Botany Bay (1952) on Netflix
NR19521h 33mActionAdventureRomance
In 1787, prisoners in Newgate Jail learn they will serve life terms in New South Wales. Hugh Tallant, convicted of robbery, expects a pardon, but Captain Gilbert sails without it.
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- Netflix3.1/5
- IMDb6.2/10724 votes
- Rotten TomatoesNot available
Plot summary
A group of prisoners in Newgate Jail learns that their death sentences are replaced by life terms in New South Wales, and the men are put aboard ship, where a smaller group of women convicts joins them. The captain, Paul Gilbert, gives one of the women, Sally, the run of the vessel on certain conditions, and she turns away his attention. Hugh Tallant, a prisoner with medical training, offers money to anyone who will help him, and the pardon he expects does not come before the ship sails. He is taken on as ship's surgeon, which gives him freedom of the ship as well, though Gilbert is harsh with both prisoners and crew.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Botany Bay (1952)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Four koalas and two kangaroos were flown from Australia to appear in the film; the koalas were the first exported from Australia in 25 years and were later transferred to San Diego Zoo.
- Jonathan Harris said John Farrow once verbally attacked James Mason on the set of the bridge of a full-size ship; twenty minutes later, Harris said, Mason asked Farrow "Did you say something to me, sir?" and Farrow backed off.
- In 1941 Joel McCrea expressed interest in the lead; the film was later planned for a 1946 shoot in Australia starring Ray Milland, until Paramount became concerned about the cost.
- A ship under Captain Thomas Gilbert sailed with the real First Fleet, but none of the events the film attributes to its Captain Paul Gilbert occurred in reality.
