In Harm's Way
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Movie Reviews of In Harm's Way
Movie Review: Fine film!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of this film for over 20 year. I am surprised to see that this movie has received so many negative reviews. When I want to watch a movie about the attack on WWII and or the Pearl Harbor attack and want to see accurate historical information I'll watch a movie like TORA! TORA! TORA! (TTT). If I want to be entertained I'll watch a movie like IN HARMS WAY (IHW). While I did like TTT and the fairly accurate telling of the events that led to the attack on Pearl Harbor as well as the attack itself it did not have character development. IHW used fictitious names and some fictitious locations but the story was based on real events. I really enjoyed the character development. I think John Wayne gave one of his best performances in this film. The only one that might have been better was his role as a dying gunslinger in The SHOOTIST. His character was not the standard head strong hero that takes on the odds and triumphs but rather one of an aging man who is trying to make the best decisions he can. Not all are the correct decision and he sustains some failures. He also is hurt in this film. I mean hurt to the point of hospitalization. Not something we see in many John Wayne films.
Kirk Douglas gave a fine performance. It is hard to decide if you like him or if you don't. He is a man who has mastered his navy duties while at the same time unable to manage his personal emotions. The look in his eyes during the rape scene is one that will make you wonder if Kirk Douglas wasn't a little to comfortable with the role. Kind of like Kathy Bates in MISERY or Anthony Perkins in PSYCHO. When an actor can play a psycho so convincingly it makes me wonder if they might be a little psycho themselves.
The effects are not the best but they are not the worst either. I think the black & white (b&w) works to the films advantage here. If filmed in color I think the scenes involving screen projections would have looked even more phony. Think of the Beach Party films made around this same time.
So, if you want to be entertained and enjoy WWII movies this one will deliver. In my opinion it is better than MIDWAY and far more better than the horrible PEARL HARBOR (2001) film.
Lastly, as far as the DVD is concerned it is okay. It has 3 trailers that are almost identical. The documentary is shallow. It does not really go behind the scenes and is more like an 8 minute trailer. The image and sound are okay and except for the widescreen format not that much better than the VHS version. I am a big fan of DVD's that have a commentary option when viewing the film. There are still enough of the actors alive today to make a commentary or at least a good documentary.
Movie Review: One of "The Duke's" Greatest War Movies
Summary: 5 Stars
John Wayne leads an all-star cast in this riveting drama about the American Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Wayne stars as Capt. (later Admiral) Rock Torrey. He is put in command of a rag-tag fleet of ships to search for the Japanese fleet after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Kirk Douglas stars as Commander (later Captain) Eddington, Torrey's exec. officer. Torrey's fleet finds the Japanese and a huge battle ensues. A Japanese sub ends up putting two torpedoes into Torrey's ship, but the ship stays afloat. Nevertheless, Torrey is relieved of his command for failing to sail in a zig-zag pattern. (This sounds a lot like the saga of the USS Indianapolis).
Torrey is sent to work behind a desk after losing his command. While ashore, he develops a relationship with Maggie Haynes (Patricia Neal), a navy WAVE. He also tries to mend his strained relationship with his estranged son Jere (Brandon De Wilde). Jere has developed a relationship of his own with a nurse named Annalee (Jill Hayworth).
Finally, after spending a considerable amount of time languishing behind a desk, Admiral Nimitz (Henry Fonda) gives Rock another chance. He promotes Rock to Rear Admiral and sends him back into the South Pacific as commander of one of the first amphibious operations of the war. Thanks to Rock's ingenuity and some help from his fellow officers, the operation is a success, but not without cost.
I found this to be a very good film. The all-star cast is the strong point of the movie, with John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Tom Tryon, Brandon De Wilde, Burgess Meredith, Carroll O'Connor, Henry Fonda, Jill Hayworth, and Paula Prentiss all giving fine performances. The battle scenes are exciting to watch, and the black and white backdrop of the film adds to the realism. However, there are several sub-plots, such as Eddington's involvement with Annalee, which sometimes draw the viewer's attention from the main storyline. But, these are minor, and in no way detract from the quality of the film.
I recommend this movie very highly. John Wayne is at his best in this movie. Although remembered mostly for his roles in Westerns, He made a large number of successful war movies as well, and this is one of his best. Watch this great film and see the American Navy strike back at the Japanese.
