Draegerman Courage
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Louis King
Jean Muir
Barton Maclane
Henry O'neill
Robert Barrat
Addison Richards
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Draegerman Andrew Beaupre, known as Beau, warns the mine foreman, John McNally, that in their hurry to meet company demands, the miners are not taking the time to set supports as they should. McNally protests that they have enough time to do the job correctly, but while they are talking, there is a cave-in at the mine. The men, including Beau, rush to the aid of the trapped miners and all are rescued, but there is a second collapse during the rescue and Pete Lawson, Beau's best friend, is seriously injured. Martin Crane, the mine owner, demands to see Beau when he hears about his accusations, and Beau tells him to his face that the cave-in should never have happened. Beau is in love with Ellen Haslett, the daughter of dedicated Dr. Thomas Haslett. Haslett does what he can to take care of the injured but is hampered in his efforts by an antiquated hospital and lack of equipment. After Pete dies, McNally denies that Beau warned him about dangers in the mine. When Beau stands up to him, Crane fires him, and Beau decides to leave town. As he is saying good-bye to Ellen, Suzy Haslett, her younger sister, is brought to the house after falling into a mine shaft and injuring her spine. Haslett calls in a specialist, who informs them that Suzy needs an immediate operation. Hoping to raise the money for Suzy's medical treatment, Haslett goes to Crane, who refuses to lend him any more money. When Haslett offers Crane ore from the Graveyard mine, which he owns, as collateral, Crane agrees to option the mine for a small sum and, if it looks satisfactory, to buy all rights for the remainder of Haslett's debt. Although he is reluctant to give up all his interests in the mine, Haslett agrees to the conditions for his daughter's sake. The two men, together with McNally, enter the mine that night, and almost instantly, it collapses around them, trapping them. To make matters worse, water is leaking into the mine, flooding the floor. No one realizes they are missing until the morning. The men manage to signal through a fissure in the wall, and a rescue team begins to dig to try to reach them with a phone and some food. Beau hears about the disaster and hurries back to aid the rescue efforts. In the meantime, McNally contracts pneumonia and dies. Then the phone drops in the water and shorts out, leaving the men out of contact with the surface. Finally after ten days, the draegermen break through. Beau inches his way along a narrow ledge to find Haslett and Crane barely alive. After the rescue, Crane's wife gives birth to a boy whom they name for Haslett, and Crane decides to build a new hospital in honor of their courageous rescuers.
Director
Louis King
Cast
Jean Muir
Barton Maclane
Henry O'neill
Robert Barrat
Addison Richards
Helen Mackeller
Gordon Oliver
Joseph Crehan
Priscilla Lyon
Walter Miller
Herbert Heywood
Ben Hendricks
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film is dedicated to the "draegermen of the United States and Canada, heroic mine rescue workers who have saved the lives of untold hundreds of their fellow men." According to contemporary sources, the film was based on an actual cave-in at the Moose River gold mine in Nova Scotia in 1936. Draegerman is a Nova Scotian term. An article in Motion Picture Herald's "In the Cutting Room" column lists Dick Purcell in the cast. His participation in the final film has not been confirmed.
