mister navy world war ii movie appendicitis

His prize possession is a palm tree which was awarded to the ship for handling the most cargo which he believes will be his ticket to promotion.

He is petty, self serving and rules as a tyrant in order to secure his promotion to Commander. Released in 1955 the film was based on the 1946 novel of the same name by Thomas Heggen.Ĭagney plays a despotic former Merchant Marine Captain, LCDR Morton an officer of the type that the Navy did not want portrayed on film then, and still doesn’t today. It is set on the USS Reluctant a Light Cargo Ship in the backwaters of the Pacific in the closing months of the Second World War. Mister Roberts stared Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Jack Lemmon and William Powell. Thus all three offer insights into toxic leaders, poor morale, discipline, mental illness, alcoholism and subjects such as sexual assault and suicide. All three deal with subjects that are uncomfortable because they still exist not just in the Navy but throughout the military. Mister Roberts and the Caine Mutiny the films deal with the complexities of life and leadership on small and rather insignificant ships while In Harm’s Way deals with more senior officers and their lives. Yesterday I watched In Harm’s Way and The Caine Mutiny.Īll three films are fictional and because of that I find them great for understanding the complexity of Navy life and leadership.

Well I have the duty pager for the hospital this weekend so I have been hanging out at the Island Hermitage with my dog Molly watching classic Navy movies.įriday night I watched the classic film Mister Roberts.

Mister navy world war ii movie appendicitis