Minesweeper (1943)

Director:

William Berke

Writers:

Edward T. Lowe Jr. (original screenplay) and
Maxwell Shane (original screenplay)

Release Date:

10 November 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

DANGER AFLOAT! ABOVE, BELOW AND ACROSS THE SEAS...WITH THE HEROIC MEN OF THE COAST GUARD! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

A naval officer who had deserted several years earlier is drawn back to the Navy when World War II begins...

Plot Keywords:

Minesweeper | Navy | Mine | Japanese | Harbor

Cast

Richard Arlen	...	Richard Houston - posing as Jim 'Tennessee' Jones
Jean Parker	...	Mary Smith
Russell Hayden	...	Seaman Elliot Nash
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	CPO Ichabod Ferdinand 'Fixit' Smith (as Guinn Williams)
Emma Dunn	...	Mom Smith
Charles D. Brown	...	Commander Lane
Frank Fenton	...	Lt. Ralph Gilpin
Chick Chandler	...	Seaman 'Corny' Welch
Douglas Fowley	...	Cutter Lieutenant Wells
Ralph Sanford	...	Seaman Cox
Billy Nelson	...	Bos'un 'Freshwater' Heims (as Bill Nelson)
Grant Withers	...	CPO Gregg, In Charge of Diving Crew

Runtime:

67 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:Approved

Company:

Pine-Thomas Productions

Somewhat Melodramatic, But Interesting

"Minesweeper" is a somewhat melodramatic but interesting World War II drama that has a pretty good story and that also takes a look at one of the less familiar aspects of the war. There are also some moments of real suspense and tension. The print that aired recently was unfortunately not very good, so viewing it involves accepting some distractions, but it has a number of points of interest to compensate.

Richard Arlen stars as a naval officer who had deserted a few years before the war, but who finds himself drawn back to the Navy when the war breaks out. Helped by a friendly family, he assumes a new identity and re-enlists under his new name. Throughout the action that follows, he is faced with numerous dangerous missions, while also living in constant fear that his true identity will be discovered. He also finds himself involved in romantic complications. It all builds up to a climactic sequence of events that, while rather melodramatic, is action-packed and rather surprising.

Arlen's ship is a minesweeper, and the film incorporates some interesting details on the job that such ships had to do in keeping shipping lanes and harbors free of mines. The hazards involved also lead to some rather tense moments of drama.

The movie is not too long, and moves fairly quickly. It should hold some interest for most fans of old war movies.