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IMDbPro

Tell It to the Marines

  • 19261926
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
87,046
5,352
Eleanor Boardman and William Haines in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
ComedyDramaRomance
A gruff Marine sergeant and a handsome new recruit compete for the affection of a nurse.A gruff Marine sergeant and a handsome new recruit compete for the affection of a nurse.A gruff Marine sergeant and a handsome new recruit compete for the affection of a nurse.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
87,046
5,352
  • Director
    • George W. Hill
  • Writers
    • Richard Schayer(screen play)
    • Joseph Farnham(titles)
  • Stars
    • Lon Chaney
    • William Haines
    • Eleanor Boardman
Top credits
  • Director
    • George W. Hill
  • Writers
    • Richard Schayer(screen play)
    • Joseph Farnham(titles)
  • Stars
    • Lon Chaney
    • William Haines
    • Eleanor Boardman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos29

    Lon Chaney in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Lon Chaney in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Lon Chaney in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Lon Chaney in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Eleanor Boardman and William Haines in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Eleanor Boardman and William Haines in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    William Haines and Carmel Myers in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Lon Chaney and William Haines in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Lon Chaney and William Haines in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Lon Chaney in Tell It to the Marines (1926)
    Eleanor Boardman, Eddie Gribbon, William Haines, Mrs. Wong Wing, and H.H. Hopple in Tell It to the Marines (1926)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lon Chaney
    Lon Chaney
    • Sergeant O'Hara
    William Haines
    William Haines
    • Private 'Skeet' Burns
    Eleanor Boardman
    Eleanor Boardman
    • Norma Dale
    Eddie Gribbon
    Eddie Gribbon
    • Corporal Madden
    Carmel Myers
    Carmel Myers
    • Zaya
    Warner Oland
    Warner Oland
    • Chinese Bandit Chief
    Mitchell Lewis
    Mitchell Lewis
    • Native
    Frank Currier
    Frank Currier
    • General Wilcox
    Maurice E. Kains
    • Harry
    • (as Maurice Kains)
    Lori Bara
    • Navy Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Dick Curtis
    Dick Curtis
    • Marine in Barracks
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Erlenborn
    Ray Erlenborn
    • Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Willie Fung
    Willie Fung
    • Guard at Door of Besieged Clinic
    • (uncredited)
    H.H. Hopple
    • Marine
    • (uncredited)
    Sgt. Jiggs
    • Dog
    • (uncredited)
    Tetsu Komai
    • Hangchow Leader
    • (uncredited)
    Nola Luxford
    • Navy Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Bud Rae
    • Marine in O'Hara's Squad
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George W. Hill
    • Writers
      • Richard Schayer(screen play)
      • Joseph Farnham(titles)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the production, Lon Chaney formed a close friendship with Marine Corps Gen. Smedley Butler, which lasted for the rest of Chaney's life.
    • Goofs
      In the final sequence, when Sergeant O'Hara (Lon Chaney) is drilling the new recruits, the top buttons of his uniform are undone, unpardonable by Marine standards, particularly in the case of this hard-nosed veteran.
    • Quotes

      Marine Major: Burns, are you an American citizen?

      Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: Sure! Do I look like a Persian?

      Marine Major: Ever been married?

      Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: Not me! I'm America's sweetheart!

      Marine Major: Ever been in jail?

      Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: No.

      [Major stands up. Burns stands up and says an oath. Sits back down]

      Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: Well, Maje old kid... now I'm a Marine.

      Marine Major: You're damned right you are! Stand up!

      [Gestures for Burns to leave his office]

      Sgt. O'Hara: Terrible! Madden, put a uniform on this! Try to make it look human! Don't shoot him before we find out where his parents live.

    • Alternate versions
      In 2000, Turner Classic Movies presented on TV a version with an orchestral score by Robert Israel (II) and a running time of 103 minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in Some of the Best (1944)

    User reviews30

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Excellent film
    Lon Chaney is one of my top 3 actors ever, so naturally I watched this movie because of him. It's amazing how he managed to make gruff characters so likeable-- even under layers of makeup as the Hunchback of Notre Dame or the Phantom of the Opera. Here he's not buried under a few layers of makeup, but his character is no less memorable. William Haynes is quite good in his role as the goofy recruit that Chaney swears to make into a Marine. The movie can be quite funny, quite touching and often exciting, as well. Highly recommended.
    helpful•17
    2
    • Casey_Moriarty
    • Jun 8, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 29, 1928 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • None
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Det brinner i öster
    • Filming locations
      • Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $433,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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