Brothers from Liverpool navigate business rivalries, love interests, and the emerging steamship industry's challenges after their flagship vessel sinks on its maiden voyage, vying for a lucrative mail contract.

After their state-of-the-art steamship the "Gigantic" sinks a few minutes after being launched, the MacIver brothers of Liverpool begin to plan for the future of their company. David (Griffith Jones) takes a business-like approach and eventually joins forces with former rivals, but decides the expensive gamble of steamships is not the way to go. Charles (Sir Michael Redgrave) embarks on a different course, sailing on a doomed ship to America to forge an alliance with Samuel Cunard (Hartley Power). Eventually, the brothers are reunited in their bid to gain the mail contract from the British government, although their relationship might not last since each is in love with Mary (Valerie Hobson), the daughter of one of their backers.—Ron Kerrigan <[email protected]>

A century ago, strong rivalry existed between the ship owners of the two great British ports, Liverpool and Glasgow, and it was the vision and tenacity of young Charles MacIver (Sir Michael Redgrave) of Liverpool, which built the first fleet of steamships to ply the Atlantic, forming an unbreakable bond of friendship and understanding between the people of Britain and the people of the United States.—Les Adams <[email protected]>