Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysHispanic & Latino VoicesSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Saattue merellä

Original title: Stand by for Action
  • 19421942
  • SS
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
691
YOUR RATING
Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, and Brian Donlevy in Saattue merellä (1942)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:11
1 Video
11 Photos
War

During WW2, two Navy officers take command of an obsolete, World War I-vintage, destroyer that is assigned to convoy-escort duty in the Japanese-controlled waters of the South Pacific.During WW2, two Navy officers take command of an obsolete, World War I-vintage, destroyer that is assigned to convoy-escort duty in the Japanese-controlled waters of the South Pacific.During WW2, two Navy officers take command of an obsolete, World War I-vintage, destroyer that is assigned to convoy-escort duty in the Japanese-controlled waters of the South Pacific.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
691
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Z. Leonard
  • Writers
    • George Bruce(screen play)
    • John L. Balderston(screen play)
    • Herman J. Mankiewicz(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Robert Taylor
    • Brian Donlevy
    • Charles Laughton
  • Director
    • Robert Z. Leonard
  • Writers
    • George Bruce(screen play)
    • John L. Balderston(screen play)
    • Herman J. Mankiewicz(screen play)
  • Stars
    • Robert Taylor
    • Brian Donlevy
    • Charles Laughton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Stand by for Action
    Trailer 2:11
    Stand by for Action

    Photos11

    Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy, and Marilyn Maxwell in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Charles Laughton, Richard Quine, and William Tannen in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Charles Laughton in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Robert Taylor and Douglas Fowley in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, and Brian Donlevy in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Robert Taylor in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, and Brian Donlevy in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy, Douglas Fowley, Richard Quine, and William Tannen in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, and Brian Donlevy in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Walter Brennan, Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, Brian Donlevy, Marilyn Maxwell, and Chill Wills in Saattue merellä (1942)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Taylor
    Robert Taylor
    • Lieut. Gregg Masterman
    Brian Donlevy
    Brian Donlevy
    • Lieut. Comdr. Martin J. Roberts
    Charles Laughton
    Charles Laughton
    • Rear Admiral Stephen Thomas
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
    • Chief Yeoman Henry Johnson
    Marilyn Maxwell
    Marilyn Maxwell
    • Audrey Carr
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Comdr. Stone, M.C.
    Marta Linden
    Marta Linden
    • Mary Collins
    Chill Wills
    Chill Wills
    • Chief Boatswain's Mate Jenks
    Douglass Dumbrille
    Douglass Dumbrille
    • Captain Ludlow
    Richard Quine
    Richard Quine
    • Ensign Lindsay
    William Tannen
    William Tannen
    • Flag Lieut. Dudley
    Douglas Fowley
    Douglas Fowley
    • Ensign Martin
    Tim Ryan
    Tim Ryan
    • Lieut. Tim Ryan
    Dick Simmons
    Dick Simmons
    • Lieut. (j.g.) Royce
    Byron Foulger
    Byron Foulger
    • Pharmacist's Mate 'Doc' Miller
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    • Carpenter's Mate 'Chips'
    Inez Cooper
    Inez Cooper
    • Susan Garrison
    Ben Welden
    Ben Welden
    • Chief Quartermaster Rankin
    • Director
      • Robert Z. Leonard
    • Writers
      • George Bruce(screen play)
      • John L. Balderston(screen play)
      • Herman J. Mankiewicz(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rear Adm. Stephen Thomas, played by Charles Laughton, is wearing ribbons for the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross, the top two Naval awards for combat actions above and beyond the call of duty.
    • Goofs
      Masterman tells the captain "forward gun disabled," but his lips say "aft gun."
    • Quotes

      Lieut. Comdr. Martin J. Roberts: Mr. Masterman, aboard a destroyer the executive officer has got to be a jack of *all* trades.

      Lieut. Gregg Masterman: I'm a jack, all right.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Robert Taylor (1962)
    • Soundtracks
      Anchors Aweigh
      (1906) (uncredited)

      Music by Charles A. Zimmerman

      Lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles and R. Lovell

      Sections played during the opening credits

      Reprised in the score at the end

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    WW-II Propaganda w/ Humorous twists
    WW II Propaganda film, good entertainment

    This is the story of a young officer (Taylor) dismayed to be deployed on an old ship, a WW I destroyer with convoy escort duty. Even worse, he has to contend with a Skipper (Donlevey) who runs the ship by the book but with unseen compassion and talent. Laughton plays the fleet commander, a crotchety admiral who soon realizes the true caliber of Donlevey tho he is frustrated by the tactics Donlevey takes.

    If you like WW II movies this is definitely "OK+"... not great, but entertaining throughout.

    Chill Wills and Walter Brennan add to the story with both comic and tradgic portrayals.

    Some very good action scenes as well.

    I'd Check it out if you enjoy WW II sea stories.
    helpful•26
    1
    • Chuck-66
    • Oct 7, 1998

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1945 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Stand by for Action
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,400,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, and Brian Donlevy in Saattue merellä (1942)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Saattue merellä (1942) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Trending: Stars to Watch
    See the gallery
    View image
    Photos
    Double Duty: Musicians-Turned-Actors
    See the full gallery
    View image
    Photos
    We Love These Hollywood Power Couples
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.