When Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson and Jack Warden are uncredited atmosphere and bit players, then you know the ones who do get credited will be HUGE names indeed.
Gary Cooper is the nominal star but much more of the action is handled, and handled superbly, by his "junior officers" and the "crew."
One of my favorites is Harvey Lembeck. I cringe at the waste of such talent as Harvey Lembeck in those horrible (except for the girls in swim suits) beach movies. But when he actually gets a part, as here, he just makes it look too easy. Absolutely marvelous talent.
Jane Greer has a few moments to do something besides look beautiful, and she does look beautiful but also handles those other moments too. Another superb talent.
Jack Webb again proves he was a real actor before he became somewhat of a cartoon character as "Joe Friday." This is a rather different part, where his character is a bit more loose and outgoing than his "Joe Friday" or "D.I." roles.
Eddie Albert -- well, what does one need to say? As almost always, he plays a likable character, and plays it so so well, it's hard to remember he's an actor, not that real person you really want to get to know.
Richard Erdman gets one of his best roles. He's another who's nearly always a likable character, but his comedic talents are really on display here. He's another sadly under-rated and wonderful actor.
With a walk-on part is Ed Begley. For his few seconds on camera, he nearly steals it.
Then the magnificent Ray Collins, the superlative John McIntire, and the unknown Henry Slate almost round out the credited cast, and each and every one is just ... just ... how many more superlatives can I find to use? How about "perfect"? They are all such great talents and they get such a great script, this movie is close enough to perfect because of them and it.
Finally, though, there is that excellent veteran, pretty unknown except to movie fanatics like myself, the magnificent Millard Mitchell. He has played practically every type of role Hollywood has created, even Western characters, and played them all to perfection. Mitchell was, simply, one of the greatest acting talents I have ever seen. Here, as the chief bosun, he almost steals every scene he's in.
"You're in the Navy Now" was a real surprise to me. I had never heard of it. And it was called a "comedy." Well, yes, in spots it's very funny. But mostly it's a pleasant type of humor, one could even say "warm."
I highly recommend "You're in the Navy Now," and there's a watchable print at YouTube, occasionally out of synch, but mostly very good. Please try to see this wonderful motion picture.
Gary Cooper is the nominal star but much more of the action is handled, and handled superbly, by his "junior officers" and the "crew."
One of my favorites is Harvey Lembeck. I cringe at the waste of such talent as Harvey Lembeck in those horrible (except for the girls in swim suits) beach movies. But when he actually gets a part, as here, he just makes it look too easy. Absolutely marvelous talent.
Jane Greer has a few moments to do something besides look beautiful, and she does look beautiful but also handles those other moments too. Another superb talent.
Jack Webb again proves he was a real actor before he became somewhat of a cartoon character as "Joe Friday." This is a rather different part, where his character is a bit more loose and outgoing than his "Joe Friday" or "D.I." roles.
Eddie Albert -- well, what does one need to say? As almost always, he plays a likable character, and plays it so so well, it's hard to remember he's an actor, not that real person you really want to get to know.
Richard Erdman gets one of his best roles. He's another who's nearly always a likable character, but his comedic talents are really on display here. He's another sadly under-rated and wonderful actor.
With a walk-on part is Ed Begley. For his few seconds on camera, he nearly steals it.
Then the magnificent Ray Collins, the superlative John McIntire, and the unknown Henry Slate almost round out the credited cast, and each and every one is just ... just ... how many more superlatives can I find to use? How about "perfect"? They are all such great talents and they get such a great script, this movie is close enough to perfect because of them and it.
Finally, though, there is that excellent veteran, pretty unknown except to movie fanatics like myself, the magnificent Millard Mitchell. He has played practically every type of role Hollywood has created, even Western characters, and played them all to perfection. Mitchell was, simply, one of the greatest acting talents I have ever seen. Here, as the chief bosun, he almost steals every scene he's in.
"You're in the Navy Now" was a real surprise to me. I had never heard of it. And it was called a "comedy." Well, yes, in spots it's very funny. But mostly it's a pleasant type of humor, one could even say "warm."
I highly recommend "You're in the Navy Now," and there's a watchable print at YouTube, occasionally out of synch, but mostly very good. Please try to see this wonderful motion picture.