Customer Reviews

Pt 109 [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

PT 109 is a 1963 biographical movie which shows the events of John F. Kennedy's actions in command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 as an officer of the United States Navy during World War II. The movie was adapted by Richard L. Breen, Vincent Flaherty and Howard Sheehan from the book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII by Robert J. Donovan.

The movie stars Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin, James Gregory, Robert Culp, Robert Blake, Andrew Duggan (the uncredited narrator), Michael Pate and George Takei (uncredited as helmsman on Japanese destroyer, best known as Sulu of Star Trek). The exteriors for the movie were filmed at Little Palm Island (formerly Little Torch Key), a resort in the Florida Keys. Power and fresh water were run out to the island for the movie, allowing the resort to be built years later. The former owner was the local Monroe county sheriff.

The most dramatic special effect is what appears to be a full-size set with live actors appearing to be crushed by the bow of a destroyer.

In the movie, the PT 109 is reported missing and a search is started. According to National Geographic, and the original book, the boat explosion was observed from other PT boats in the vicinity and it was given up as lost. A memorial service was held at the motor torpedo boat squadron's forward operating base at Rendova while the crew was still marooned on the islands in the vicinity of Japanese-held Kolombagara Island.

Solomon Islanders Biuki Gasa and Eroni Kumana were portrayed as random natives, when in fact they were dispatched by the coastwatcher, Arthur Reginald Evans, to find them. The movie holds to the Donovan book version that Kennedy first suggested the idea of using a coconut for a message, using a knife to carve it. Gasa was later interviewed as suggesting the idea and sending Eroni to pluck a fresh coconut. The actors playing Gasa and Kumana were not credited either, though the senior native is mentioned by name when the large canoe arrives.

The scene rescuing ambushed Marines is actually covered by the chapter in the book about PT 59, which Kennedy commanded after the PT 109. It was an older model Elco PT boat that was converted to a gunboat with its torpedoes removed
The White House had full approval of casting and aspects of the film. Among other actors considered for the lead were Peter Fonda who objected to having to do his screen test with an impersonation of JFK's voice, [1] Edd Byrnes, Jacqueline Kennedy's choice Warren Beatty, Jeffrey Hunter, and other stars.[2] Kennedy selected Cliff Robertson after viewing their screen tests. Robertson met with President Kennedy who set three conditions on the film; that it be historically accurate, that profits go to the survivors of PT 109 and their families and President Kennedy had the final choice of actor.[3]

Kennedy also vetoed Raoul Walsh as the director of the film after screening Walsh's Marines Let's Go and not liking it.[4] Director Lewis Milestone was replaced by Leslie Martinson a prolific experienced Warner Brothers Television director

The movie as a whole was entertaining for it's time but not very accurate about real events that actually took place. To the reviewer from Baltimore: To understand how a craft such as this got rammed you need to understand how these boats patroled ,which by the way was always done at night and usually idiling on one engine (out of three) which at times never responded very well on quick response. Take it from a Navy veteran ,its very dark at sea at night. I for one review it as a very non-violent & entertaining film for younger and older viewers alike

I give the Movie 4 Stars, Good enjoyable movie.... Why does Amazon not say this is a WB MOD DVDR not a DVD and Why did WB make it on DVDR and not Blu-Ray....They themselves Say and I quote "This Warner Archive Collection presentation of PT-109 has been sourced from a recently-created HD 1080p master, derived from newly-manufactured film elements. The feature is presented in 16x9 Letterbox format, preserving the film's original 2.40 theatrical aspect ratio." again I say why not make it on a Blu-Ray??????? and while I am in a grouchy mood...... Why does WB charge $19.99 and up for MOD DVDR's??????? I know they want to recoup their costs but hell they would probably sell more at $12-15 than at $20.......Anyway to all.... enjoy this Flic.....

This review references the WB Archive DVD that became available in 2011 -- it's great! What more do you want? Get it!

Prior to the Warner Archive release, the film has been released on VHS in pan & scan and widescreen and also on laserdisc. Why this film has never been previously released on DVD remains a mystery but this Warner Archive release blows previous releases out of the water!

