This grand movie is a sound depiction of the early war in the Pacific. This movie was recently run on local TV. In spite of having bought the DVD earlier this year, and watching it several times, I still watched this TV version. It was released in 1965. Based on a very interesting story (that began on December 6, 1941), and many sub-stories, plus a superb cast, this film is worth seeing.
There were many useful reviews written on this movie. I particularly liked the customer review (#11) by a Ralph Couey. "The movie demonstrates the difference between capable managers in peacetime and battle-worthy leaders in war. The U.S. was caught in that trap in the first year of World War II. Unfortunately, a lot of ships were lost and a lot of sailors died while the bureaucrats were weeded out and replaced with warriors." This situation was essentially the basis for the "battle" between Rear Admiral Rockwell Torrey (John Wayne, surely one of his best roles) and Admiral `Blackjack' Broderick (Dana Andrews). Other reviewers described Broderick as weak and incompetent.
As I watched the TV show I couldn't help think there was a worthwhile analogy between the political events/strategic implications during this war and the political events/strategic implications today and in our recent past.
What follows are some inputs from the movie.
1. The first scene reviewed here is between Torrey and Jere (Brandon De Wilde), his estranged son for the past 18 years. Torrey had just learned his son was on PT duty and he visited him. This first meeting was very strained. Some approximations of their conversation follow.
* Torrey - how do you like PT duty?
* Jere - I don't.
* Torrey - why did you chose it, it is a voluntary assignment?
* Jere - I knew this unit was assigned to Adm. Broderick, and once in this unit, I could be transferred to assist ex congressman Commander Neal Owen (Patrick O'Neal), Broderick's PR man. (Other reviewers described Owen as Broderick's stooge and a publicity seeking ex congressman, with political ambitions after the war). I will be his assistant.
* Torrey - that is just like your mother's family - they could always pull political strings.
* Jere - Adm Broderick has been assigned to handle a very important (and supposedly very secretive) assignment - Skyhook. (Couey commented: "Operation Skyhook represents Operation Watchtower, the drive to recover the Solomon Islands. The Battle of Pala Passage is in excellent representation of the second day of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, when Admirals Scott and Calahagn blocked a far superior Japanese force on its way to deliver the death knell to U.S. forces on the island").
* Torrey - I wouldn't know about that. (About Skyhook)
* Jere - I wouldn't expect that you would. Commander Neal Owen gave me this information. (He should not have done that).
* Torrey - Somewhere in here Torrey commented he would like to throw his son to the fishes.
* Jere - why did you come?
* Torrey - let us just say that I did.
Later in the movie Jere discovers that Owen is a huge phony and his father is the real man. He "quits" Owen and is transferred back to PT duty, and ultimately a reconciliation with his father.
2. This is a luncheon scene between Owen and Jere, early in the movie.
* Owen - my job, Jere, is to see that the information given out to the press corp is good for the general war effort and good for the Navy.
* Jere - and good for Adm Broderick.
* Owen - well what is good for Adm Broderick is good for the war effort and good for the Navy.
* Jere - with a little left over for Neal Owen.
3. This scene is a dinner meeting to honor Torrey in his surprise promotion from Captain to Rear Admiral. The head of Pacific operations (Henry Fonda, who is perfectly cast in this role. He is undoubtedly playing Admiral Nimitz, but this is never defined.) makes this announcement, essentially bringing Torrey out of "purgatory" where he had been sent, unjustly, after Pearl Harbor. "Nimitz" noted that Lincoln had his George B. McClellan who was "a great little organizer, but couldn't make up his mind when to fight", and I have my Broderick. He went on: "Indecision is a virus that can run through an army and destroy its will to win and even to survive." (It seems to me that this is the kind of risk our country is being put in today in Iraq). Faced with this situation Lincoln called in Grant. And "Nimitz" noted: "Torrey, you're going to be my Grant." Broderick wasn't replaced, but Torrey was put in tactical command.
* Torrey - how far can I go?
* "Nimitz" - well you can't kill him, "just get the job done."
4. The next scene showed Broderick and Owens killing time waiting for Torrey's arrival.
* Broderick - I'm not going to take it.
* Owen - I don't think you should do anything hasty. If Torrey flops you can clearly point a finger at Cinc-Pac. If he wins, you're still the overall commander and will get most of the credit.
* Broderick - but I wont know what he is doing.
* Owen - you need a rep in Torrey's camp.
* Broderick - and you're it. You'll be my liaison officer.
* Owen - but I have no front line duty or experience.
* Broderick - now don't crawfish . It was you're idea. Besides a "little forward area duty might be just the thing for you. Think what a combat ribbon or even a Purple Heart in your button-hole would mean to you after the war. It ought to be worth a half a million votes when you run for office." (When I first heard these lines I couldn't help think of John Kerry and his medals from the Vietnam war).
I noted above the superb cast. I would be remiss if I did not add inputs on one more character, Lieutenant Maggie Haynes (Patricia Neal)and a chief nurse. Both Torrey and Maggie are casualties of earlier, failed marriages. Their relationship blossoms while Torrey is still stuck behind a desk. Haynes is mature, supportive, and "mission driven" as she likes Torrey very much and wants him to know it. One reviewer felt Wayne was at his all time best in these scenes. I would say the same for Neal.
All in all a grand story, one that I can highly recommend.
| Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
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DVD
September 12, 2017 "Please retry" | — | 1 | $5.59 | $2.19 |
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DVD
May 22, 2001 "Please retry" | Standard Edition | 1 | $7.79 | $2.19 |
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Customer reviews
Enjoyable movie based on "7 December 1941". Semi-effective use of miniature ships.
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2021
I bundled this with MIDWAY. I'll get around to actually WATCHING them when I have a free WEEKEND to do so.Filmed in Black and White to insure [adequate] insertion of actual WWII film-footage and miniature ships in large vats of water.IF you're a history-fan, and you like the stars of the 'fifties and 'sixties that were IN their fifties and sixties during the filming of this action-drama, ENJOY. All others should probably watch a more-recent remake of the story like "Tora Tora Tora" [which was made when I was in Hawaii].
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2021
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Carole B
It was delivered quickly.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 28, 2021Des Mahon
In my opinion one of the best John Wayne films ever made with a host of A list supporting stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 15, 2020Mr John Sheridan
Great movie
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 21, 2019
