PARACHUTE BATTALION
US, 1941, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Preston, Edmond O’ Brien, Buddy Ebsen, Harry Carey, Nancy Kelly, Paul Kelly, Richard Cromwell, Robert Barrat.
Directed by Lesley Goodwins.
Parachute Battalion was produced in 1941 and released later that year, some months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The war in Europe had been waging for two years already. This film shows the military concerns of the United States at this time.
The film is more interesting and entertaining than might have been expected. It shows the Parachute Battalion, the choice of men, the details of the training, the workings of the parachutes, the jumps, the apprehensions. To this extent the film served as a recruiting poster in its time.
The film has the advantage of the strong cast led by Robert Preston in his debonair, ladies’ man type of role. The serious role is reserved for Edmund O’ Brien. The third in the trio of recruits is Buddy Ebsen as a backwoods man, but drawing on his talent for dancing, as seen in many musicals, in a routine in the men’s quarters. Harry Carey is very genial as the veteran and champion of World War I, the trainer of the men. Paul Kelly is the sergeant in charge. Nancy Kelly is the daughter of the veteran and the romantic interest. Richard Cromwell is the fearful coward. Robert Barrat as the chief also featured in The Life of Emile Zola as the traitor Esterhazy.
While the film is very much of its time, it is interesting to go back to the atmosphere of 1941, especially the military preparations which would be used in World War II.
1. The impact of the film in its time, the military traditions after World War I, during the 1930s, preparations for war, military planning? The Parachute Battalion?
2. The brief running time, the strong cast, the writing, the action sequences? Musical score?
3. The title, the focus on the group? The introduction to the three young men, Don and his being the All-American?, sports, engaged two women, his father’s exasperation, his solution to the wedding situation by joining the military? Bill, serious, joining up, his getting drunk, his relationship with his father, his poor self-image? The contrast with Jeff, at home, his parents, the farm, in the hills? The family feud with the Collins family?
4. On the train, Jeff losing his shoe, Don trying to locate the owner, encountering Kit, her father, Bill and Jeff joining him, their flirting, the father’s reaction?
5. Arrival, uniforms, big boots for Jeff, assembly, the shock at seeing Kit’s father? The dormitory, bunks? Digging the pit? Spence and his antagonism?
6. The details of the training, the explanations about how parachutes worked, the second parachute? Folding the parachutes? The need for being exact? The demonstrations? The dummy falling from the plane, crashing, Bill and his not packing correctly?
7. Time off, the meetings with Kit, Don and his attraction, charm? Bill, earnest, in love with Kit? Kit’s father favouring him? The date, the dancing? Don and his pretending to be searching for the address, the encounters with Kit’s father?
8. The build-up to the first jump, nervousness, Don’s success? Spence and his fears, confiding in Bill, wanting the extra pay, pulling the gun, the confrontation, Bill getting the gun from him? Bill wanting the transfer, the letter, his decision to jump? Success?
9. The chief, the fact that Bill was his son, memories with Thunderhead, his name? Bill being treated in ordinary fashion, eventually meeting his father, his wanting to pull out?
10. The men and their acclaim for Bill and his courage? The parachute jump, with Thunderhead, in the water, the rescue, Thunder head in hospital, pretending, proud of his men, Bill’s visit?
11. Bill and Don, the rivalry over Kit, the fight? The special flight, Don getting caught on the wing, Bill rescuing him, their fall together?
12. The awards, Bill and his father, pride? Meeting Kit, Thunderhead approving, and Don following another girl?
13. Popular ingredients at the time, serious, comic touches, romance? And US propaganda?
