MovieChat Forums > Mr. Soft Touch (1949) Discussion > Ocean liners in the opening scene?

Ocean liners in the opening scene?


Did anyone recognize which ones they were? I am surprised it wasn't under Trivia.

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It would appear by the ship's funnel markings with the letter "M" and the black cap (with presumably yellow below) that the two large ships at Pier 34 at the beginning of the film are from the Matson Line (aka Matson Navigation Co.). That line had four large ocean liners plying the Pacific trade, mainly from the west coast to Hawaii, but also various other routes. All four were participated in WWII and were laid up at Alameda, Calif. for re-conversion back to passenger service. Matson had financial difficulties after the war and most were not immediately returned to service.

The four ships were the S.S. Mariposa, S.S. Monterey, S.S. Matsonia, and the S.S. Lurline.
More research would have to be done to know exactly which of these ships were seen in the film.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Lurline_(1932)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Mariposa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Monterey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Malolo (original name of the S.S. Matsonia)

For even more on these ships, with some great photographs, see http://www.ssmaritime.com/indx2.htm

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Wow! You know your ships! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I really appreciate it and look forward to looking up the links you provided.

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