Striving for Fortune (1926)

Tom Sheridan, a son of a family of shipbuilders in Newport News, is completing the construction of a new vessel to meet a scheduled deadline. Pete Lardner, the hull boss, conspires with a rival firm and promises to delay the progress of his work to assure the rival a large contract. While Lardner is showing President Harrington and his daughter, Gerry, the dry docks, Reggie, an idle-rich suitor, is endangered, and Tom comes to his rescue. Dad Loring has invented a launching trigger for the company, but Harrington rejects his offer because he once loved Loring's wife, but through the intervention of Hope, Loring's daughter, he is persuaded. In spite of sabotage attempts, Tom uncovers Lardner's perfidy and succeeds in launching the ship. He is finally united with his sweetheart, Hope.