IN HARM'S WAY

US, 1965, 165 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Tom Tryon, Paula Prentiss, Brandon de Wilde, Jill Hayworth, Dana Andrews, Stanley Holloway, Burgess Meredith, Franchot Tone, Henry Fonda, Patrick O’ Neal, Carroll O’ Connor, Slim Pickens, James Mitchum, Christopher George, Hugh O’ Brian.
Directed by Otto Preminger.

In Harm’s Way is a big-budget war film, twenty years after the end of World War Two. It is fiction but touches of the careers of actual admirals. It has the background of the attack on Pearl Harbour and the naval war in the Pacific.

The film shows war action but is also interested in the politics of war, within the navy itself as well as in relationship to congress. Dana Andrews portrays a politician-become-admiral with Patrick O’Neal? as his, as would be said now, spin doctor.

John Wayne, nearing sixty, serves as a father figure and hero, more mature as well as wiser than in his how I won the war action films of the 1940s. Kirk Douglas has a more complex role as his assistant. There is also good support from Patricia Neal (who had appeared with John Wayne in the early 50s in Operation Pacific). Tom Tryon, who had been The Cardinal for Preminger in his previous film, is also in the cast.

There are guest appearances by Henry Fonda and Franchot Tone. Some of the most powerful scenes are with Burgess Meredith (also a veteran from The Cardinal).

Preminger had become a director with modest but successful films like Laura in the 1940s, went on to make Forever Amber and a range of smaller films including the challenge to the motion picture code, The Moon Is Blue. With Anatomy of a Murder in the late 50s he went to longer, bigger-budget mult-starred films which included The Cardinal, Exodus, Advise and Consent.

The film is an interesting example of personal drama, relational conflict, politics within the scope of an action spectacular war film.

1. How interesting a war film? The characteristics of war films and audience response to them?

2. This film was made in 1965 about the forties? Its understanding of the forties? Its impact in the sixties, now?

3. The significance of the title? The background of the Psalm and the religious overtones? Rocky's quoting it? Its theme during the credits at the end? The irony of such harm?

4. The importance of the length of the film, the black and white photography, Panavision, the broad canvas of the war and of characters? How well did it integrate these elements? The structure of the film for coping with such diverse characters?

5. Audience expectation at the start with the knowledge of Pearl Harbour? The creation of atmosphere, the party, the people, the raid itself, the destruction and reaction to it, the aspects of revenge and retaliation, the repercussions of the raid on people's lives and careers?

6. Rocky's story as being central? John Wayne as being the American figure? His capacity for decisions and action, on the day of the attack? His capacity for friendships and his bolstering up of Paul? The background of his failed marriage? His Navy background and his pride? His interest in his son and the reasons for the failure of their first encounter? His dependence on Maggie and the growing relationship between them? His friendship with Powell? His knowledge of Operation Skyhook, understanding of it, being asked to lead it? The achievement? The old style General? The battle itself? His injury and recovery as a hymn to the American spirit? How real a character? A typical American hero? The characteristics and qualities of such heroes? As convincing to the Americans? The impact on non-American audiences?

7. Rocky's son as a contrast to himself? His smartness, education, resentment of his father, social background of his family? His proposal of marriage? His reaction to his girlfriend's death? His change of attitude towards his father: his relationship with Owens, seeing Owens routed, pride in his father? His return, to ordinary duties? To that extent, an echo of his father? The significance of his death?

8. The contrast with Paul? The initial picture of his wife carrying on with others, her death? As a loser, his drinking? Rocky's bolstering him, his willingness to serve him, but his failure? His efficiency as a sailor, his failure as a man? The drama of the rape sequence? The repercussions on him? The American gallantry of saving others with his death? Rocky's judgement of his receiving no medals? What attitude did the film take towards this character?

9. Mac and his wife? Mac in the tradition of Rocky? Their relationship, sharing in the battle? Mac's wife and her loneliness, the sequence when Rocky told her of Mac being missing? The romantic aspects of the San Francisco interlude?

10. Admiral Broderick? His role at Pearl? His bitterness towards Rocky? His reliance on Owens? His wanting to take over? His being routed by Rocky? The attitude of the other admirals towards him? An insight to Into the politics of the upper command?

11. Powell and the human side of his character? the party? His skill as an intelligence officer? His presence during Operation Skyhook?

12. The importance of the Australian in Hawaii and the intelligence material that he offered? His being prepared to risk danger? His contribution to the war effort?

13. Maggie as giving the feminine side of the war? Her strength of character, her work as a nurse, her interest in Rocky's son and his girlfriend? The relationship between the two? The suffering in war?

14. What image of the United States did this film give? How real?

15. The understanding of men and women in war, love and marriage, heroism and failure?

16. The picturing of the generations: the clashes and reconciliations? The need for understanding?

17. The themes of war: its meaning and its senselessness, heroism and demands, injury and suffering?

18. The film and its picture of survival and heroism. How necessary is this kind of film?