In Harm's Way (1965)

A naval officer reprimanded after Pearl Harbor is later promoted to rear admiral and gets a second chance to prove himself against the Japanese.

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

Wendell Mayes (screenplay), James Bassett (novel)

Stars:

John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Captain Rockwell 'Rock' Torrey
Kirk Douglas	...	Commander Paul Eddington
Patricia Neal	...	Lieutenant Maggie Haynes
Tom Tryon	...	Lieutenant William 'Mac' McConnel
Paula Prentiss	...	Bev McConnel
Brandon De Wilde	...	Ensign Jeremiah 'Jere' Torrey
Jill Haworth	...	Ensign Annalee Dorne
Dana Andrews	...	Admiral 'Blackjack' Broderick
Stanley Holloway	...	Clayton Canfil
Burgess Meredith	...	Commander Egan Powell
Franchot Tone	...	CINCPAC I
Patrick O'Neal	...	Commander Neal Owynn
Carroll O'Connor	...	Lieutenant Commander Burke
Slim Pickens	...	C.P.O Culpepper
James Mitchum	...	Ensign Griggs

Storyline

Captain Rockwell Torrey and Commander Paul Eddington are part of the Navy's effort to recuperate from, and retaliate for, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Torrey is romantically involved with nurse Maggie Haynes, and also tries to restore his relationship with his estranged son, Jeremiah, a young Naval officer.

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Plot Keywords:

naval officer | pearl harbor | second chance | admiral | nurse | 

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Taglines:

Stripped of everything - they lived and loved and fought as if there were no tomorrow...

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

6 April 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Première victoire

Filming Locations:

Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, O`ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Otto Preminger Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

165 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) Mono (35 mm prints)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Clemson-class destroyer DD-298 was the USS Percival (commissioned 1920, decommissioned 1930). Its first commander was Commander Raymond A. Spruance who lead the 5th Fleet in WWII.

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Goofs

In the scene where Eddington takes the reconnaissance plane, it is given to him with a machine gun clearly visible extending from the nose. In later shots of the plane in flight, it is gone.

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Quotes

Commander Egan Powell: Well, us civilians need more rest and recreation than you Old Salts.

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Connections

Featured in Skidoo (1968)

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Soundtracks

"Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree"
(uncredited)
Written by Charles Tobias, Lew Brown, and Sam H. Stept

User Reviews

Excellent work of fiction

I have been watching this movie since it came out in 1965. It is one of the movies that sent me off to the US Navy in 1967. I recently purchased a DVD copy on the net for a great price and I watched it again. Yes, it is all fiction; but still a great movie against the back drop of WWII and the US Navy in the Pacific. It has battleships, cruisers, destroyers, PT boats, and submarines. It has confused yet brave men and women. It has old fashion love scenes that "fade to black after the first kiss". It has a rape scene where you do not see the violence; but, it is so well acted it is still terrifying. In the last 40 years I have read dozens of factual books about the US Navy in the Pacific. I still enjoy this movie very much and recommend it.