Destroyer (1943)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

Borden Chase (writer)
Lewis Meltzer (writer)

Release Date:

19 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

You'll Always Remember . . . And Never Forget . . . Destroyer

Plot:

Flagwaving story of a new American destroyer, the JOHN PAUL JONES, from the day her keel is laid, to what was very nearly her last voyage...

Plot Keywords:

Ship | Welder | Navy | Torpedo | WWII

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Steve Boleslavski
Glenn Ford	...	Mickey Donohue
Marguerite Chapman	...	Mary Boleslavski
Edgar Buchanan	...	Kansus Jackson
Leo Gorcey	...	Sarecky
Regis Toomey	...	Lt. Cmdr. Clark
Edward Brophy	...	Casey (as Ed Brophy)
Warren Ashe	...	Lt. Marton
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Benson Fong	...	Japanese sonar man
Richard Loo	...	Japanese Submarine Commander

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Sweden:15

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Goofs:

Factual errors: When searching for Japanese aircraft with the ship's radar, a loud "ping" and echo sound is repeatedly heard. Radar systems do not make noises - this sound effect is from a SONAR system. This mistake is repeated several times during the movie. On other occasions, the same sound effect is correctly used when searching for submarines with the SONAR system.

One of my favorites

I grew up with this film in the early 60's........ I remember it fondly as a little kid. We had a beach house at Newport and I remember sitting and watching it on more than one occasion.....It did something to me that I can't put a paw on.

Columbia was strictly 2nd tier as studios went in those days but this one is obviously an "A" as the studio went.

It has a great cast, special effects that rivaled the "big boys" and an ambiance that few could equal......

Watching the gleam in Eddie G's eyes really makes it fly..He singlehandedly steals the show......He has the right amount of humor and pathos to really make this film stand out. It's really a pity that no one knows this film in this day and age.....The use of old sea chanteys in the score brings a wonderful ambiance to the atmosphere..

What can I say kiddies, this is one of my favorites and I consider myself fortunate to have it on VHS so I can watch it any time I want to.......It was released by "Hollywood Movie Greats" on VHS in 1990..... Robert