Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell and Academy Award(R) winner Jack Lemmon steer a ramshackle Navy cargo ship into the wartime comedy hall of fame. An all-time classic. Year: 1955Henry Fonda re-created his Broadway hit for this 1955 film that was mostly directed by Fonda’s frequent collaborator, John Ford (Young Mr. Lincoln, My Darling Clementine)–an ailing Ford was replaced at some point by Mervyn LeRoy–and the results are exceptionally fine. A perfect cast, including James Cagney’s irascible captain, William Powell’s thoughtful physician, and Jack Lemmon’s Oscar-winning Ensign Pulver, give Fonda the right boost to portray his ennui-burdened officer with dignity, self-effacing humor, and not a trace of self-pity. A wonderful film. –Tom Keogh
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March 29, 2008
#1
This film takes place on a Navy cargo ship in the ending days of WW II in the Pacific. This ship has the necessary but prosaic job of carrying supplies. It has excelled in its work, its captain won a palm tree as a reward. Lt. Doug Roberts wants to transfer to a combat ship. [This film takes a comic view of the war, a symbol of changed times.] The seamen have not been off the ship for a year; this effects their morale and tempers. We see the personalities of Lt. Roberts and Ensign Pulver. [Do they belong in a rear echelon force?] Pulver has some emotional problems. The Captain, whose prior experience was in the Merchant Marine, is overbearing and arrogant. The men like Mr. Roberts, he doesn’t drive them hard. [A lesson in management technique?]
Their orders send them to Elysium harbor and liberty. But the Captain forbids liberty for the seamen as a means to influence Mr. Roberts. [We learn what motivated the Captain.] The crew takes full advantage of their liberty. Some misbehaved and irked the Admiral’s wrath. Their ship is ordered out of port! The Captain orders the men to work harder to erase this blot on the ship’s record.
A new crisis develops when the Captain’s palm tree is tossed overboard. Mr. Roberts gets his transfer; we learn how this was worked. The crew say goodbye to him: “Thank you, Mr. Roberts.” Weeks later they get a letter from him. Then another letter brings sad news.
[There is a cynical mocking tone to this film. I wonder how well it played in the country?]
March 29, 2008
#2
Okay, I know all you purists will jump up and down when I say this movie could benefit from a remake, especially considering the ensemble cast of the original version. The movie shows one man’s struggle against arbitrarily exercised power (Fonda standing up to the less-educated and self-absorbed commanding officer, played by Cagney), but some aspects of the movie, stemming no doubt from social conventions when it was made, just don’t fly today. Antics of the crew during their overnight liberty ashore were portrayed as just good-natured fun that got a little out of hand – today, some of those antics would have easily resulted in felony prosecutions. Also, lots of niggling little details detract from the movie — for example, in one scene, the ship is moving quickly through the water, but it’s obvious there’s no one on the brightly lit bridge (which would be lit with red-lensed lights to preserve night vision) in control of the ship’s movements — also, waves being thrown up alongside the boat are a) much too high for the sea state and size of the ship, and b) going BACKWARDS from the way they should be splashing – unless the ship was going at high speeds backwards. And Jack Lemmon’s plan to put a high explosives “firecracker” under the CO’s bunk – in addition to sounding too much like fragging during the VietNam conflict (junior soldiers throwing live hand grenades in the tents of sleeping officers they disliked), and is clearly disproportionate. Powell is great, as are Fonda, Cagney and Lemmon.
March 30, 2008
#3
Of course this is an outstanding film. This may be the movie that displays Jack Lemon’s talents at his best, for the first time. However, I have a much better ending. When Lemon goes into the caption’s quarters hopping mad, he should have showed the letter to him. The caption would just stare at Lemon, then go out and throw the plant POT overboard. It would show that, even though he is a mean person, he still has feelings. But they didn’t; too bad!
March 30, 2008
#4
If you enjoy WWII comedy/drama this film is for you
March 30, 2008
#5
A film that shows that compagnion ship combined with natural respect is the best mixture to create a team even between executives and the crew. Funny scenes and great actors.