AllMovie

This picture, based on the play by Arnold Bennett and Edward Knoblock, begins in 1862 England with John Rhead (Lewis Stone), an engineer who wants to build newfangled iron ships. Because of his progressive ideas, his partners force him out of the company, but he still manages to marry one of their daughters. Years later, his daughter Emily (Gertrude Robinson) wants to marry one of his employees, Arthur Preece (Boyd Irwin), who believes steel ships will replace iron ones. Rhead doesn't think the young man is fitting husband material for Emily. Since she doesn't want to cause trouble, she agrees to marry her father's friend, Ned Pym (Gerald Pring), instead. Pym gratefully makes sure Rhead gets a title. More years later, Emily's daughter Muriel (Correan Kirkham) wants to marry a young engineer. Her whole family protests because he does not have a title. But with Preece's help, the older people realize that they've forgotten what romance is about, and they allow the couple to wed.