In 1857 Edwin L. Drake is sent to investigate an oil seep in a creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania. After conferring with Dr. Brewer (the land owner) and Joel D. Angier (who devised a ...
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Title: Born in Freedom: The Story of Colonel Drake (1954)
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Cast
| Cast overview: | |||
| Vincent Price | ... | Colonel Edwin L. Drake | |
| Andy Clyde | ... | Uncle Billy Smith | |
| Alan Hale Jr. | ... | Crew Foreman | |
| Thurston Hall | ... | James M. Townsend | |
| Lloyd Corrigan | ... | Doctor Brewer | |
| Will Wright | ... | Joel D. Angier | |
| Keith Richards | ... | George Henry Bissell | |
| Al Bridge | ... | Hotel Desk Clerk | |
| William 'Bill' Phillips | ... | Sam Brown | |
| William Haade | ... | Salt Driller | |
| Jack Ingram | ... | Man on Horseback | |
| Frank Hagney | ... | Farmer | |
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Storyline
In 1857 Edwin L. Drake is sent to investigate an oil seep in a creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania. After conferring with Dr. Brewer (the land owner) and Joel D. Angier (who devised a method of collecting oil using baffles), Drake reports back to James M. Townsend (Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company, New Haven, Conn.) that it should be feasible to increase the yield beyond the 3 to 6 gallons a day Angier has obtained. Put in charge, and addressed by the courtesy title of "Colonel" by the company, Drake first tries to dig down to the source of the oil and is heckled for his efforts. Water entry causes failure, as it does to Drake's first attempts to drill to the oil with Billy Smith ("Uncle Billy"), an experienced salt driller. Overcoming many other obstacles, Drake's innovation to shield the well from water entry by using a drive pipe finally allows drilling to proceed until striking oil in August, 1859. His perseverance yields many barrels of oil a day, and immediately brings about the ... Written by Brian Greenhalgh
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Colonel Edwin L. Drake: I think it is possible.
Joel D. Angier: To increase the quantity of the oil?
Doctor Brewer: And collect enough to make it commercially practical?
Colonel Edwin L. Drake: Yes. It may take time. But a way can, and will be, found.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The first color program showed on the DuMont television network. See more »Quotes
Joel D. Angier: I don't care what you think, mister. There's no way to increase that oil. I've tried every way there is and most of it still gets away. SO I'm telling ya, there just ain't no way.Colonel Edwin L. Drake: I think it is possible.
Joel D. Angier: To increase the quantity of the oil?
Doctor Brewer: And collect enough to make it commercially practical?
Colonel Edwin L. Drake: Yes. It may take time. But a way can, and will be, found.
See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
29 March 1954 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Story of Colonel Drake See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
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There isn't much to commend this corporate video apart from the fact that Vincent Price is in it, and the only reason that it has stood the test of time internationally is for the same reason. The story is of very little interest to those who live outside of the place that this is set, and has no real international appeal. Vincent Price's appearance in the film adds nothing to the value of the story, but his name on the credit sheet means that the corporate video will be handed down for posterity because of Vincent Price's appearance. Corporate videos are not known for their storytelling values because they are meant to be informative for those within the corporation. Vincent Price fans would do well to stay away from this corporate video as it does not come anywhere near the quality of Science Fiction Theatre.