Stand by for action

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Movie
Original title Stand by for action
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1942
length 109 minutes
Rod
Director Robert Z. Leonard
script George Bruce
John L. Balderston
Herman J. Mankiewicz
production Orville O. Dull
Robert Z. Leonard
for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
music Lennie Hayton
camera Charles Rosher
cut George Boemler
occupation

Stand by for Action is a 1942 American action-war drama directed by Robert Z. Leonard . Robert Taylor plays a Harvard graduate who, seconded to a battleship , is confronted with the realities of war. Charles Laughton , Brian Donlevy and Walter Brennan can also be seen in other leading roles.

The original story is from Commander Harvey S. Haislip of the United States Navy and English writer and screenwriter RC Sherriff . It goes back to a story by Laurence Kirk called A Cargo of Innocence .

action

Shortly before America's entry into the Second World War draws Harvard -Absolvent Lieut. Gregg Masterman, the advisor to Rear Admiral Stephan “Iron Pants” Thomas, at a base on the west coast of the United States, the wrath of the commanding front officer Lieut. Martin J. Roberts on himself. Roberts believes Masterman is delaying his ship's return to sea.

Roberts complains about Masterman to Thomas, who recognizes in him the captain of the destroyer, "USS Warren", from the First World War . When Masterman learns of the complaint, he is extremely upset and wants to speak to Roberts. On his ship he meets NCO Henry Johnson, who had already served with Roberts in the First World War. He tries to mediate between Roberts and Masterman and tells the proud story of the ship. The mood between the men remains cool, however, especially because Roberts believes that Masterman lacks the necessary respect for him. He points out that decisions about life and death have to be made during an operation, whereby subliminal aversions are dangerous. Masterman also tells Johnson that without his gray hair he would look a lot younger, which would be an advantage overall.

When the ship is back at sea, a now dark-haired Johnson does his job on board. Despite their friction before the ship's departure, the mutual respect between Roberts and Masterman increases steadily. When Thomas is to be assigned a new naval escort, he orders the "Warren" to replace one of his damaged ships. On the way there, the ship is attacked by a Japanese plane, which, however, escapes due to a mistake by Masterman. Masterman makes bitter accusations because of this, whereupon Roberts says he is taking too hard on himself. Only a little later, the ship gets caught in an upcoming strong storm and Johnson is found unconscious. Doc Miller, a pharmacist on board, believes that the crashing sea and the speed of the ship would not do Johnson any good, and Masterman decelerates the ship against Roberts' will. Roberts reverses Masterman's decision, not without warning him strongly. Before the conflict between the two men can escalate, the “Warren” encounters a lifeboat in which there are two women and twenty small children, survivors of a rescue ship that has been torpedoed. Audrey Carr, one of the women, is about to give birth, and since there is no doctor on board the "Warren", Chips, whose wife is a nurse, helps the baby into the world.

On the "Chattanooga", Thomas' flagship, the officers are now on the lookout for the "Warren". From a distance they believe they recognize a piglet in a naked baby. After everything has been cleared up, Thomas congratulates the men on their help, including with the birth of the new baby. Since the second rescued woman, Mary Collins, is not too far away from childbirth, Masterman wants her to be taken to the "Chattanooga", on which a doctor is on board. Roberts refuses, however, as the Ships would then have to interrupt their voyage. Shortly afterwards, the “Chattanooga” is attacked by a Japanese plane that destroys the ship's rudders. When the "Warren" tries to help the ship, which is circling in the fog, Roberts is injured and passes the command of his ship to Masterman. Now that Masterman has sole responsibility, he realizes that decisions to be made cannot be made out of a mood. As a result, there is a fierce battle with a Japanese battleship, from which Masterman and the crew emerge victorious with Johnson, who is now on the mend. At the same time, Mary Collins gave life to a healthy boy.

Some time later, after the convoy reached San Francisco with the "Chattanooga" in tow, Roberts, Masterman and Johnson were awarded the Navy Cross . When the "Warren" is back at sea, Roberts and Masterman can be seen strolling across the deck in a friendly bond.

Production, background, soundtrack

According to MGM's production documents , the film was made between December 1942 and February 1943. At the premiere of the film, however, it was stated that the film images had been taken in January 1943. The production dates are also given as June 8th to early August 1942.

The film opens with brief information, spoken by Frank Whitbeck, who often acted as the voice for MGM. Stand by for Action was MGM's first film to be made in collaboration with the US Navy.

