Corvette K-225 (1943)

The story of a Canadian WWII naval vessel, with a dramatic subplot concerning her first captain.

Directors:

Richard Rosson, Howard Hawks (uncredited)

Writer:

John Rhodes Sturdy (original screenplay) (as John Rhodes Sturdy Lieut. R.C.N.V.R.)

Stars:

Randolph Scott, James Brown, Ella Raines

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Randolph Scott	...	Lieut. Commander MacClain
James Brown	...	Lt. Paul Cartwright
Ella Raines	...	Joyce Cartwright
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Stooky O'Meara
Andy Devine	...	Walsh
Fuzzy Knight	...	Cricket
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Stone
Richard Lane	...	Vice Admiral
Thomas Gomez	...	Smithy
David Bruce	...	Lt. Rawlins
Murray Alper	...	Jones
James Flavin	...	1st Lt. Bill Gardner
Walter Sande	...	Evans

Storyline

In 1943, 'Mac' MacClain, Canadian Navy, has lost his ship and many men to a German torpedo. While waiting for a new ship, he befriends Joyce Cartwright, sister of one of his dead officers. We follow the building and launch of new Corvette K-225, the 'HMCS Donnacona'. And who should be Mac's new subaltern but Joyce's other brother Paul, fresh out of the academy. Mac will do his best to make a good officer of Paul...if they both survive their hazardous sea duty.

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Plot Keywords:

torpedo | navy | halifax nova scotia | sonar | submarine | 

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Taglines:

From the director of "Air Force" and "Sergeant York"..the screen's greatest drama of the sea!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corvettes in Action

Filming Locations:

The University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of Ella Raines.

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Connections

Featured in The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender (1997)

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Soundtracks

Bless 'Em All
(uncredited)
Words and Music by Jimmy Hughes, Frank Lake and Al Stillman

User Reviews

WWII action with Randolph Scott and crew in the North Atlantic

A corvette, I learned from this picture, is a type of small warship. Randolph Scott is captain of such a ship, assigned by the Canadian navy to escort a convoy of ships and war supplies headed across the Atlantic.

The journey is fraught with dangers that include both storms and Nazi submarines. Like other action movies made right during the war, this one is full of patriotism and adventure; Randy Scott and crew demonstrate courage, loyalty, and determination in the face of brutal difficulties.

The first half of the picture features Ella Raines as the sister of two young officers—one just commissioned, one recently killed in action. She and Scott strike up a friendship that begins with her expressing bitterness toward his apparent hard-heartedness but develops into a mutual respect—and possibly something more—for the challenges each of them faces. Raines is appealing in her film debut...she's certainly the sister or girlfriend you'd love to have waiting back home.

James Brown is fine as the brother on his first mission. It's a fairly routine role—he chafes under Scott's demanding leadership but eventually toughens up—but fits unobtrusively into the overall story. The rest of the crew includes familiar character actors like Barry Fitzgerald, Fuzzy Knight, Noah Beery, Jr....solid and good-humored, as you'd expect. A young Robert Mitchum has a small role as a sailor (and gets the film's best line, right at the end).

The exciting battle scenes are quite impressive. It's a top-notch production that does a fine job of fulfilling its mission: it entertains while paying tribute to those fighting a war whose outcome was still very much in doubt.