This 1956 movie tells the story of one ship, the USS Belinda, and her men... Captain Jeb Hawks boards his new command, an Attack Transport, to find the vast majority of his crew is green. His Lt., Dave McDougall, is a former Merchant Marine Captain who naturally finds some discomfort in being de-moted in order to join the Navy. Also among the crew is Ensign Krugar, a brave youngster who used to play football, Gilber Hubert, a Tennessee hillbilly (he provides moments of humor), and Commander Quigley--whom his fellow officers don't like because up to this point he's basically had a desk job. There are a number of other characters who feature in their own moments, but the main story is that of Captain Hawks and Lt. McDougall along with Hawks' demanding, driving command of his ship. Serving in the Pacific between 1943 and 1945 the ship's company deals with inept officers and men, the fact that their mail hasn't caught up with them, boredom, underwater mines, and Kamikaze's. The movie is clean of profanity and gore. It does have some kissing in flashbacks scenes while Dave McDougall reads a letter from his wife. Also, in one of those, actress Julie Adams is dressed in a swimsuit--'modest' by today's standards but still lots of leg (same scene, McDougall is just in his short swim shorts--if that bothers anyone).
I found nothing really objectionable in this movie--it's pretty typical of a 50's film on WW2. The characters are men of honor (of if they are not they are not shown in a positive light). Capt. Hawks is a hard man; his 'aloof' behavior is at one point explained to the junior officers by former Capt. McDougall. He is also not a 'by the book' officer. The scene with the Kamikaze's was quite well done I believe...I caught myself cringing as those flaming planes rushing down straight into the camera. All told this is movie I would not mind watching again.
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This 1943 romantic comedy is a howler from the opening scenes where everything discribed in a broadcaster-ish voice over is the exact opposite of what is seen on-screen. Mr. Dingle (Charles Coburn), an old politician arrives in Washington and needs a room in the World War Two housing shortage caused by extra people coming in to work in the surrounding defense factories. Taking his lead from an inscription seen on a monument to David Faragutt, "Damn the torpedos...full speed ahead!" he acquires half an apartment--leased by a Miss Milligan (Jean Arthur). He then rents half of his half to a young man named Joe Carter (Joel McCrea; this is the second film I've seen with him in it and I think I like the actor), who is on special assignment for the government. Life is tricky...and amusing...and then things totally go whacky. I can't tell you much more than that without devulging plot points, but suffice to say when the FBI gets involved, an already interesting situation gets even stickier. Mr. Dingle's meddling and "full speed ahead" mentality really shakes things up and leaves the audience breathless with laughter as the situation deepens. This is a romantic comedy, so you do have the rather fast development of the romance, but this one takes several days to develop rather than being an instantaneous thing. I liked that. Mr. Carter was rather free with his hands in one particular scene--Miss Milligan could have put a more effective stop to it if she really wanted to...but anyway. One can't get away from some of this in Hollywood romances. It actually was used to comic effect as Connie kept removing Joe's hands when she could have just walloped him a good one on the jaw and he would have stopped. In this same scene, Miss Milligan's dress is cut somewhat low so exposes a trifle more skin than some might be happy with (more in the back than in the front). Mr. Dingle happily goes along planning things to his own busy-body pleasure. He is the source of much laughter as he quite good-naturedly bumbles along with his own motives guiding his actions. One can't help but like the old rascal who guides the story even when off-screen.
I quite enjoyed this ridiculous movie...but be warned there is kissing (though not as much as many romances have) and a situation that could have been inappropriate if certain characters had not been honorable. |
RachealA Reformed Presbyterian girl who enjoys a good movie or a good book any ol' time. Archives
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