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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Not part of a collection.
A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!
After a demonstration of new PT boats, Navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley are told they can finally take their squadron into battle. The PT boats quickly prove their worth, successfully shooting down Japanese planes, relaying messages between islands, and picking off a multitude of enemy ships.
CinemaSerf
Jul 7, 2024 · via TMDB
"Brick" (Robert Montgomery) is an US Navy lieutenant desperate to prove that his motorised torpedo boats can do more for the war effort than deliver the mail. Luckily, he's got "Rusty" (John Wayne) as his number two and plenty of opportunity to test their theories against the advancing Japanese as with things looking terrible for the Americans in Manila, they have their work cut out for them. Even though things are relentless and perilous, "Rusty" still finds time for a little romance with nurse "Sandy" (Donna Reed) and we've also got Ward Bond and a lively few scenes from "Dad" (Russell Simpson) to help keep the adventure focused. The film was co-written by "Spig" Wead - a man whom Wayne played in another John Ford feature "The Wings of Eagles" (1957) - so the narrative has a degree of authenticity as their forces are forced to retreat towards Australia. There are also some decent visual effects with plenty of action, (not so) near misses as Ford allows his three stars to tell this story in a far less jingoistic fashion than some of the more propagandist efforts made to bolster public support during WWII. Wayne turns on the charm here - with Reed and with the audience, and this works well.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Robert Montgomery
Lt. John Brickley
John Wayne
Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
Donna Reed
Lt. Sandy Davyss
Jack Holt
General Martin
Ward Bond
"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
Marshall Thompson
Ens. 'Snake' Gardner
Paul Langton
Ens. 'Andy' Andrews
Leon Ames
Major James Morton
Arthur Walsh
Seaman Jones
Donald Curtis
Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
Cameron Mitchell
Ens. George Cross
Louis Jean Heydt
'Ohio'
Jeff York
Ens. Tony Aiken
Murray Alper
'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c
Harry Tenbrook
'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c
Jack Pennick
'Doc'
Alex Havier
'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c
Charles Trowbridge
Admiral Blackwell
Robert Barrat
The General
Bruce Kellogg
Elder Tompkins M.M. 2c
Tim Murdock
Ens. Brant
Russell Simpson
'Dad' Knowland
Vernon Steele
Army Doctor
Robert Emmett O'Connor
Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)
Philip Ahn
Army Orderly (uncredited)
Steve Barclay
Naval Officer (uncredited)
Betty Blythe
Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Al Bridge
Lieutenant Colonel (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham
Commander (uncredited)
Henry H. Daniels Jr.
Sailor (uncredited)
William B. Davidson
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Blake Edwards
Boat Crewman (uncredited)
Jim Farley
(uncredited)
Lee Tung Foo
Asian Bartender (uncredited)
Almeda Fowler
Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Robert Homans
Bartender at Manila Hotel (uncredited)
Michael Kirby
Boat Crewman (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Leota Lorraine
Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Jack Luden
Naval Air Captain (uncredited)
George Magrill
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Eve March
Nurse (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard
Airport Officer (uncredited)
Frank McGrath
'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited)
Robert Milasch
Minor Role (uncredited)
Jack Mower
Officer (uncredited)
Forbes Murray
Navy Captain (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Joey Ray
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Reginald Simpson
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Sammy Stein
Sammy - Boat Crewman (uncredited)
Tom Tyler
Captain at Airport (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan
Naval Doctor (uncredited)
Billy Wilkerson
Sgt. Smith (uncredited)
Cedric Gibbons
Art Direction
Edwin B. Willis
Set Decoration
Yvonne Wood
Costume Design
A. Arnold Gillespie
Special Effects
John Ford
Director
John Ford
Producer
Herbert Stothart
Original Music Composer
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1987 · 14 wins
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2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
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1981 · 11 wins
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