This is not a great movie, but it has some great shots of post World War I-era four-stacker destroyers, submarines, and three-masted wooden sailing ships that play combatant. A young Ginger Rogers is the love interest in a fairly hokey plot but I am glad that I watched it. The future Hopalong Cassidy plays the hero as a recalled to active duty Chief Petty Officer. Based upon a book by an active duty Navy Commander.
10 Reviews
Exciting naval footage
westerfieldalfred13 March 2013
This film is much better than other reviewers would lead you to believe. If you're a fan of Robert Armstrong, James Gleason and early Ginger Rodgers as I am that would be almost enough. The three guys and a gal plot may seem old now but it wasn't then. It's carried off pretty well here. I appreciated the views of 1930 New York including Luna Park at Coney Island. As far as I can tell the midway was actually filmed at an amusement park in California; it certainly added a sense of reality. I, too was confused by the 1931 clothing in a film taking place in 1917. I kept wondering what war broke out. However, such anachronisms are to be expected in almost every period film. Women's hair styles and makeup always give it away. And if Greed could carry it off wearing late 1890's clothes in 1922 crowds, why complain here?
But the naval scenes are the star here. To my knowledge they are the most extensive authentic scenes ever filmed. It's obvious that the Navy gave it's complete cooperation. Everything looked authentic because it was. I loved that the film shows the German side without prejudice (or subtitles). Frank Reicher and Henry Victor lend an air of authenticity here, too. Except for the semi-comic interludes it could have been an excellent documentary. Over all this should be better known for its appeal to World War I fans and naval historians. Look fast for Richard Alexander (Prince Baron of Flash Gordon) as a crew member with one line.
But the naval scenes are the star here. To my knowledge they are the most extensive authentic scenes ever filmed. It's obvious that the Navy gave it's complete cooperation. Everything looked authentic because it was. I loved that the film shows the German side without prejudice (or subtitles). Frank Reicher and Henry Victor lend an air of authenticity here, too. Except for the semi-comic interludes it could have been an excellent documentary. Over all this should be better known for its appeal to World War I fans and naval historians. Look fast for Richard Alexander (Prince Baron of Flash Gordon) as a crew member with one line.
Three United States Sailors Against a German U-Boat Fleet
Uriah4326 November 2017
Immediately after the United States enters World War 1 against Germany, three men from Coney Island by the names of "Baltimore" (William Boyd), "Dutch" (Robert Armstrong) and "Skeets" (James Gleason) enlist in the U. S. Navy and leave behind a young woman named "Sally" (Ginger Rogers) who each of them has fallen in love with. Unfortunately, Sally only loves one of them, So, the other two (Dutch and Skeets) do their best to keep them apart by deceiving Baltimore about Sally's true affection for him. However, although Baltimore falls for their deception, they soon discover that he has his own plans for them as well--and this involves a deception toward the German Navy. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a comedy which had a bit of slapstick humor here and there but otherwise I didn't really see much humor in it. Of course, this film was produced over 80 years ago when budgets were rather strained. So, perhaps I am being a bit too harsh in my evaluation. Be that as it may, although it wasn't a great film by any means, I didn't think it was necessarily that bad either and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.
Suicide Fleet: Historical ships
heartfan20 June 2004
There were two sailing ships used in this film: "Bohemia" and "Indiana" Both were part of the de Mille "fleet". Both were built on the Kennebec River, at Bath, Maine, in the 1880s. The Indiana was built by and for the Sewell Family. The Bohemia was built by and for the Houghton Bros. and sailed for them until 1897, when she was sold to Alaska Packers. Bohemia sailed the West Coast for 20 years before acquired by Hollywood.
Bohemia was used in "Wreck of the Hesperus", "Blood Ship" and "Yankee Clipper", all 1927. ("Yankee Clipper" also starred "Indiana"; William Boyd and his real-life Wife, Eleanor Fair.)Bohemia is the ship destroyed in "Suicide Fleet".
One of the "four-piper" destroyers used in "Suicide Fleet" was built by Bath Iron Works, which bought the former Houghton yard during World War I.
Bohemia was used in "Wreck of the Hesperus", "Blood Ship" and "Yankee Clipper", all 1927. ("Yankee Clipper" also starred "Indiana"; William Boyd and his real-life Wife, Eleanor Fair.)Bohemia is the ship destroyed in "Suicide Fleet".
One of the "four-piper" destroyers used in "Suicide Fleet" was built by Bath Iron Works, which bought the former Houghton yard during World War I.
A ponderous and plodding film...
