Captain Hurricane

1935's "Captain Hurricane" was a creaky RKO programmer with no stars, top billing going to screen newcomers James Barton and Helen Westley. The title role of Captain Zenas Henry Brewster (Barton) is that of a crusty old salt whose fiery temper has kept his girl Abbie Howland (Helen Westley) at arm's length for 15 years, refusing his marriage proposals until finally agreeing to become his housekeeper for $2 a week. This doesn't sit well with his fellow captains, Jeremiah (Gene Lockhart) and Ben (Henry Travers), who must clean up their act because she literally runs a tight ship. The arrival of Susan Ann (Helen Mack) brings much happiness to the household, being the daughter they never had, enjoying a relationship with Jimmy Howell (Douglas Walton). Things turn sour when Zenas Henry tries to turn over a new leaf for Abbie by purchasing a cranberry farm, only for him to be swindled out of his ship and his home. RKO contract player Creighton Chaney was originally cast as Abbie's younger brother Dave, and actually caved to studio pressure by finally changing his name to Lon Chaney Jr., only to end up on the cutting room floor. The part was undoubtedly a small one, and she still mentions her brother on two occasions early on, having lived with him until he married his sweetheart and moved away, still occasionally returning to visit. Considering the forgettable nature of the old fashioned story it's probably just as well that Chaney fans need not be burdened to watch its molasses slow 72 minutes.