Volume II: Filmography

WHEN THE FLEET SAILED

August 3, 1915 (Tuesday)

Length: 2 reels

Character: Drama

Director: Frederick Sullivan

Scenario: Lloyd F. Lonergan

Cast: Harry Benham (Lieutenant Monroe), Florence LaBadie (Lillian Rolfe, his sweetheart), Peggy Burke (Leila von Brüner, the spy), Perry Horton (Jack Homer, in love with her), Morgan Jones (Admiral Jones), Lieutenant Jack London of the U.S. Navy

Location: Aboard the U.S.S. Wyoming, which was anchored with the fleet in the North River, near New Rochelle.

ADVERTISEMENT, The Moving Picture World, August 7, 1915:

"It is doubtful whether any release ever represented greater effort than this. Florence LaBadie, Peggy Burke and Harry Benham are cast wonderfully in this production, which will be noted for its genuineness. Everything in it is real, from the great battleships to the officer's shoulder straps, and there is action in every sprocket-hole of the way."

ARTICLE, The Moving Picture World, May 29, 1915:

"THANHOUSERITES CAPTURE U.S.S. WYOMING: With the big fleet anchored in the North River, the word went round in New Rochelle that a naval picture was in order. So the regular 'location finder' went out to make arrangements for some scenes aboard one of the battleships. But when he got there he discovered that cameras are taboo on the big sea fighters, and all kinds of arguments did not avail. So he returned in failure. Florence LaBadie and Peggy Burke had been looking forward to the trip, however, and when the location expert returned they were keenly disappointed, to say the least. So they hatched up a little plan and the next morning found them aboard the big Wyoming. The first thing the studio knew, a message came in: 'We have met the enemy and they are lovely,' signed by Flo and Peggy. Director Sullivan and the crew packed into a car, still mystified, and dashed to the riverfront. There were Flo and Peggy, brave as you please, to welcome them into a government tender, with Lieutenant Jack London, U.S.N., of the Wyoming, as a gracious host. Aboard ship the officers did honor to the film folk in gallant style, Lieutenant London came as near to being a picture hero in fact as his vexing modesty would allow him to. Harry Benham, and Lloyd Lonergan thought that Peggy and Flo had bought the Wyoming, so cordial and accommodating was every man on the big battler. The scenes they took are for one of the regular Thanhouser releases, to be scheduled soon."

ARTICLE, The Morning Telegraph, August 1, 1915:

"Peggy Burke, Florence LaBadie and Harry Benham, who stole the battleship Wyoming when the fleet was anchored in the Hudson some time ago, will show the result of the theft soon. It will be called When the Fleet Sailed. Director Sullivan will undoubtedly be all swelled up again when he reminisces on being an admiral for a day, when he ordered the Jack Tars around just like a gold-braided grape juice toper."

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, July 31, 1915:

"Lieutenant Monroe, while Uncle Sam's navy is lying in the harbor of New York, entertains his fiancée, Lillian Rolfe, and Leila, a young woman friend of hers, on board his ship. The Admiral takes note of Lillian's friend and warns the lieutenant that she is suspected of being the spy of a European government. Later, he tells Monroe that the Navy Department is in possession of certain facts which have made those in authority extremely suspicious. It is recommended that Lieutenant Monroe ostensibly resign and let the fair spy initiate him into her schemes, as she doubtless will do if she imagines that Monroe has left the service under a cloud. The young officer reluctantly consents. He realizes that he cannot confide his plans to Lillian, and that already she half believes that he is in love with Leila. Monroe manages to get involved with the conspirators, who entrust to him the destruction of certain ships of the fleet lying in a New England port.

"He takes command of the yacht, which is to carry the mines to the men of war marked for destruction and then communicates with Admiral Jones by wireless. Meanwhile Lillian is confronted by Jack Homer, the jealous lover of Leila, who he believes has cast him off for the lieutenant. Supposing that the forsaken sweetheart of Monroe will side with him, he tells her of a plot to destroy the yacht, which has been dynamited. Lillian rushes to the wireless station. But it is too late. There is a flash, a roar, and the yacht seems to dissolve before her eyes. Lillian puts to sea in a launch. She rescues her lover. He tells her the whole story of his secret mission. Leila is arrested, the young officer honored by the Department, and he and Lillian are married."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, August 14, 1915:

"Advantage has been taken of the naval review in the making of this two-reel production. Harry Benham and Flo LaBadie are the central figures in the story that would have been interesting had the plot been worked out to a finish."

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