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Brief Synopsis
Sir Arthur Blake has inherited title and lands from his brother. He also has his orphaned nephew Benjamin working for him as a bonded servant. While he believes the lad was born out of wedlock and so cannot claim the inheritance, he is taking no chances. Benjamin eventually rebels against his uncle and sets sail to try and make his fortune. This may enable him to return to prove his claim to being the rightful heir to the estate.
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Synopsis
In Bristol, England, during the reign of George III, gunsmith Amos Kidder is responsible for his young grandson, Benjamin Blake, as Amos' daughter Bessie ran away to India with Benjamin's father, Sir Godfrey Blake, the baronet of Breetholm, and both died after Benjamin was born. It is presumed that they never married, but Amos does not love his grandson any less for his illegitimacy. Their simple lives are destroyed, however, when Benjamin's cruel uncle, Sir Arthur Blake, learns of the boy's existence and demands that he live at Breetholm as a bonded servant. The law, which is on Arthur's side, forces Benjamin to comply, and in order to prove himself a true Blake, the boy endures his uncle's continuous mistreatment. Ten years pass, and Benjamin grows to manhood, works as one of the estate's grooms and falls in love with his cousin Isabel, Arthur's scheming yet lovely daughter. One evening, Benjamin tells Isabel that he is running away, and makes her promise to wait for him. She agrees to marry him when he is declared the rightful owner of the estate, but when Arthur catches them together, he beats Benjamin until he is unconscious. Later that night, Benjamin confronts Arthur, who holds a gun on him and threatens to send him to jail. Benjamin escapes and stows away aboard the Tropic Star . He is beaten when he is discovered on the ship, but as time passes, he becomes an excellent sailor. Benjamin is befriended by Caleb Green, who tells him about a tropical island where they can find a fortune in pearls. The pair desert ship and swim to the island, and there Benjamin wins the trust of the natives. Benjamin and Caleb enjoy their idyll while they collect pearls, although Caleb soon leaves their hut when a native woman, called Eve by Benjamin, moves in with Benjamin. The couple live happily as husband and wife, despite Eve's awareness that Benjamin is homesick and will leave someday. When a Dutch ship sails nearby, Eve sends Benjamin off with her blessing and he returns to England. There, he engages the services of influential solicitor Bartholomew Pratt, who promises to help him reclaim his birthright. Benjamin visits Isabel, who betrays him to the king's soldiers despite her assurances that she still loves him. When Benjamin is brought to trial for running away and trying to assault his master, he does not offer any defense, admitting that he performed the acts of which he is accused. He is about to be sentenced to death when Pratt appears in the courtroom. Pratt reveals that because Benjamin's father and mother were married aboard ship as they sailed to India, Benjamin is the rightful heir of Breetholm and is therefore not guilty of any crime. After being released, Benjamin goes to the manor house, where he learns of Isabel's treachery. He evicts his relatives, deeds the manor house to Amos and orders that the land be divided among the tenant farmers. Benjamin then returns to his island paradise to live the rest of his life with Eve.
QueenieBee
Wonderful characters!
I watch this film monthly on the Fox Movie Channel and it's wonderful. The performances by Tyrone Power, George Sanders ...
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