AlsExGal21 March 2010
...at least during its first half. If it had started out with the three buddies in the navy and concentrated on the naval action scenes, it would have been a much better and tighter film. The second half of the film is worth it, especially for the action sequences and close up shots of early 20th century ships, but it's like a dull toothache getting there. Also, don't watch this film just because Ginger Rogers is in it. She has an important role, but it's a small one.
The film starts out showing three New York City buddies working the tourist trade and also in good-natured competition for the hand of Sally (Ginger Rogers), a singing candy salesgirl along the avenue. World War I breaks out, the three buddies seem completely indifferent to the struggle, yet enlist in the navy anyways. The one of the three with the least industry as a civilian (Bill Boyd as Baltimore) winds up the commanding officer to the other two (Robert Armstrong as Dutch and James Gleason as Skeets). To make matters more complex, Sally has fallen in love with one of the three, but doesn't have the chance to tell him before the three sail off to war.
The film is a little more interesting on board ship, mainly because of the close shots we have of the ship itself, and also because the chemistry among the three buddies is believable. However, James Gleason at age 49 looks a bit long in the tooth to be a swabby, especially when the sign at the enlistment office said you had to be between 17 and 35 to be eligible.
One real obvious flaw in the film that made me believe that everything outside the naval scenes was slapped together with minimum care is the costume design, or, I should say, the lack of it. In the scenes in New York just prior to WWI we have everyone dressed in the fashions of 1931 and everyone driving the cars of 1931 - no effort was taken to bring this film into period.
In conclusion, if you watch the few scenes with Ginger Rogers in them and the last 45 minutes involving the naval suicide mission, you've seen everything here worth seeing. The rest is padding.
The film starts out showing three New York City buddies working the tourist trade and also in good-natured competition for the hand of Sally (Ginger Rogers), a singing candy salesgirl along the avenue. World War I breaks out, the three buddies seem completely indifferent to the struggle, yet enlist in the navy anyways. The one of the three with the least industry as a civilian (Bill Boyd as Baltimore) winds up the commanding officer to the other two (Robert Armstrong as Dutch and James Gleason as Skeets). To make matters more complex, Sally has fallen in love with one of the three, but doesn't have the chance to tell him before the three sail off to war.
The film is a little more interesting on board ship, mainly because of the close shots we have of the ship itself, and also because the chemistry among the three buddies is believable. However, James Gleason at age 49 looks a bit long in the tooth to be a swabby, especially when the sign at the enlistment office said you had to be between 17 and 35 to be eligible.
One real obvious flaw in the film that made me believe that everything outside the naval scenes was slapped together with minimum care is the costume design, or, I should say, the lack of it. In the scenes in New York just prior to WWI we have everyone dressed in the fashions of 1931 and everyone driving the cars of 1931 - no effort was taken to bring this film into period.
In conclusion, if you watch the few scenes with Ginger Rogers in them and the last 45 minutes involving the naval suicide mission, you've seen everything here worth seeing. The rest is padding.
Weak action comedy
lexdevil25 July 2003
The threesome of Bill Boyd, Robert Armstrong, and James Gleason play Coney Island carnys vying for the hand of Ginger Rogers, a working gal who sells salt water taffy. With the outbreak of World War I, the threesome enlist and pursue Ginger from afar. The first half of this RKO Pathe production is hard going, with the three male leads chewing up the scenery with overcooked one-liners and 'snappy' dialogue that quickly grows tiresome. The second half concentrates on action sequences as the US Navy pursues both a German merchant cruiser and a U-boat. These sequences are lively and well-filmed, but overall this is an overlong and unsatisfying comedy-drama with a flat ending. For fans of the stars only.
Awfully dull--you can find better similar pictures out there.
planktonrules19 March 2013
"Suicide Fleet" is an amazingly dull film about three guys (two of which are real jerks) in the US Navy. All three (William Boyd, James Gleason and Robert Armstrong) are in the navy and are infatuated with a young lady (Ginger Rogers). However, she loves Boyd and the other two spend much of the movie lying to their 'friend' and trying to steal the girl for themselves. These antics were very tedious and the chemistry between these three is quite poor--making it difficult to like them or care about them.
The three eventually volunteer for special duty about a sailing ship that looks similar to a German one that has been disguising itself as a Norwegian fishing boat. The plan is that when the subs come to refuel and be refitted, they'll alert the American fleet to intercept them. Despite a fairly interesting plot, the film suffers from uninspired acting, dull characters and a need for more action. I've seen quite a few other military films made in the 1930s--most of which were frankly a lot more interesting than this one. Aside from a chance to see Ginger Rogers before her big Hollywood makeover or Boyd before he re-created himself as Hopalong Cassidy, there isn't a lot to recommend this one.
