Alan Ladd stars as a the son of a wealthy ship magnate who finds himself forced to sail on one of his father's brutal ships in Two Years Before the Mast. Like the rest of the world's land-dwellers, Charles Stewart (Ladd) knew nothing of a sailor's life at sea… and as the son of a very rich ship owner, he never should have. Nevertheless, after being made to sail on the S.S. Pilgrim, he soon discovers the ocean of brutality that was a sailor's lot in life during the 1840's. Sickened and ultimately swayed by a sea of daily floggings, beatings and knifings, Charles must decide between silence and allegiance or mutiny against the ship's heartless Captain. © 1946 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.