DESTROYER
US, 1943, 99 minutes, Black and white.
Edward G. Robinson, Glenn Ford, Marguerite Chapman, Edgar Buchanan, Leo Gorcey, Regis Toomey.
Directed by William B. Seiter.
Destroyer is a Columbia film of 1943, the studio’s contribution to the war effort. The major studios like MGM, Warner Brothers, Fox had made many war films. However, this is quite an effective war contribution.
The lead is played by Edward G. Robinson on loan from Warner Brothers. He portrays a veteran of World War I when he served on the USS John Paul Jones. With the outbreak of World War II, he is in the team for the building of a new destroyer. The early part of the film shows the building and his meticulous care for the ship. He is joined by his pal, Kansas, Edgar Buchanan. However, when World War II breaks out and the John Paul Jones is to be launched, he is considered too old. He persuades the commander that he be taken on, clashes instantly with the new master, Glenn Ford, and alienates the crew. During the tests, the ship proves to be in need of severe overhaul. Eventually, after failing tests, it is listed to be a mail ship.
Robinson has a daughter played by Marguerite Chapman. She is asked by the commanders to attract Ford, persuade him to work with her father. However, the couple fall in love.
When Robinson is on board, despite medical advice against, the mail ship is attacked by Japanese fliers. It responds to the flies and downs planes. Some men go overboard and are in danger of that attack by a submarine. When the submarine surfaces, the destroyer, with Robinson at the helm, ploughs into the submarine and destroys it.
The morale boosting highlight is Robinson’s long narration of the desperate fight: the original John Paul Jones in the war against Britain.
The film was directed by William B Seiter, a veteran director of small budget films who moved into television in the 1950s.
1. The impact of the film in its time? Contribution to the war effort? The promotion of the navy?
2. An entertaining war film now? The navy, the ship, ship-building, tests, war combat?
3. The narrative: the background of world war one, the John Paul Jones, war effort in building, the mystery testing of ships and their capabilities, combat?
4. The personal story: Boly and his navy life, his love for his daughter, his friends, committed to the building, committed to the navy, his maneuvers to get back on the John Paul Jones, his clashes with Mickey, alienation of the men, referring to the past all the time, his friendship with Kansas, getting him on board, the attempts of reconciliation, his being reprimanded by the authorities, the court martial for hitting Mickey, the medical advice, on board during the attack, repairing the ship, ramming the submarine, the tribute at the end, accepting the marriage?
5. Mickey, young, ambitious, his work, clashing with Boly, his chasing Mary, his comeuppance, her request, falling in love, the difficulties of working with Boly, Boly hitting him, the attack by the Japanese, the rescue, the happy ending?
6. Mary, her war effort work, love for her father, her dead mother and her marrying a navy man, the request by the offices, her attracting Mickey, their discussions, her request, proposal, acceptance, the wedding, not telling her father, the happy ending?
7. The officials, their respect for Boly, commanding the ship, the details of the tests, the failures, bodies interference, court martial in him, transferring him, the doctor, the handling of the Japanese attack?
8. Kansas, old friend, his two hands, not wanting to go to sea, the transfer, Boly’s attitude, his work on the ship? The tough New Yorker? The young recruits and their crying on their first night and Boly’s support?
9. Boly’s telling the story of John Paul Jones, that group listening, morale boosting?
