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The Fighting Seabees

  • 1944
  • Approved
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
John Wayne and Susan Hayward in The Fighting Seabees (1944)
DramaRomanceWar

During WW2, the U.S. Navy implements a new idea of forming construction battalions that also are fighting units, in case of Japanese attack.During WW2, the U.S. Navy implements a new idea of forming construction battalions that also are fighting units, in case of Japanese attack.During WW2, the U.S. Navy implements a new idea of forming construction battalions that also are fighting units, in case of Japanese attack.

  • Director
    • Edward Ludwig
  • Writers
    • Borden Chase
    • Æneas MacKenzie
    • Ethel Hill
  • