PRIDE OF THE MARINES
US, 1945, 120 minutes, Black and White.
John Garfield, Eleanor Parker, Dane Clark, John Ridgely, Rosemary de Camp, Ann Doran.
Directed by Delmer Daves.
Pride of the Marines was a Warner Bros contribution to the effort for propaganda in World War Two. it is a very well-made film, very patriotically written by Albert Maltz (who received an Oscar nomination, later to be brought before the inquiry into un-American activities).
John Garfield has a strong role, capitalising on his tough image but giving him some kind of status as an American war hero. Eleanor Parker, at the beginning of her career, shows her strength and sympathetic presence. There is a very good supporting cast including Dane Clark.
The film shows the '30s, life in Philadelphia, the impact of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, men enlisting for the Marines, strong sequences of battle on Guadalcanal, war injuries and rehabilitation and the difficulties of the return home. There are strong hopeful passages of dialogue about the future, employment - themes which were soon to be the topics of such films as Till the End of Time, The Story of G.I. Joe, The Best Years of Our Lives.
The film was directed by Delmer Daves (Destination Tokyo) who was to move into directing action dramas like the Bogart-Bacall? Dark Passage, many westerns during the '50s including the influential Broken Arrow and 3.10 to Yuma and then a series of romances in the '60s starting with A Summer Place and Susan Slade.
1. The film as a piece of Americana? War propaganda? Romantic: American story? its impact in its time? Critical acclaim? Now?
2. Warner Bros. contribution to the war effort: the portrait of people living in Philadelphia, their hopes in the '30s, the impact of the war, their patriotic service, their injuries and heroism, decorations, hopes for the future? The cinema treatment: black and white photography, domestic America, the war sequences; Musical score?
3. The title and the focus on Al Schmid - a Marine hero, the need for American war heroes, the tribute to them? The tribute to the Marines? The tone of the screenplay with its strong patriotism, hostility to the Japanese, a jingoistic and war-mongering tone entering into the heroism?
4. Al Schmid and the opening of the film, the description of the ordinary life of the 1930s in an ordinary American city? His living with Ella Mae and Jim, the friendship with Loretta, his work? Ella Mae wanting to get him married? The inviting of Ruth to dinner? Their initial clash, the humiliation at the bowling alley? The apology? Their falling in love? Sharing interests, going hunting? The impact of Pearl Harbor, Al's joining up? Wanting to break with Ruth? Knowing that he was in love with her, the gift of the ring? Action on Guadalcanal - the small piece of action but the intensity of the filming, the trench, the bombardment, the vigil, Al's shooting, comradeship, his holding the fort, the hand grenade and his going blind, Leigh thinking that he was going to shoot himself, but his shooting despite his blindness? His hopes for recovery, his growing bitterness and non-acceptance of his blindness? Virginia and the writing of the letters, her therapy?
5. The operation and its failure - the glimmer of light only? Wanting to break with Ruth? His surliness and being alone for eating etc.? The common room recreation and the talk about American futures, jobs, politics? His being ordered back home? The trip with Leigh, Leigh's trying to persuade him to give Ruth a chance to decide? Ruth's meeting him at the station, taking him hone, his mellowing, his bitterness? Helplessness? His greater acceptance? The decoration? A future despite his blindness? The tribute to the American hero? Timely in 1945?
6. Ruth as the ordinary girl, friendship with Ella Mae, the visit and the clashes with Al, telling him off at the bowling alley, the apologies, their sharing interests, outings, the hunting, the engagement ring? Correspondence during the war? The letters after his injury? His attempt to break off? Her sadness at his letter, the phone call from Virginia, her continued support, decision to come to the train, taking him home, the Christmas celebrations, her not being pitying but loving, the importance of talking out the difficulties, the reconciliation?
6. The portrait of the Marines, comradeship, the war effort, the impact of the war sequences, the vigil in the night---the Japanese attack, the shooting, the grenade? The various injuries, the rehabilitation, the mutual companionship, apprehensions about the future, clashes? Leigh and his continued help? The train ride home?
7. Friends at home - Ella Mae and Jim, the American family, Loretta and the comic sequences with the shaving, the description of the Christmas tree, her support of Al? The return home and the family supporting Al?
8. The theme of the war effort, the significance of the war, its changing American lives, American families, the American future? Audiences judging this in retrospect?
9. The importance of the theme of blindness - the impact on Al, the cause of the blindness, his heroism, his growing bitterness, unwillingness to face the reality? The therapy? Self-acceptance? Not having to rely on others, the questions of pride and self-pity? A contribution to audience awareness of the plight of blindness?
10. A satisfying war film? War themes? Human relationship themes? The heroism of the ordinary man?
