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

During the filming, Kirk Douglas sponsored a Yom Kippur service for the Jewish naval personnel being used as extras in the film.

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Goofs

The Japanese submarine in the Pearl Harbor attack changes appearance radically between shots - different models - at 0:23:16 and 0:23:54.

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Quotes

Col. Gregory: Sir, I can't put up all of my men unless we get at least five more transports.
Rear Admiral Rock Torrey: Well, aren't there any more R4D's on Tulabonne?
Col. Gregory: Yes, but they're held in reserve.
Captain Paul Eddington: Reserve! What... for?
Col. Gregory: That's the way Admiral Broderick has things organized.
Captain Paul Eddington: What happens if an R4D conks out?
Col. Gregory: Tulabonne sends us a spare until we get it fixed.
Captain Paul Eddington: Five of 'em just conked out, Gregg.
Commander Egan Powell: Let's relay the sad news to Broderick!
Rear Admiral Rock Torrey: Mr. Canfil, you seem to have fallen in among thieves!
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991)

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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

"a mother lovin' gut busting navy war."

I've always felt that in these big budget all star epics, the trick is to give each of the star a role of substance as small as the part might be sometimes. That's one of the best things about In Harm's Way, Otto Preminger cast this film with a whole lot of big movie names and each one of them made their presence felt.

Case in point the three admirals played by Franchot Tone, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda. All three are very different type men. Tone is a man knowing he'll be sitting the war out because it was on his watch that the Pearl Harbor attack occurred. He's not bitter, he knows that's how things work in the navy. Dana Andrews is a publicity conscious admiral who employs the unctuous Patrick O'Neal in that regard. Henry Fonda plays the second commander in chief of the Pacific, Chester Nimitz in all but name. Oddly enough Fonda would play Nimitz again and by name in the film Midway a decade later. All three of these men make a deep impression on the audience despite having limited roles.

I'm sure that when Otto Preminger was casting In Harm's Way he must have seen Operation Pacific and saw the easy chemistry that John Wayne and Patricia Neal had 14 years earlier. Playing older and wiser versions of themselves from the previous film, Wayne and Neal show love ain't just for the young.

In Harm's Way has the Duke as a father figure for the first time. As Rockwell Torrey, the rock of ages as Kirk Douglas calls him, in addition to the Pacific War he takes on a whole lot of people's problems and they look to him for advice and comfort. In addition to his biological son Brandon DeWilde, the Duke also deals with Kirk Douglas and his problem concerning his tramp of a wife and the problems of young Lieutenant j.g. Tom Tryon and his wife Paula Prentiss.

One of my favorite John Wayne scenes is with Prentiss as he brings her the news about Tryon being missing in action. It is so well done from both players I'm still moved after having seen In Harm's Way a dozen times or more.

Acting honors however may go to Kirk Douglas as Wayne's chief aide who has the most complex role in the film. Douglas runs the gamut of emotions as he does in so many of his roles, from naval hero to maniacal rapist. Douglas actually hopes the war coming will help him put his personal problems on a back burner. For a while and it does, but only temporarily.

Another favorite I have here is Patrick O'Neal who if there is a villain other than the Japanese, he's it. He's a smarmy former Congressman who's looking as the war as a series of photo ops and is already planning his post war political career. O'Neal's not above jeopardizing a naval operation for the sake of a little publicity for his boss Dana Andrews. His confrontation with Kirk Douglas in the latrine is a classic.

In Harm's Way is a skilled blend of war drama and soap opera in the best sense of that term. It can be enjoyed and appreciated by fans of both.