The Nelson Touch (1943)
"Corvette K-225" (original title)

The story of a Canadian WWII naval vessel, with a dramatic subplot concerning her first captain.

Director:

Richard Rosson

Writer:

John Rhodes Sturdy (original screenplay)

Stars:

Randolph Scott, James Brown, Ella Raines

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Randolph Scott	...	Lieut. Commander MacClain
James Brown	...	Lt. Paul Cartwright
Ella Raines	...	Joyce Cartwright
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Stooky O'Meara
Andy Devine	...	Walsh
Fuzzy Knight	...	Cricket
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Stone
Richard Lane	...	Vice Admiral
Thomas Gomez	...	Smithy
David Bruce	...	Lt. Rawlins
Murray Alper	...	Jones
James Flavin	...	1st Lt. Bill Gardner
Walter Sande	...	Evans

Storyline

In 1943, 'Mac' MacClain, Canadian Navy, has lost his ship and many men to a German torpedo. While waiting for a new ship, he befriends Joyce Cartwright, sister of one of his dead officers. We follow the building and launch of new Corvette K-255, the 'HMCS Donnacona'. And who should be Mac's new subaltern but Joyce's other brother Paul, fresh out of the academy. Mac will do his best to make a good officer of Paul...if they both survive their hazardous sea duty.

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Plot Keywords:

navy | world war two | number in title

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Taglines:

From the director of "Air Force" and "Sergeant York"..the screen's greatest drama of the sea!

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Genres:

War | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corvettes in Action

Filming Locations:

The University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Ella Raines.

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Connections

Featured in Fejezetek a film történetéböl: Amerikai filmtípusok - Egyén és társadalom (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Bless'Em All"
Words and music by Jimmy Hughes, Frank Lake and Al Stillman

User Reviews

No Overblown heroics

The unsung contribution of the Royal Canadian Navy in providing escort service for Atlantic convoys gets its tribute in Corvette K-225. The film is very similar to the Humphrey Bogart classic Action In the North Atlantic.

I checked with a military buff friend of mine to be sure, but the Corvette was the Canadian name for a ship that would be classified as a destroyer escort and that's what their function was, escorting American and Canadian supplies to the European theater.

Randolph Scott stars as the stalwart captain who as the film opens has just lost a ship, but is anxious to get back in the fight. And of course those of the crew who survived want to return to action with him.

But Scott has a lot of newbies on board including mostly new officers among them James Brown whose brother was lost on Scott's previous ship. Scott also has taken an interest in Ella Raines who is Brown's sister.

That's the romantic portion which is strictly second fiddle to the war action. Though we get a good amount of flag waving here, the film given its time is surprisingly free of overblown heroics. For that reason it holds up well today.

Such familiar people as Barry Fitzgerald, Andy Devine, and Fuzzy Knight are in the crew filling out their stereotypical roles. Don't blink or you will miss Robert Mitchum in a very small role as one of the crew.

Corvette K-225 is a fine tribute to our Canadian allies whose contributions to Allied victory in World War II is often overlooked.