The three eventually volunteer for special duty about a sailing ship that looks similar to a German one that has been disguising itself as a Norwegian fishing boat. The plan is that when the subs come to refuel and be refitted, they'll alert the American fleet to intercept them. Despite a fairly interesting plot, the film suffers from uninspired acting, dull characters and a need for more action. I've seen quite a few other military films made in the 1930s--most of which were frankly a lot more interesting than this one. Aside from a chance to see Ginger Rogers before her big Hollywood makeover or Boyd before he re-created himself as Hopalong Cassidy, there isn't a lot to recommend this one.
Tiresome WWI romantic comedy/drama with William Boyd as the star...
Doylenf8 April 2009
Three carnival workers romance the same girl until WWI interferes with their plans. They join the Navy and the plot meanders all over the place with tiresome effect.
WILLIAM BOYD (later "Hopalong Cassidy") spouts his dialog in a slow-moving way, and ROBERT ARMSTRONG and JAMES GLEASON mug their way through some silly shenanigans as sailors looking for a good time. Boyd is the Chief Petty Officer who comes out of retirement to rejoin the service. GINGER ROGERS is the carnival gal who can't seem to decide whether to get serious about Boyd or not, until the finale.
It's hopelessly contrived and full of hokey situations, dated dialog and interesting only for a glimpse of the Naval ships.
Summing up: Totally unsatisfying from almost every standpoint.
WILLIAM BOYD (later "Hopalong Cassidy") spouts his dialog in a slow-moving way, and ROBERT ARMSTRONG and JAMES GLEASON mug their way through some silly shenanigans as sailors looking for a good time. Boyd is the Chief Petty Officer who comes out of retirement to rejoin the service. GINGER ROGERS is the carnival gal who can't seem to decide whether to get serious about Boyd or not, until the finale.
It's hopelessly contrived and full of hokey situations, dated dialog and interesting only for a glimpse of the Naval ships.
Summing up: Totally unsatisfying from almost every standpoint.
The Fleet's In
vert00124 January 2016
Suicide Fleet will appeal to those interested in historical naval equipment, indeed, it provides us with nearly documentary footage of several types of contemporary nautical ships. Unfortunately for me I'm not all that interested in what the navy was like during World War One, and the drama (and comedy) in Suicide Fleet comes up lacking in every respect.
We get what amounts to about a twenty minute prologue introducing us to three friends (William Boyd, Robert Armstrong and James Gleason) who are all smitten with the same girl (Ginger Rogers). Then the United States enters the Great War as it was called at the time, the three men all enlist and Ginger practically drops out of the picture. The rest of the movie alternates the exceptional documentary footage with weak comedy concerning our protagonists that reminds one of a poor episode of Gomer Pyle. From time to time we also receive some well-done action scenes, but a definite lack of audience involvement with any of the characters (Armstrong and the sometimes excellent Gleason are too frivolous and too hammy, Boyd is too stiff, and Rogers has simply disappeared) keeps us from caring very much about any of it.
Hard to recommend for other than historical purposes, or if one is trying to follow the arc of Ginger Rogers' career (which is why I watched it). While she's around she's darned cute as a girl plying salt water taffy at Luna Park.
We get what amounts to about a twenty minute prologue introducing us to three friends (William Boyd, Robert Armstrong and James Gleason) who are all smitten with the same girl (Ginger Rogers). Then the United States enters the Great War as it was called at the time, the three men all enlist and Ginger practically drops out of the picture. The rest of the movie alternates the exceptional documentary footage with weak comedy concerning our protagonists that reminds one of a poor episode of Gomer Pyle. From time to time we also receive some well-done action scenes, but a definite lack of audience involvement with any of the characters (Armstrong and the sometimes excellent Gleason are too frivolous and too hammy, Boyd is too stiff, and Rogers has simply disappeared) keeps us from caring very much about any of it.
Hard to recommend for other than historical purposes, or if one is trying to follow the arc of Ginger Rogers' career (which is why I watched it). While she's around she's darned cute as a girl plying salt water taffy at Luna Park.
aerial footage of destroyer
James A.25 September 1999
Aerial footage of DD345 "U.S.S. PREBLE" (commissioned 3-19-20) while running at flank speed and turning from side to side and while airplane which is photographing bow-on goes from starboard to port and back again a couple of times.
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