Academy Awards, USA 1956
| Winner Oscar | Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jack Lemmon |
| Nominee Oscar | Best Picture Leland Hayward |
| Best Sound, Recording William A. Mueller (Warner Bros.) |
Warner Bros.
Directed by John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb Wikipedia
(DVD, Warner Bros.)
Henry Fonda is a dissatisfied officer on a cargo ship in the Pacific during the last days of WWII. He desperately wants to be reassigned to combat, but his commanding officer, James Cagney, refuses to recommend him. Instead, they bicker and fight, often in front of the crew. Speaking of the crew, they have been at sea so long that they resort to spying on naked nurses on a nearby island. Jack Lemmon is another officer who spends so much time in his bunk that Cagney doesn't recognize him. Lemmon is also a self-proclaimed lady killer who wastes no time in trying to seduce the nurses, even enticing them on board. Eventually, Fonda gets the crew some much needed liberty, but has to strike a deal with Cagney. The crew spends their time getting wasted and causing chaos, getting them banned from the port. Cagney and Fonda argue in front of an open mike, revealing the deal they made to the crew. Fonda becomes a hero and they manage to get him promoted to the combat position he always wanted. There is an ironic, tragic ending. This popular film has not aged well. It is full of cringe worthy sexist remarks and a misogynistic tone. Fonda is miscast and Cagney is abrasive. Worst of all is Lemmon, who is unbearable as the clownish ensign.
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