In one of his last acting assignments before leaving show business for politics, Ronald Reagan played David Glasgow Farragut just a naval lieutenant in 1856 on a desultory peace time assignment in San Francisco. Farragut is bemoaning the lack of action in that it offers no chance for advancement in rank. He's considering resignation and tells wife June Dayton so.
But when the civil law breaks down in San Francisco and the Vigilance Committee gets started again Farragut responds to a call from the nabobs of Nob Hill and threatens to reduce the Barbary Coast to a rubble if illegally held prisoners aren't released.
I'm sure there was a backstory to all of this and the half hour format for Death Valley Days didn't allow for the telling. Still Reagan cut an impressive figure as then Lieutenant Farragut the future hero of Mobile Bay.
But when the civil law breaks down in San Francisco and the Vigilance Committee gets started again Farragut responds to a call from the nabobs of Nob Hill and threatens to reduce the Barbary Coast to a rubble if illegally held prisoners aren't released.
I'm sure there was a backstory to all of this and the half hour format for Death Valley Days didn't allow for the telling. Still Reagan cut an impressive figure as then Lieutenant Farragut the future hero of Mobile Bay.
