Navy Blue and Gold (1937)

James Stewart plays "Truck" Cross an enlisted soldier who has been accepted into the Unites States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Truck meets Roger "Rog" Ash (Robert Young)and ... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Wood

Writers:

George Bruce (book), George Bruce (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Young, James Stewart, Florence Rice

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Young	...	Roger 'Rog' Ash
James Stewart	...	John Cross Carter
Florence Rice	...	Patricia 'Pat' Gates
Billie Burke	...	Mrs. Alyce Gates
Lionel Barrymore	...	Capt. 'Skinny' Dawes
Tom Brown	...	Richard Arnold 'Dick' Gates Jr.
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Richard Gates Sr.
Paul Kelly	...	Tommy Milton
Barnett Parker	...	Graves
Frank Albertson	...	Weeks
Minor Watson	...	Lt. Milburn
Robert Middlemass	...	Academy Superintendent
Phillip Terry	...	Kelly
Charles Waldron	...	Cmdr. Carter
Pat Flaherty	...	Coach of Southern Institute

Storyline

James Stewart plays "Truck" Cross an enlisted soldier who has been accepted into the Unites States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Truck meets Roger "Rog" Ash (Robert Young)and Richard "Dickie" Gates Junior (Tom Brown). Three very different young men become roommates. Truck Cross has a secret he doesn't want let out. Ash is full of himself and needs to learn to be part of a team. Gates seems to just want to belong to something get away from his mother (played by Billie Burke, whom you will instantly remember as Glinda the Good Witch) The boys make it through their Plebe year (Freshman) year, and into the Sophomore year is when the plot really begins to thicken, Truck's secret is found out, and the outcome could mean expulsion, Ash thinks he's not Navy at all and it could lead to expulsion as well, Captain Dawes (played by the incomparable Lionel Barrymore) always seems to be in the right place at the right time to help make things happen for this threesome. Will the three of ...

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Plot Keywords:

false accusation | american football | annapolis maryland | loyalty | courts martial | 

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Taglines:

TAKE A TIP FROM A GUY IN THE SERVICE...YOU'LL STAND AND CHEER THIS GREAT PICTURE! IT'S ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST THRILLING NAVY PICTURES EVER MADE! NO KIDDING! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

Annapolis

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - 3911 S. Figueroa Street, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The sculpture of an indian was the figurehead of USS Delaware which was burned in 1861 at the Gosport Navy Yard to prevent its capture by the Confederacy at the start of the Civil War. In 1868, the saved figurehead, officially titled Tamanend, Chief of the Delaware Indians, was transferred to the United States Naval Academy. In 1929 the sculpture was cast in bronze at the U.S. Naval Gun Factory, and presented by the Class of 1891. As Tamanend was a pacifist and friend to William Penn he did not inspire the midshipmen of the Academy, and they eventually named the figurehead Tecumseh after the Shawnee warrior chief and ally of the British, who was killed in the Battle of the Thames during the War of 1812. To this day Midshipmen toss pennies at the monument for good luck in their examinations and Army-Navy football games.

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Goofs

The correct word in the Goofs remarks about the football game should be Climactic, not Climatic. It has nothing to do with the weather. This word is often used incorrectly.

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Connections

Referenced in Hold That Kiss (1938)

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Soundtracks

Auld Lang Syne
(uncredited)
Scottish traditional
Lyrics by Robert Burns
Played at the Christmas Dance

User Reviews

"Stand Navy Down The Field..... Army You Steer Shy -Ay-Ay-Ay"

The US service academies have been good ground for good films for as long as there have been movies. Two years before Navy Blue And Gold came out, Annapolis got the full Hollywood treatment from Warner Brothers in Shipmates Forever. The only difference here is that no one sings in this one.

Three midshipmen from different walks of life become roommates and one of them, Tom Brown, has a sister that his two friends, James Stewart have a friendly rivalry over. All three of them play football and go on to play football for the Naval Academy.

Robert Young is the playboy of the group who just sees the Academy as the way to meet a rich woman and retire young, no pun intended. James Stewart is an enlisted man with a big secret who wants a career in the Navy in the worst way. Tom Brown is a nice young kid, rich, but with a good heart. And his sister Florence Rice has the first two guys hormones racing round the Annapolis quadrant.

Both Young and Stewart go through differing crises and each has to examine what brought them to Annapolis. How they resolve things and how outside forces deal with them is the crux of Navy Blue And Gold.

Sam Wood directed the film and he had a nice eye for the tradition and ambiance that is the Naval Academy. Every film I ever saw about either West Point or Annapolis is reverent about the place and this is no different. The people that come here surrender their lives to lead those who defend our country. The Academies ask and get only the best and brightest.

The cast is rounded out with some well rounded character parts like Paul Kelly as the Naval Academy Football Coach, Samuel S. Hinds and Billie Burke as the parents of Rice and Brown, and most of all Lionel Barrymore as Skinny Dawes, the oldest graduate of the Academy and original starter on the Navy's first football squad.

It all ends in annual Army-Navy football game and need I tell you who wins it. Funny thing is that I could have taken the same story and turned it around and written it for the Army. No doubt it's been done already.

Seeing James Stewart all idealistic about the Navy and its traditions leaves you no doubt as to why he became a big star and why he was so good in roles like Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. Watching Stewart in his part as Tuck Cross is like seeing Jefferson Smith get a college education. Note that in 1937 Robert Young is billed over Stewart, but by 1940 when they did The Mortal Storm, the billing had reversed.

Navy Blue And Gold is one sentimental picture. But there are those of us who like our sentiment.