Mister Roberts ***** (1955, Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, Jack Lemmon) – Classic Movie Review 5,882

Henry Fonda re-creates his Broadway role as the war-mongering officer Lieutenant Roberts aboard a World War Two cargo ship battling with tyrannical ship’s captain Captain Morton (James Cagney), in the 1955 comedy drama film Mr Roberts. 

Directors John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy’s 1955 comedy-drama film Mister Roberts was a big success at the box-office, thanks to the highly effective mix of comedy, sentiment and drama – and to its stellar cast. Jack Lemmon won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Henry Fonda re-creates his Broadway role as the war-mongering officer Lieutenant Roberts aboard a World War Two cargo ship battling with tyrannical ship’s captain Lieutenant Commander Morton (James Cagney). William Powell in his last movie as the offbeat ship’s doctor Lieutenant ‘Doc’ and a young Jack Lemmon as the lazy, amorous Ensign Pulver complete a superb star quartet.

Mister Roberts is a cheering experience, with rousing performances and some great moments.

LeRoy replaced Ford as director when he walked out after battles with Fonda and a particularly heated argument. It is alleged that Ford punched Fonda in the jaw.

Also in the cast are Betsy Palmer, Ward Bond, Phil [Philip] Carey, Ken Curtis, Harry Carey Jr, Pat [Patrick] Wayne, Martin Milner, Nick Adams, Perry Lopez, Frank Aletter, Robert Roark and Tige Andrews.

Mister Roberts runs 120, 123 or 126 minutes, is released by Warner Bros, is written by Frank Nugent and Joshua Logan, shot in CinemaScope widescreen and WarnerColor by Winton C Hoch, produced by Leland Hayward, and scored by Franz Waxman.

It was released on July 30, 1955.

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Sound, Recording (William A Mueller), with Jack Lemmon winning the award for Best Supporting Actor.

It is based on the 1948 original stage play Mister Roberts that Logan co-wrote with Thomas Heggen, which started with Heggen’s 1946 novel.

It was a huge hit, costing $2.3 million and grossing $21.2 million (including $8.5 million in the US), so there followed a 1964 sequel: Ensign Pulver.

It was not a happy ship, apparently. Ford had conflicts with both Cagney and Fonda, ironically because Fonda was hired only because Ford insisted. Warner Bros thought Fonda was too old (at 49) for the role as a junior grade lieutenant and no longer a star. Ford was replaced by Mervyn LeRoy after difficulties with Fonda and a gall bladder attack. Cagney recalled: ‘He was so goddamned mean to everybody. He was truly a nasty old man.’ Lemmon recalled: ‘LeRoy decided to shoot them the way John Ford would have shot ’em.’ But then an uncredited Joshua Logan, who directed the original stage production, re-shot major portions of the film, at Fonda’s request.

After arriving slightly late on set one day, Cagney had a furious standoff with an angry Ford, ending their conflicts on the set.

On the other hand, Lemmon began a long-term friendship with Cagney.

Though it is Powell’s final acting appearance, he lived nearly another 30 years till he was 91. It is Cagney’s last movie for his old studio Warner Bros.

The film was the basis of a 1965 one-season TV series Mister Roberts, and it was remade for TV in 1984 as a live telecast.

Lemmon also won a Best Actor Oscar for Save the Tiger (1973). He was nominated for an Academy Award eight times, winning twice.

The cast are Henry Fonda as Lieutenant Doug Roberts, James Cagney as Lieutenant Commander “Captain” Morton, William Powell as Doc, Jack Lemmon as Ensign Frank Thurlowe Pulver, Betsy Palmer as Lieutenant Ann Girard, Ward Bond as Chief Petty Officer Dowdy, Ken Curtis as Dolan, Philip Carey [Phil Carey] as Mannion, Nick Adams as Reber, Perry Lopez as Rodrigues, Robert Roark as Insigna, Harry Carey Jr as Stefanowski, Patrick Wayne as Bookser, Frank Aletter as Gerhart, Tige Andrews as Wiley, Martin Milner as Shore Patrol Officer, Harry Tenbrook as Cookie, Kathleen O’Malley as Nurse, Gregory Walcott as Shore Patrolman, James Flavin as Military Policeman, Jack Pennick as Marine Sergeant, and Duke Kahanamoku as Native Chief.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5,882

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