Warner Archive discs are DVD-Rs -- not mass-pressings. Warner Archive source materials are of variable quality but usually pretty darn good. This keeps studio costs down and spares the studio the cost of full-fledged remastering. Archive releases are bare bones -- don't expect anything more than the featured film. Hopefully, WB will start offering Blu-ray options in this series. Hats off to Warner for their continued pioneering efforts in home video.

"PT 109" was theatrically released in July 1963. I was a high school sophomore when I saw the film in its initial release -- it was quite impressive on the big screen. The film was a modest success in its limited release. Four months after it premiered, tragically, Kennedy was assassinated. Warner pulled the film from circulation.

For this 2011 DVD release, Warner states: "This Warner Archive Collection presentation of PT-109 has been sourced from a recently-created HD 1080p master, derived from newly-manufactured film elements. The feature is presented in 16x9 Letterbox format, preserving the film's original 2.40 theatrical aspect ratio."

Image quality here *is* excellent! Maybe this is a dry run for a Blu-ray release? Contrast is good. Colors are rich and clean as befits the South Pacific locale -- albeit most exteriors were filmed around the Florida Keys and Hollywood stages. Aspect ratio of this Panavision film is 2.35:1 and that's we get here! (Amazon's 1.77:1 description is erroneous. And Panavision's figure differs slightly from WB's.)

Sound quality is quite good with very discernible dialog -- something that is often lacking in current films where dialog gets buried under loud sound effects and louder music. And it's mono. Why, I really don't know. This was, after all, a major, high-profile WB production -- "under the personal supervision of Jack L. Warner" though reportedly he was never on the set -- and WB knows how to do sound. (Take into consideration The Beatles releases of the time were mono.) Apparently the film was released in mono. But as I say, it sounds quite good -- the balance of dialog, sound effects and music is exemplary.

Menu. Well, again, Warner Archive releases have zilch menus. In this case: "Play" and "Trailer" with a picture of a WB water tower in the background. That's it.

The production is top notch -- money spent shows on the screen. Cast and crew are excellent. Story and character development are good though I wish they didn't tinker with the order of and depiction of historical fact -- the marine rescue occurred subsequent to the demise of the 109 while Kennedy commanded the 59, a memorial service was held for the crew of the 109 while the survivors were still stranded, the natives were sent by the coast watcher to find the survivors, Kennedy deeply regretted the loss of life in the incident, etc. These things could have been handled better. The producers needed to make an entertaining film so fact, as usual, is fodder for the mill. Switching directors early on may have led to some structural issues? I've never read the original script and am in no position to second guess. The film score is serviceable -- it works well in film -- but it could have helped to shape the film better. And maybe that's the issue here, the shaping of the film as a whole.

This isn't film for everyone. The story takes its time, unfolding slowly (some may say too slowly). There are occasional lapses of logic -- say, don't PT boats have anchors to prevent drifting? All in all, make no mistake, this *is* a well crafted, (sometimes) engaging film that keeps your attention for its 140 minute length. It's good -- but it could have been great.

I sincerely hope WB plans to do a proper remastering for a future Blu-ray. What we have here really looks and sounds great. But there are a couple of minor timing issues when cutting between location exteriors and studio interiors, a stereo mix would be very desirable and a plethora of extras would be *most* welcomed.

All minor quibbles aside, this is a fine film with a fine presentation and I'm glad to have it at long last! Thanks to WB for making this available on DVD -- it's a keeper!

Now -- bring on the WB Collector's Edition Blu-ray!)

PS -- For a different look at PTs in the South Pacific, have a look at the excellent John Ford / John Wayne film "They Were Expendable".

I was for a long time against buying these dvd-r disc`s,thinking they would not be up to mass market dvd`s,how wrong I was,this one and the outfit,are top end,infact so good,if you did not see the cover,you would think they were the best,only down side is the price,as not as many are produced,also this series of movie`s are very much sort after.I saw this like most of us years ago on tv,a high end war film with load`s of action,no female actor`s,not being sexist girl`s,but even as a kid this alway`s made for a better film,that the fair sex could even watch and enjoy,war movie`s are just like that,all male action that just work`s better that way.I have just bought ZEPPILIN 1971 on this format,will let everyone know how good that is as well.

