Little Old New York (1940) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Little Old New York is set in New York City during 1807, specifically at locations like Charles Browne's shipyard. The film captures the city as a bustling hub of taverns, inns, and early industry where ambitious inventors sought funding for revolutionary projects.

• new york city
• 1807
• setting
• shipyard
• location

The movie takes place in 1807, during the early 19th century when steam power was emerging as a transformative technology. This era saw merchants and entrepreneurs navigating the opportunities and risks of rapid industrial change.

• 1807
• early 19th century
• historical period
• 1800s

Robert Fulton is portrayed as a visionary engineer who travels to New York City in 1807 seeking funding for his steam-powered boat, the Clermont. He is determined to transform transportation despite widespread skepticism, representing the driven inventor pursuing technological dreams.

• robert fulton
• inventor
• engineer
• clermont
• steam boat

Pat O'Day is an innkeeper portrayed by Alice Faye who becomes a believer in Fulton's dream. She uses her network of connections to help raise funds for the steamboat project, balancing business pragmatism with optimism while supporting the inventor's vision.

• pat oday
• innkeeper
• investor
• supporter

Charles Browne is a shipyard owner who partners with Robert Fulton to build the steamboat. Practical and ambitious, he leverages his resources to push forward this radical project, representing the entrepreneurial spirit of the era.

• charles browne
• shipyard owner
• partner
• builder

Regan is an antagonistic figure who resists Fulton's steam dream, using intimidation and political pressure to sway deckhands and boat operators. He represents the fear that new technology will destroy traditional livelihoods in sail-based work.

• regan
• antagonist
• opposition
• skeptic

The film centers on innovation through Robert Fulton's relentless pursuit of steam-powered technology. It depicts the demanding process of securing funding, designing, and testing the Clermont, showing the tension between dreamers and skeptics. The payoff comes when ingenuity overcomes doubt, demonstrating how innovation reshapes transportation and urban life.

• innovation
• technology
• steam power
• invention
• clermont

The movie explores skepticism through characters like Regan who fear for their livelihoods as steam threatens established sail-based work. The story uses this friction to show how communities negotiate progress and protect economic interests. Fulton's response is to overcome skepticism through perseverance and demonstration of his technology's value.

• skepticism
• progress
• fear of technology
• opposition
• livelihood

The Clermont represents progress and transformation. Its successful launch marks a turning point in transportation and industry. The film frames progress as a collective achievement involving investors, shipyards, and laborers who adapt to new technology, ending with a triumph that redefines what a city can achieve.

• clermont
• steamboat
• progress
• launch
• transportation

Robert L. Livingstone is a financier who provides the initial investment to Fulton's steamboat project. He becomes a key ally in moving the Clermont from concept to launch, representing the capital backing that innovators need to bring revolutionary ideas to life.

• robert livingstone
• financier
• investor
• backer