| Director | John Farrow |
|---|---|
| Genre | biographical film, film based on literature |
| Runtime | 126 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $4 million |
| Box office | $1 million |
A United States Navy officer recounts the life of John Paul Jones to new midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. In 1759, a young John Paul undergoes an apprenticeship on board a merchantman, serving on several ships and becoming the master of his own ship by 1773. In Tobago, a mutinous subordinate challenges Paul, who kills him; the governor of Tobago, not wanting him arrested, advises Paul to go to Virginia, where his brother lives. Paul agrees, changing his name to "John Paul Jones" to disguise himself. After arriving in Fredericksburg, Jones finds his brother has recently dead and left his estate, including two slaves Scipio and Cato, to him. As Jones is opposed to slavery, he frees the duo, who continue to work for him. Jones also retains the services of his brother's attorney Patrick Henry. Jones shares Henry's hostility towards British rule in the American colonies, but finds himself torn between their friendship and his romantic feelings for Henry's love interest Dorothea. The will of Jones' brother required him to settle down as a father, but Jones finds himself ill-suited for the profession, and having been rejected by Dorothea's father for her hand in marriage decide to return to sea.
The American Revolutionary War begins, and Jones is commissioned into the Continental Navy, leading a successful raid of Nassau despite his superiors' misgivings. Reuniting with Scipio and Cato, he goes on a cruise and captures eighteen British ships loaded with valuable supplies. Despite his successes, Jones is denied from further promotions due to his low social status, and goes to Valley Forge to tender his resignation. There, General George Washington points out the desperate circumstances of his troops and persuades Jones to go to France and assist Benjamin Franklin in enlisting them as allies. In France, Jones is feted as a hero and at Franklin's urging takes command of a former Dutch frigate. With the ship, he raids the English coast, attacking the town of Whitehaven but treating its population well. Once again, Jones' success is undercut by political rivalries, and his ship is taken from him. Jones falls in love with French lady-in-waiting Aimee de Telleson, and with Franklin's help they persuade Louis XVI to build a new ship for Jones under the American flag, which is named Bonhomme Richard.
Commanding the ship, he fights against the British frigate Serapis. Though Bonhomme Richard is heavily damaged, Jones continues to fight on, telling British Captain Richard Pearson "I have not yet begun to fight!". Jones and his men overpower Serapiss crew and force Pearson to surrender even as Jones' own ship sinks. Taking command of Serapis, Jones returns to France, where he is unable to pursue his romance with Aimee due against to his low social status. When the Revolutionary War ends in 1783, Jones' career comes to an end due to the disbandment of the Continental Navy. He proceeds to join the Imperial Russian Navy after responding to a request from Catherine the Great. Surrounded by sycophantic nobles, Catherine tests Jones' resolve and finds him withstanding the temptations of court life. She gives him command of the Black Sea Fleet, which Jones leads to victory over the Ottoman Navy during the Russo-Turkish War. Given a title of nobility, Jones returns to Paris and reunites with Aimee, but becomes seriously ill; as he lies dying, Aimee writes down a letter Jones composes listing the qualities that naval officers should have. The final scene returns 1959 at the U.S. Naval Academy, where the narrating officer concludes with remarks about Jones' legacy.