Stand by for Action (1942)

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Laurence Kirk (suggested by a story by)
Harvey S. Haislip (original story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 February 1944 (Sweden)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Plot:

U. S. Navy Lieutenant Gregg Masterman (Robert Taylor), of THE Harvard and Boston Back Bay Mastermans...

Plot Keywords:

Convoy | Destroyer | Hawaii | Sailor | Japanese

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Robert Taylor	...	Lieut. Gregg Masterman
Charles Laughton	...	Rear Admiral Stephen Thomas
Brian Donlevy	...	Lieut. Cmdr. Martin J. Roberts
Walter Brennan	...	Chief Yeoman Henry Johnson
Marilyn Maxwell	...	Audrey Carr
Henry O'Neill	...	Cmdr. Stone M.C
Marta Linden	...	Mary Collins
Chill Wills	...	Chief Boatswain's Mate Jenks
Douglass Dumbrille	...	Captain Ludlow
Richard Quine	...	Ensign Lindsay
William Tannen	...	Flag Lieut. Dudley
Douglas Fowley	...	Ensign Martin
Tim Ryan	...	Lieut. Tim Ryan
Dick Simmons	...	Lieut. (jg) Royce
Byron Foulger	...	Pharmacist's Mate 'Doc' Miller
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Carpenter's Mate 'Chips'
Inez Cooper	...	Susan Garrison
Ben Welden	...	Chief Quartermaster Rankin
Harry Fleischmann	...	Chief Signalman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Alexander	...	Sailor in Boat (uncredited)
Will Armstrong	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Billy Bletcher	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Wally Cassell	...	Talker (uncredited)
Jim Davis	...	Talker (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Calvin Emery	...	Lookout (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Senator at Party (uncredited)
Oscar 'Dutch' Hendrian	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Robert Kent	...	Hank Nels (uncredited)
Hal Le Sueur	...	Lookout (uncredited)
Frank McClure	...	Ship Officer (uncredited)
Ralph McCullough	...	Sailor in Boat (uncredited)
James Millican	...	Talker (uncredited)
Bea Nigro	...	Senator's Wife (uncredited)
Spec O'Donnell	...	Sailor Jason (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard	...	Sailor (uncredited)
William Roberts	...	Marine Messenger (uncredited)
Elizabeth Russell	...	Expectant Mother (uncredited)
Theodore von Eltz	...	'Commander' - Tennis Opponent (uncredited)
Pat West	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Frank Whitbeck	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Harry Wilson	...	Sailor (uncredited)
Douglas Wood	...	Senator Masterman (uncredited)
Duke York	...	Sailor (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Z. Leonard

Writing credits
Laurence Kirk		(suggested by a story by)
Harvey S. Haislip		(original story) (as Captain Harvey Haislip) and
R.C. Sherriff		(original story)
George Bruce		(screenplay) &
John L. Balderston		(screenplay) and
Herman J. Mankiewicz		(screenplay)

Produced by
Orville O. Dull	....	producer
Robert Z. Leonard	....	producer

Original Music by
Lennie Hayton

Cinematography by
Charles Rosher		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Boemler

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert A. Golden	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Horace Hough	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Sandy Roth	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Edward G. Boyle	....	associate set decorator
Urie McCleary	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
Michael Steinore	....	sound effects (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie	....	special effects (as Arnold Gillespie)
Donald Jahraus	....	special effects (as Don Jahraus)

Visual Effects by
Max Fabian	....	special photographic effects (uncredited)

Music Department
Wally Heglin	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
H.D. Smith	....	technical advisor (as Lieut. Comdr. H.D. Smith USN)
Wallace Worsley Jr.	....	location script clerk (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1942) (USA) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #8801) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The world premiere on 31 December 1942 took place simultaneously in 7 US cities: Boston, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; Norfolk, Virginia; San Diego, California and San Francisco, California. Some earlier screenings may have taken place for naval officers on Treasure Island, California and Mare Island, California.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the navy "aye-aye" is used to acknowledge an order. In this film it's used when "yes Sir" would have been the proper response.

Soundtrack:

Anchors Aweigh

Surprisingly entertaining WWII story with 1st rate performance by Charles Laughton

What at first blush appears to be a throw-away Navy propaganda film, released in Dec 1942, turns out to be a very easy-to-watch tale of war at sea with some moments of excellence, particularly the scenes with Charles Laughton as the crotchety Admiral Thomas.

The commissioning of the destroyer Warren includes a rousing speech by Laughton in which he inspires the new crew with a dramatic re-telling of the story of John Paul Jones giving his "I have not yet begun to fight" speech aboard the Bon Homme Richard. Off-beat plot twist includes the Warren finding a life raft filled with babies and pregnant women. The final act of the movie is an exciting depiction of the bravery of the Warren in single-handedly sinking a Japanese Battle Ship to save an entire convoy (naval convoys and battle are somewhat dated but still interesting and earned an Academy Award Nomination for special effects). Robert Taylor turns in a passable job as our hero, the spoiled LT. from Harvard. Brian Donlevy is also good as the seasoned CPT from whom Taylor learns much and later becomes his friend. Appearances by stalwart actors Chill Wills and Walter Brennan. Second half of the movie has lots of sea-battle action.