The Gallant Hours (1960)

Director:

Robert Montgomery

Writers:

Frank D. Gilroy (writer)
Beirne Lay Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

13 June 1960 (Sweden)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Plot:

A semi-documentary dramatization of five weeks in the life of Vice Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey...

Plot Keywords:

Naval Battle | Navy

Cast

James Cagney	...	Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.
Dennis Weaver	...	Lt. Commander Andy Lowe
Ward Costello	...	Captain Harry Black
Vaughn Taylor	...	Commander Mike Pulaski
Richard Jaeckel	...	Lieutenant Commander Roy Webb
Les Tremayne	...	Captain Frank Enright
Walter Sande	...	Captain Horace Keys
Karl Swenson	...	Captain Bill Bailey
Leon Lontoc	...	Manuel
Robert Burton	...	Major General Roy Geiger
Carleton Young	...	Colonel Evans Carlson
Raymond Bailey	...	Majpr General Archie Vandergrift
Harry Landers	...	Captain Joseph Foss
Richard Carlyle	...	Father
James Yagi	...	Rear Admiral Jiro Kobe

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Cagney-Montgomery Production

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The film uses F6F Hellcat fighter planes, which were not in combat service in 1942. Also, the F6Fs used in the film have wing-tip fuel tanks, which were a post-war innovation, not used in WWII.

Quotes:

Fleet Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey Jr.: There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.

Soundtrack:

The Gallant Hours Theme

A study of the character of command

A war film without action makes this picture almost unique. The message is that wars are fought with character as much as gun fire. Cagney's performance is subtle and deeply felt. One scene in particular in the final half hour should be watched carefully: a 45-second shot of Cagney sitting at his desk with a cup of coffee as the consequences of his decision run through his mind in the form of off-screen battle sounds. The camera patiently draws in on his face, as his expression grown more grim. Cagney's expression and eyes have a power that burns through the screen like a magnificent still life summing up the enormous responsibility of command. Also, the choral music throughout adds a great weight and sense of secular reverence to the tone of the film. In a way, "Gallant Hours" is comparable to "Command Decision," in that it takes us, as one other viewer put it, behind the scenes of battle.