on the Bowery or in Greenwich Village. (Twenty years later, Edgar Allan Poe had to move to the Bronx.) The aristos wear white stocking but most of the folks are in fustian garb -- unprepossessing but as clean as if they'd just come back from the laundry. The men are all closely shaved by the studio barber. There may not have been any effective sanitation system but the streets are cleaner than they are today. Fist fights break out all the time and nobody gets hurt. There are many Germans and Dutch, a beer pavilions. Everything and everyone is cozy. It's all simplified, of course, but I like it. It's like reading a newspaper printed for the half blind. Any normal person would like to live in such a Cloud Cuckoo Land if it weren't for the epidemics and the horse manure.Richard Greene, Alice Faye, Fred MacMurray, and Andy Devine are all good natured and friendly. There's a friendly darky too. He's a funny guy but we can't be sure of his status. Slavery wouldn't be abolished in New York for another ten years. Ward Bond is not friendly at all. He's a figure of some authority on the waterfront and the first thing he does when he enters the tavern is pick a fight with Richard Greene. Greene speaks and dresses a little like a fairy but he soon decks the burly Bond. There's a real man underneath those furbelows.Greene has a lot of difficulty getting financing and there is a dismissible comedy romance to take up time, but in the end the hull and engine are mated and launched on the Hudson River. The jeering crowd is skeptical of the contraption. Does it finally work? Are you kidding?

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jotix100

One of the 19th centuries great inventions was the steam ship. It opened rivers that weren't able to let ships from going upstream because of their currents. Up to that point navigation only was a one way affair. The vision of Robert Fulton was instrumental in how trade and commerce could be taken to remote ports along those waterways. The story centers around the time when Fulton was at a crossroads of how to make his idea work. To make matters worse, President Jackson's embargo was working against him since he could not get the engine he needed to make his dream come true.This is a delightful view at that time in history thanks to Rida Johnson's play, as directed with his usual fine style by Henry King. The screen adaptation was by Harry Tugend, who turned the basic premise into a vehicle for Alice Faye, its star.Miss Faye was at the height of her beauty at the time. She was a natural performer who projected charm and wit in most of her screen appearances. As Pat O'Day, the girl from the wrong side of town, she was a great asset in our enjoyment of the film. The handsome Fred McMurray is seen as Charles Browne, Fulton's friend and ally. Richard Greene excels as Robert Fulton, a man of great vision that revolutionized the shipping in the United States with his steam ship invention. Brenda Joyce also has some good moments as Harriet Livingstone, the woman who conquered Fulton's heart.The supporting cast is worth mentioning. Henry Stephenson, one of the best character actors of that time plays the Chancellor Robert Livingstone. Andy Devine and Ward Bond, both veterans of the movies of that era, are prominently featured.The music of Alfred Newman and the cinematography by Leon Shamroy add another layer to this film. Ultimately it's Henry King one must thank for the delightful product he gave us.

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Enrique Sanchez

Richard Greene and Alice Faye are extremely likeable in this memorable movie about "Fulton's Folly" and his eventual success with the Steam Engine driven Paddle boat. An invention that changed America and contributed greatly to the prosperity of the newly independent America.It is a shame that Greene, though he did achieve some fame, did not achieve the name status his debonair looks and likeable charm deserved.Fred MacMurray, Andy Devine, Ward Bond and Fritz Feld have wonderful smaller roles. The perfect music of Alfred Newman gives each moment just the right effect and feeling.I recommend this movie even if one already knows what the ending shall bring. History told this enjoyably affords us the chance to relive the wonderful moments in the struggles necessary to bring about man's achievements.

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