In Harm's Way

I always enjoy Westerns and old War Movies.This is one of those great movies, and it has many great stars, like John Wayne.I am a Vietnam Veteran so we realize that war is a horrible thing, and this movie makes you think and realize that our freedom is not free.So out of respect to other Veterans I choose to watch old War Movies.Anything with John Wayne is a good movie.I highly recommend this Movie.

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.

Love movie!!

This is one of my husband’s favorite movies, and I loved being able to get this for him as a just because gift.

We watch this movie every couple of months because it is so brilliantly made. Great cast and script, amazing battle scenes, we'll written and acted personal drama to understand the effect these battles had on individuals.

The Duke is always entertaining to watch, no less in this classic war tale about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. A great reminder of the great sacrifices made by our military men and women. Lots of talented co-stars too, like Patricia Neal, Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Burgess Meredith and beautiful Paula Prentiss. One of the subplots I did not care for, but I give the film 5 stars for its star power alone.

This is a great movie depicting the start of the U.S. entering WWII. John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Burgess Meredith, to name some of the actors, played USN officers, and it was produced and directed by the great Otto Preminger. A portion of the film was made on board the USS St. Paul, CA 73, a heavy cruiser, first commission in April 1945. The movie was made in 1965. I know the foregoing is accurate; I was on board the USS St. Paul as one of the crew when the movie was made. It was an exciting week when the actors and the ship steamed from Seattle Washington to Pearl Harbor. One of the scenes in the movie shows the USS Saint Paul shooting a broadside, meaning all of its guns fired simultaneously. That scene caused several pipes to burst onboard and several minor repairs. The film was originally in black & white. This is a classic film.

All star cast including two of my favorite actors John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. If you're into classic war movies with masculine leads this is one for you.

IN HARMS WAY on this Paramount / Sigma DVD shows how well some movies can be transferred to DVD making blu ray almost obsolete.The story is not your usual WWII action movie as it focuses more on dramatic / domestic incidents and it requires some patience and concentration to see it through. It would have fared well in a cinema environment where distractions would have minimal. Of the many stars in this epic movie it is again that the icon of cinema John Wayne outshines his fellow actors, even though the movie is filled with good performances, including cameos by Henry Fonda and a fleeting performance by James Mitchum who uncannily looks exactly like a young version of his dad!The movie does have some action - the initial attack on Pearl Harbour - which suffers slightly due to budget restrictions creating a lack of aerial footage, and a fairly explosive and thrilling battle at sea in the closing scenes of the film, again suffering slightly from some model effects. All things considered it remains an interesting WWII drama on an epic scale with excellent performances. KAN

excellent

the film is one i have not screen before but found it very good like all john wayne films are

very good film from a cast of great stars.well worth watching again on dvd.as I watched it on vcr tape.

Back to the 1941-to 45.A time in history, giving Hoolywood plenty true stories to tell.Wayne did his share.