Movie Review: Decisive Action Under Pressure
Summary: 5 Stars
"I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not go
fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." - John Paul Jones
Early in the film, Rock Torrey [John Wayne] and his exec, Commander Eddington [Kirk Douglas] observe a new heavy cruiser sail from Pearl Harbor to join the fleet, and Wayne's next line contains the movie's title: "A fast ship going in harm's way!"
This film is about exactly that - fast ships and men going in harm's way!
"In Harm's Way" is about decisiveness when under pressure, about thinking fast on one's feet, with no regrets.
The scene in CINCPAC's private study right after CAPT Rock Torrey [Wayne] is promoted to Rear Admiral. CINCPAC [Henry Fonda] is rightfully impatient with Admiral Broderick [Dana Andrews], who is egotistical, but unwilling to decide to attack, much like Civil War Union General McClellan. CINCPAC recalls that Lincoln brought in a hard-nosed general named Grant who didn't care less about organization, he just pointed his battalions in the right direction, and he charged the enemy. The whole theme of the film is contained in CINCPAC's next line to Rock Torrey:
"You're gonna be my Grant!"
I also noticed that Director Otto Preminger briefly revisits his theme of an informant-plant as an in-house bad guy, a theme he covered more extensively with Peter Graves as the Nazi barracks spy in "Stalog 17".
The characters all have flaws, but each one rises to the occasion when the war calls on them to give their best. Rock Torrey does not waste a second driving straight into battle, no matter how impossible the odds! This is the classic stuff of Hollywood Magic and also of inspiration!
Buy this DVD! There is inspiration in this old film, and as with the good old Duke, the actors capture all the best things about taking brave risks and decisive action when in harm's way.
On any level you want, "In Harm's Way" delivers!
Movie Review: How do Admirals feel about nurses?
Summary: 5 Stars
Since there are plenty of reviews, I will keep this short. There is a cavalcade of stars in this picture, all providing exceptional performances. John Wayne plays the lead and does not let us down. This is more than a war story for the alpha male. The story portrays the friendships, bonds, and romances of the characters. The story is woven very well and ties together the characters and sub-plots. The nearly 3 hours flies by.
The special effects for the day are very good. No CGI in the day, but the battle scenes do not need it. I only detected minor use of stock footage - enemy planes flying overhead, but they made up for that with the 5.1 re-mix, so the planes sounded like they were in your media room. Apparently, there was some usage of model ships, but I did not find that bothersome.
The transfer to DVD is very good. The widescreen picture is in black and white, but that is soon forgotten. The blips on the screen from age are negligible (I think I counted 2). There is a 5.1 re-mix sound track that is very good. The surround speakers are utilized as is the .1 low bass, but it is not exceptional. There is great surround sound within the first 15 minutes, when the viewer feels the presence of enemy planes in all corners of the room flying overhead. The bass is utilized throughout the picture, but the most resounding bass sound is near the end when the guns are in full force. Perhaps I am spoiled by the house shaking rumble of today standards, to call it exceptional.
Overall, this is a definite purchase and stands next to Patton. This picture warrants another viewing.
Movie Review: Pacific War Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Its nice to see this classic movie in a new DVD edition. While some may think this epic is long on drama and short on action, the acting is what secures it as a classic. That and the cast. Quite a collection of well known names here. No need for me to rattle them off as most are quite well known. Many might find fault with the old fashioned special effects which are certainly not state of the art. But if given a choice between great special effects and poor storyline and acting, or campy special effects but great story and acting; which should you take? The choice seems obvious. Many films today suffer from the former problem. Here you have an engrossing story with beleivebale characters and situations. There is little that is over the top here. There are heroics, but nothing fantastic. Even the theatre of operations is not center stage. We are constantly reminded that these operations are secondary, and not the main action. This also makes the storyline beleiveable. John Wayne could have been admiral Nimitz. Instead he is merely a second stringer. Again, realistic. This film tries to convery what the Pacific War was for the ordinary, lesser known individuals. That says a lot. One can see this film inspired many later epics of a similier nature. The recent Pearl Habor remake was one such sad effort. Others come to mind, but none equal this straight-forward epic with a fine cast. I am not a WW2 fan, much less a Pacific War nut, but I know a classic film when I see one.