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“Mister Roberts” was based on the novel by Thomas Heggen and the subsequent play written by Heggen and Joshua Logan. Heggen based the novel on his experiences as a young officer on a supply ship in WWII. Henry Fonda starred in the play, but he was not the studio’s first choice because he had not made a movie in eight years and he was considered too old at 49 to play a lieutenant. The studio wanted William Holden or Marlon Brando, but John Ford insisted on Fonda. He would live to regret that decision. Ford was a notorious tyrant and he and Fonda did not get along partly because Ford insisted on dictating Fonda’s performance. He added scenes to the screenplay, put in more broad comedy, and enhanced Jack Lemmon’s role at the expense of Fonda. It all came to a head when Ford confronted Fonda and punched him. Ford was contrite, but at that point, it was Fonda’s film and Ford could not take being second banana. He started drinking heavily, even on the set. He drank two cases of beer a day. The studio probably would have sacked him if not for his emergency bladder surgery taking him out of the picture. Mervyn LeRoy took over and endeavored to shoot the picture the way Ford would have. Fonda brought his play director, Joshua Logan, in to reshoot some pivotal scenes. Logan shot the laundry scene and the final scene where Pulver stands up to the Captain. Because of Fonda’s age, older actors were cast around him. Cagney was 56. He got the role when Spencer Tracy turned it down. Cagney also had trouble with Ford who warned him on day one that they would “tangle asses”. When that day came, Cagney told Ford it was go time and Ford backed down. Later, Cagney described Ford as a “nasty old man.” Cagney got along great with Lemmon and they struck up a friendship that lasted until Cagney’s death. William Powell was 63 when he played Doc. He was in poor health due to cancer bouts and had trouble remembering his lines. It was his last film, but he lived almost 30 more years. The exteriors were filmed on a Navy ship at Midway, the place where Ford had filmed his acclaimed WWII documentary. Partly because of Ford’s service with the Navy, he had full cooperation. The movie was a big hit and finished third at the box office that year. It was nominated for Best Picture and Best Sound and Lemmon won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
The USS Reluctant (nicknamed “The Bucket”) is a supply ship in the Pacific during the last days of WWII. It is far from the action. It’s not just the heat that is sapping the men, it’s also the monotony. And the captain. Captain Morgan (Cagney) is a martinet who believes efficiency trumps morale. He has a palm tree that was a reward for efficiency that he cares more about than he does for his crew. His executive officer is Doug Roberts. Roberts is desperate to see some combat before the big show is over, but the Captain won’t endorse his transfer requests. Until he gets off this slow boat to nowhere, he is determined to act as a buffer between the captain and the crew. In order to get the crew shore leave, he promises Morgan that he will stop requesting a transfer. But the crew can’t know about the deal. Roberts sudden deference to the captain disturbs the crew. (The movie has them unrealistically turning on Roberts quickly, but it is necessary for the plot.) The other officers are Doc (Powell) and Ensign Pulver (Lemmon). Doc is your stereotypical elderly father figure that you see in movies like “The Dawn Patrol”. Pulver is the ship’s morale officer, but he is a slacker who is all talk when it comes to standing up to the captain. He is the requisite wolf and has his own theme song - “If I Could Be With You”. If you’ve seen the movie, right now you can hear him sing it in your head right now. And if you have seen the movie, you have already been gut punched by the ending. Actually, an end scene that goes from tragedy to torch-passing conclusion.
ACTION: N/A
ACCURACY: N/A
PLOT: A
REALISM: A
CINEMATOGRAPHY: B
SCORE: not memorable
BEST SCENE: worshipping the palm tree planter
BEST QUOTE: Captain, it is I, Ensign Pulver, and I just threw your stinkin' palm tree overboard! Now what's all this crud about no movie tonight?
Usually, when a play is made into a movie, it has a stage-bound vibe. Although it takes place almost exclusively on the ship, there is enough action to transcend that feeling. However, although the big four are comfortable in their roles, the rest of the cast act like they are in a play. Their emoting smacks of playing to an audience. When I watch it, I keep waiting for them to break out in song like in “South Pacific”. If you are a baby boomer, you’ll recognize a lot of familiar character actors on board. But they are there to react to Mister Roberts and to get drunk on shore leave. The movie is not memorable because of the crew. It’s the quartet that carries it. All four are perfect, with Lemmon stealing the show. He earned his Oscar with one of the great comedic turns in a war movie. I personally did not find their ages distracting. It’s fairly common to see actors in war movies who are too old for their character.
“Mister Roberts” is one of the best service comedies. The plot flows smoothly and avoids the common laugh drop-off in the last act. The plot devices work well. The most famous palm tree in war movie history, the letters, Pulver’s fear of the captain are all memorable. Ironically, it is a letter that leads to a poignant moment that belies the humor. And then the movie closes with one of the greatest redemptions which whiplashes the viewer and restores smiles. It is one of the greatest final scenes in movie history.
How realistic is it? Although we can’t hold it to a high standard because it is a comedy and it is based on a fictional ship, it is not unrealistic. After all, Thomas Heggan served on a cargo ship in the war. He would have experienced the monotony of that duty. It was dangerous, if you were in submarine waters, but most of the time you were far from the battles. Obviously, setting the movie in the Pacific substitutes fear with boredom. There were certainly captains like the one in the movie. There are always leaders who are unfair and uncaring about their crews. The other officers are archetypes, but realistic ones. There will always be rear echelon officers who crave a combat assignment. Some do it to enhance their record for promotion purposes. But some are like Roberts, they legitimately feel they will have missed the chance to test their mettle in the furnace of combat.
“Mister Roberts” is a must-see movie. Its humor may be firmly stuck in the 1950s. but it holds up well and while you may not laugh out loud, you’ll certainly enjoy it. The acting alone is worth the look. It will come as no surprise that the movie was very popular and still is.
