The Gallant Hours (1960)

Director:

Robert Montgomery

Writers:

Frank D. Gilroy (writer)
Beirne Lay Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

13 June 1960 (Sweden)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Plot:

A semi-documentary dramatization of five weeks in the life of Vice Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey...

Plot Keywords:

Navy | Naval Battle

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

James Cagney	...	Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.
Dennis Weaver	...	Lt. Commander Andy Lowe
Ward Costello	...	Captain Harry Black
Vaughn Taylor	...	Commander Mike Pulaski
Richard Jaeckel	...	Lieutenant Commander Roy Webb
Les Tremayne	...	Captain Frank Enright
Walter Sande	...	Captain Horace Keys
Karl Swenson	...	Captain Bill Bailey
Leon Lontoc	...	Manuel
Robert Burton	...	Major General Roy Geiger
Carleton Young	...	Colonel Evans Carlson
Raymond Bailey	...	Majpr General Archie Vandergrift
Harry Landers	...	Captain Joseph Foss
Richard Carlyle	...	Father
James Yagi	...	Rear Admiral Jiro Kobe

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Cagney-Montgomery Production

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film uses F6F Hellcat fighter planes, which were not in combat service in 1942. Also, the F6Fs used in the film have wing-tip fuel tanks, which were a post-war innovation, not used in WWII.

Quotes:

Fleet Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey Jr.: Half a carrier is better than none.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1960-05-15)" (1960)

Soundtrack:

The Gallant Hours Theme

" When you're in command. . . Command "

From the many stories of World War Two and from the archives of the Navy, comes this sentimental story of William Halsey. It purports to relay the finally months of the distinguished admiral. Told in semi-documentary style, the admiral recalls his most important memories of the war. Despite the fact that he dwells on the famous battle of Guadalcanal, it depicts how straining his command really was and the toll it took on him. However, the movie unfortunately centered on the admiral and not on the tremendous suffering of his men and his staff. True it mentioned their participation, but not on their combined loss. Further, the movie could have used it cinematic power to reveal the over all sacrifices the men made. The selection of James Cagney as Admiral William Halsey was a stroke of good fortune as were the selection of the other members of the cast. Here we have Dennis Weaver, Ward Costello and Richard Jaeckel as Commander Webb. Overall, this is a fine film, but reservation is made concerning the naval tribute given to Halsey, when such honor belongs to the departed. **