HERE COMES THE NAVY

US, 1934, 87 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Pat O’ Brien, Gloria Stuart, Frank Mc Hugh, Dorothy Tree.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.

Here Comes the Navy was the first of eight films that James Cagney and Pat O’ Brien made together. They start with antagonism – but, as the films went on, there was a lot of reconciliation, especially in such films as Angels With Dirty Faces and The Fighting 69th where Cagney was someone who messed up his life and Pat O’ Brien was the supporting priest.

Other interesting features of this film are that Gloria Stuart has a starring role. Sixty-three years later she was to be Oscar-nominated for best supporting actress in Titanic. She lived to one hundred, had a career spanning seventy years (though a thirty-year hiatus between 1946 and 1976). She is a lively heroine.

The other aspect of the film of historical interest was that it was filmed aboard the USS Arizona, a veteran battleship of World War One, the target of the bombing raid by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. The sunken Arizona is still visible – and a centre for American visitors as well as international tourists to Honolulu. The film was also made on the last of the American dirigibles – which crashed and burnt a year after the making of the film. The film had the cooperation of the navy in its making – and serves as a morale-booster and a recruitment film for the early 1930s, before the full impact of Nazism and American involvement in World War Two was realised.

Other than this, the film’s plot is fairly conventional. Cagney plays a builder who clashes with the navy officer, played by O’ Brien. They square – and, to get revenge, Cagney joins the navy. He does his training (filmed on the navy base in San Diego) and continues to clash with O’ Brien, while unsuspectingly falling in love with his sister. He persuades his best friend (Frank Mc Hugh) to take his place on guard and he goes ashore to meet his girlfriend. However, he is caught, court-martialled, resentful – and asks for a transfer to the air force. While working on the dirigible, there is a highly contrived situation where O’ Brien is still clinging to the rope as the dirigible goes to make a second attempt at landing and Cagney goes down to rescue him. There is a marriage at the end – one with crutches and the other in a wheelchair.

The film is both serious and comic – but very much in the direct Warner Bros style of the period, with Cagney making many films a year and developing his aggressive personality on-screen. The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon, directing films from the early 20s, making at least three films a year from 1928 to 1953. He died in 1955.

1. Expectations from the title? In the 1930s? Later decades?

2. Warner Bros production values, black and white photography, the cast? The musical score?

3. The importance of the location photography, on the USS Arizona, the detailed attention to the ship? On the dirigible – with attention to its working? Landing? San Diego base? An authentic feel?

4. The introduction to Chesty O’Connor?, on the worksite, tough, cheeky, the clash with Biff Martin, slinging off at him, giving the orders to the men? The two squaring off – and Biff winning the day? Chesty and his decision to join the navy, his motivations? Meeting up with Droopy Mullins, their becoming friends? His meeting with Dorothy? Not knowing she was Biff’s sister? Biff laying down the law? Chesty on duty, his discussions with Droopy, especially about Droopy’s mother’s false teeth? Singing? His persuading Droopy to get pass, his going ashore, the time with Dorothy, her wanting Chesty to behave honourably? His going off in a huff? Engineering his return, the boat, in the water, the rescue? His being court-martialled? His surly attitude? The request for a transfer? Working in the air force? On the dirigible? His giving the money to Droopy for his mother’s teeth? The dirigible and its landing, his going down the rope against orders, rescuing Biff, the parachute, the landing? The happy ending – and the jokes at the wedding?

5. Biff, the navy, the rules? Showing people around, the taunts from Chesty? The fight? His attitude towards Chesty on the boat, severe, laying down the law? Especially as regards Dorothy? Chesty and his coming back on the boat, Biff catching him? Testimony at the court-martial? The landing of the dirigible, Biff still on the rope, the rescue? The jokes at the end and the wedding?

6. Dorothy, her love for Biff, her attraction towards Chesty? Their time together, her trying to get him to act honourably? His going off in a huff? Her regrets? The happy ending and his heroism?

7. Chesty, his honourable behaviour on the boat, the fire during the military exercises? His injuries? Recovery, getting the medal – but still badmouthing the navy? The men deserting him?

8. Droopy, ordinary type, his dependence on Chesty, the money for his mother’s teeth, the music, having the words on his chest? His blowing kisses to Chesty – and the men’s comments? The wedding, and his mother singing – with her new teeth?

9. Life in the navy, the outings, Chesty and his dancing with the girl? On the town? The hard work, the training? The naval exercises?

10. An early navy film – and its comparisons with the many navy films that followed?