The Truth About Spring

Plot

The script by James Lee Barrett is based on the novel Satan: a Romance of the Bahamas (1921) by the Irish author Henry De Vere Stacpoole (1863–1951).

Spring lives with her father aboard a run-down sail boat in the Florida Keys. She has lived a simple, carefree and isolated life and has never felt desire or love until Ashton joins in with them for a zany adventure involving buried treasure. In the end no treasure is found, only a long-sunken slaver. However, Spring does find love and a husband.

Ashton comes aboard the Sarah Tyler for some fishing and ends up in a modern-day pirate adventure. He comes from a wealthy Philadelphia family and had graduated from Harvard Law School. He falls in love with Spring and envies her simple and honest lifestyle. At the beginning of the film Spring takes a dislike to Ashton – a variation of Pride and Prejudice where boy meets girl and girl hates boy. At the end of the film she realizes she is in love, and, against all sense of propriety, Ashton asks Spring to become his wife.

Cast

Hayley Mills plays Spring Tyler.

Sir John Mills plays Spring's father Captain Tyler – a ne'er-do-well skipper of a small sailboat named after his late wife, who makes his living from scams and trickery.

James MacArthur plays William Ashton, with whom Spring falls in love.

David Tomlinson makes an appearance as Ashton's bored, rich uncle.

Lionel Jeffries plays a greedy pirate who tries to outwit Captain Tyler only to lose $1,000.

Harry Andrews plays a rough and stupid sailor who wants to kill Tyler, but persistently falls foul of his schemes.

Niall MacGinnis plays a gentleman Irish pirate who is taken in by Captain Tyler's promise of buried treasure.

Lionel Murton plays Simmons, the captain of David Tomlinson's yacht.