THE GALLANT HOURS
US, 1960, 115 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Dennis Weaver, Richard Jaeckel.
Directed by Robert Montgomery.
James Cagney began his screen career thirty years before The Gallant Hours. During the 1930s he became synonymous with the fast-talking, wisecracking criminal, especially Public Enemy Number One. However, he was also a singer and dancer appearing in such films as Footlight Parade and winning his Oscar in 1952 for his portrait of George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy. He continued to make a number of dramas but moved to a variety of films during the 1950s including westerns like Run For Cover, political dramas like A Lion Is In The Streets and with Doris Day the musical Love Me Or Leave Me. The Gallant Hours was in fact one of his final films, making only One Two Three during the 1960s and Ragtime and Terrible Joe Moran in the 1980s.
He portrays Fleet Admiral William F. (Bull) Halsey Jnr. The film, semi-documentary in style, takes place over five weeks. Halsey is appointed Commander in Chief of war activities in the South Pacific and the film ends with the American victory in the Solomon Islands at Guadalcanal. Cagney is quite persuasive and commanding in this central role.
The film was directed by Robert Montgomery who had been acting in films since the late 20s. He made his mark as the psychopathic villain in the 1937 Night Must Fall. During the 1940s he had good roles in such films as Mr and Mrs Smith, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. During the 1950s he was prominent in television. His daughter, Elizabeth Montgomery, was also prominent in television, appearing as Samantha in Bewitched and starring in quite a number of television movies.
1. The tone of the title, the value of such war tributes, the memory of war heroes? Its impact in 1959, now?
2. The documentary tone and tribute style of the film? Black and white photography, the memoir technique? The historical value of names and dates and indications of the careers of future personalities? Audiences identifying with the patriotism, being distanced from the World War II situation?
3. How suitable was the sombre and low key style of the film's treatment? The importance of the songs and Roger Wagner and his style of chorale music? Suggestions of patriotism and of war? The flashback technique, not picturing of action sequences and only the suggestion of battle? The primary focus of attention on Halsey?
4. The memory of American involvement in World War II during the 1950s and now? The tribute to the memory of the people involved, the assessment of their achievement and its worth?
5. The memory of Admiral Halsey's place in the waging of World War II especially in the Pacific? The dangers to America, and Halsey as one of the men who made America safe? The framework of memories and the tribute leading to the flashbacks? How well did the film give a portrait of Halsey, strengths and weaknesses? As a person, a man? A strong character, his relationship with his friends, stubborn and shrewd? His capacity for bluff? The irony of his own fears especially as regards the needle and injections? His loyalty and devotion and capacity for cooperation, the reliance on him by American authorities? How well did James Cagney embody and communicate these qualities?
6. The portrait of the crew and Halsey's attendants? Andy as the average American, his skill in piloting and looking after Halsey? Samuel and his continued devotion? The portraits of the particular assistants, and their competence, the soundness of their advice, their shrewdness in communicating with Halsey and administering his command?
7. The gallery of services personalities, in themselves, the explanation of the various personalities, the jobs? Going by the book, hunches? The clashes with Halsey, their cooperation with him? How good a picture of the way Americans train their attack and defence?
8. How fair was the portrait of the Japanese? The focus on Yamamoto as the adversary to Halsey? Was Yamamoto equal in stature to Halsey?
9. The film focusing on the situation of 1942-43? The mutual bluffs? The decisions of where stands had to be made on particular islands in the Pacific, the particular strategies of the battles, the losses and the recuperation? How much insight in retrospect to the waging of the war?
10. The desperation of Guadalcanal? The importance of Halsey's presence amongst the men and experiencing something of being under fire? His speeches and capacity for morale-
boosting? How genuine, coming from the authentic man?
11. The importance of his son? Halsey's behaviour before important battles? importance of his receiving the four stars?
12. The significance of Yamamoto's death? The strategy, the hunches, the skill of utilizing the circumstances and events? The repercussions for the Japanese?
13. The portrait of a man? The contribution of one man to American events and world events? A man shaped by his circumstances? The value of this portrait of a patriotic American?
