PT 109 (1963)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Leslie H. Martinson

Writers:

Richard L. Breen (writer)
Robert J. Donovan (book)

Release Date:

19 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

"The Story you wouldn't believe happened...but it did!"

Plot:

Dramatization of President John F. Kennedy's war time experiences during which he captained a PT boat...

Plot Keywords:

P.t. Boat | John F Kennedy | Patrol Boat | 1940s | Military

Cast

Cliff Robertson	...	Lt. John F. Kennedy
Ty Hardin	...	Ens. Leonard J. Thom
James Gregory	...	Cmdr. C.R. Ritchie
Robert Culp	...	Ens. George 'Barney' Ross
Grant Williams	...	Lt., Alvin Cluster
Lew Gallo	...	Yeoman Rogers
Errol John	...	Benjamin Kevu
Michael Pate	...	Lt. Reginald Evans
Robert Blake	...	Charles 'Bucky' Harris
William Douglas	...	Gerald Zinser
Biff Elliot	...	Edgar E. Mauer
Norman Fell	...	Edmund Drewitch
Sam Gilman	...	Raymond Starkey
Clyde Howdy	...	Leon Drawdy
Buzz Martin	...	Maurice Kowal

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Little Palm Island, Florida, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Peter Fonda, who resembled the young JFK in build and looks, was also considered for the role of PT 109's last skipper, as were both Roger Smith and Ed "Kookie" Byrnes from the popular TV series "77 Sunset Strip."

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Several American flags, in long shot, are 50-star flags (48 in 1943).

Quotes:

Ens. Leonard J. Thom: [reporting aboard the PT109] Mr. Kennedy? Ensign Leonard Thom, your exec.
[they exchange salutes]
Lt. John F. Kennedy: Oh, hi. Glad to meet you, Leonard.
[they shake hands]
Lt. John F. Kennedy: Welcome aboard.
Ens. Leonard J. Thom: [looking around the boat] How long did they give you to put it in shape?
Lt. John F. Kennedy: Well, we've used about half the time just talking right here.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mitchell (#6.12)" (1993)

maybe it's just me, but the title makes it sound like a Beach Boys movie

As someone born long after the Kennedy years, I admit that I don't really know what he was like, and I've certainly never read his book about his WWII experiences. But I have seen the movie version of "PT 109". I will say that it's worth seeing just because it is about one of our most beloved presidents, but otherwise, it's kinda jingoistic and not 100% interesting. We see how JFK (Cliff Robertson) was sort of unsure what to think of the war initially, but knew what to do once he started fighting.

So, it's clearly a product of America's "age of innocence". But still, I recommend it just because it shows how Kennedy was actually someone whom we could trust in wartime. Also starring Robert Culp ("Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice"), Grant Williams ("The Incredible Shrinking Man"), Robert Blake and Norman Fell.

And yes, I think that the title sounds like a Beach Boys movie. That's just me, I guess.