Robert Taylor was one of MGM's top stars in the mid-1930s, especially in romantic roles and working with stars like Greta Garbo , Joan Crawford and Jean Harlow . But he also wanted to show himself in "tough" roles, as in this world war drama in which he plays a cocky young officer who ultimately proves himself. For Marilyn Maxwell , this film was her feature film debut. The British actor Charles Laughton gave a rousing speech on board and also correctly recited the extensive Declaration of Independence from memory, whereupon the entire crew burst into applause. Despite this remarkable feat, Laughton didn't feel good about this movie. His assessment was shared by the New York Times critic Bosley Crowther .

Soundtrack
The Star Spangled Banner , performed by Merrill Miller (1944)
  • Anchors Aweigh (American military march, 1906), music: Charles A. Zimmermann, poetry: Alfred Hart Miles and R. Lovell
    • played during the opening credits and at the end of the film
  • The Oceana Roll (1911), music: Lucien Denni, poetry: Roger Lewis
    • is heard in sections during the opening credits and is whistled and hummed by boatswain Chill Wills
  • A Life on the Ocean Wave (1838), music: Henry Russell, poetry: Epes Sargent
    • sounds during the opening scenes and also later in the course of the film
  • The Star-Spangled Banner (1814), music: John Stafford Smith , poetry: Francis Scott Key
    • played by the navy band when the flag is hoisted
  • The Blue-Eyed Sailor Man , Music and Poetry: Chill Wills
    • played on guitar and sung by Chill Wills

Theatrical release

The film premiered on December 31, 1942 in Boston , Massachusetts ; Providence , Rhode Island ; Washington, DC ; Chicago , Illinois ; Norfolk , Virginia ; San Diego and San Francisco , California . A pre-screening of the film for naval officers took place on Treasure Island and Mare Island , California.

  • Mass start in the USA: May 11, 1943 in New York

In the USA the film is also known under the title: Cargo of Innocents | A Cargo of Innocents | Men O'War | Clear for Action | Navy Convoy | Pacific Task Force | and This Man's Navy , the original screenplay title.

  • Sweden: February 14, 1944 under the title Konvoj över havet
  • Portugal: March 1, 1944 under the title Torpedeado!
  • Finland: October 14, 1945 under the title Saattue merellä
  • Belgium under the Flemish title Gereed dead and the French title L'heure H
  • Brazil under the title Às Portas do Inferno
  • France under the title Le cargo des innocents
  • United Kingdom under the titles Cargo of Innocents and Stand by for Action
  • Greece under the title Etoimoi pros drasin
  • Hungary under the title Állj cselekvésre készen!
  • Italy under the title Forzate il blocco
  • Netherlands under the title Klaar voor actie
  • Poland under the title Gotowi do akcji

Stand by for Action was not shown in German-speaking countries .

criticism

At the time of its release, the film did not receive any good reviews, neither from the civil nor from the military sector. For example, Sgt. Bill Davidson, who wrote for Yank magazine , said that it was not about a real war, but about a 'Hollywood war'. Other critics compared the film, to its detriment, to the recently released naval drama In Which We Serve in the United States.

Bosley Crowther described the film in the New York Times as the most incredible farce he had ever seen. He said that even if you didn't compare the film to the British war film In Which We Serve , there were still enough negative points. It is involuntarily funny when a destroyer suddenly has two women and lots of babies on board, the babies being as clean and cuddly as dolls. Mr. Taylor, yes, how should you say that, wasn't impressive in his silly role and Mr. Donlevy's performance was barely enough. Charles Laughton plays Old Ironpants, the Admiral, like a character from HMS Pinafore and Walter Brennan is constantly on the verge of tears as an old seafarer who is loyal to his ship. This is the kind of film that mocks the really fighting men with their so-called heroics.

Award

A. Arnold Gillespie , Donald Jahraus and Michael Steinore were nominated for an Oscar in the category "Best Visual Effects" in 1944 , but they had to leave it to Fred Sersen and Roger Heman senior and the love triangle Crash Dive .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Stand by for Action at classicfilmguide.com (English). Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ a b c d e Stand by for Action Notes at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  3. ↑ a b Stand by for Action Original Print Infos at TCM (English)
  4. ↑ Stand by for Action Articles at TCM (English)
  5. ^ Bosley Crowther : 'Stand By for Action', With Robert Taylor and Brian Donlevy, Opens at Capitol In: The New York Times . March 12, 1943 (English). Retrieved January 15, 2016.