I have this movie on VHS, but no longer have a VHS player. I have waited a long time for Warner Brothers to offer it on DVD. I was searching one day and was plesantly surprised to finally find PT-109 available on DVD. Warner Bros. has done a Great job remastering this movie to HD 1080p quality on DVD in the original letter box aspect ratio.

The story of the 109 is a classic film depicting the young, brave JFK who would become one of the greatest presidents of the US. The story is almost 100% accurate except for the fact that JFK and crew rescued the Marine's with his second boat the PT-59. The 109 was destroyed, JFK and his men were rescued before the event of JFK and his new crew saved the platoon of Marines.

If you like WWII movies, PT boats and JFK this is a must have DVD for your collection.Pt-109

I first saw this movie in 1963 when it first debuted. I was good them and good 48 years later. This event defined JFK as a leader. This story is never told now as it was common knowledge post WWII. The movie was hollywoodish and some events changed to meet the directors wishes, but let's take it for what it is, a good movie with a story line routed in the life of our Assassinated President JFK.
Lot's of PT boat action,Nice to see these craft outside and in.
Beautiful ocean and island scenery off the Florida Coast.
After forty plus years old a celloid classic, I'll give this WWII Classic movie Five Stars just for the historical content.
Just for the record "They were expendable" another PT Boat Classic. Another must see.

The film itself has been reviewed elsewhere, so I'll just say that it is reasonably faithful to historic events as I understand them - with some inevitable combination and excursions in screenwriting. The acting is solid and the story flows well. The DVD itself is one of Warner's "Archive Series" and pretty much bare-bones, consisting of the feature film and one trailer.

The video quality is excellent, and I'm quite happy to have it in my collection.

I won't try to talk about or offer an opinion on the historical accuracy of this film. There are a couple of other reviews that do just that and are probably much more competant to render an opinion than I am.

However, I have seen the movie several times and own a VHS copy. I've been waiting for the DVD to make an appeaarance. And it looks like this is about to happen shortly.

The film covers JFK in his role as a Naval officer in World War II as the commander of a Patrol/Torpedo boat --- numbered 109. Cliff Robertson was an excellent choice of actors to potray the young Kennedy and played the part admirably. The story starts out with the assignment of Kennedy to a PT boat squadron in the Pacific; only to find that there are no boats available for the new commander. However, there is an old decreped boat (number 109) sitting in dock and covered with debris. The boat needs a lot of work to make it seaworthy and a bit of hunting to find a crew. However, Kennedy tackles the job with enthusiasm and soon has the craft up to snuff to pass the most rigorous inspection the Squadron Commander can give it.

The story continues with the first couple of missions on which 109 is a part of. Good war sequences all. This, along with the preparation of the boat comprise the first third to half of the film.

Then, as the boat is on patrol, it is rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer; leaving the crew burned and vulnerable in dangerous and occupied waters. The second part of the film concerns itself with Kennedy taking the lead and getting the bulk of his crew to the nearest atoll for survival. Looking for a friendly vessel to rescue them, Kennedy makes the decision to move the group from the atoll they are on to another some miles away, where their chances of rescue will be better.

As the story winds up, the crew is finally found and recovered by US Naval forces and Kennedy gets a new boat to command.

This is an inspiring story which was well told in the film. I did enjoy the first half of the movie much more as the swim to the atoll and subsequent waiting for rescue dragged for me. But then, that's just me. I'm sure the story is true to the accounts as JFK had the final say in most of the production of this film.

All in all, I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a good naval action/adventure timed in World War II, Pacific area. Although not as action packed as a film such as "Midway", this has a place as a tale of the lesser known Torpedo boats and the role they played in the war.

I cannot comment on the quality of the DVD as it has not been released yet. But I'm sure it will at least meet the usual standards we all now expect from digital discs. We'll have to wait and see if there are any extras on the DVD or if it's just going to be the film itself. I would vote for an interview with Robertson and one with John Kennedy (I'm sure that there is an interview in the archives available, made before the untimely assassination of the president).

Here's hoping.

~PJM~

Yes it is a very good movie, I remember seeing it for the 1st time with my Dad at the theater in 1963. He was in the US Navy, and it is Hollywood, but it does show the story of how and what happened with former President Kennedy, while he was in the South Pacific during WWII.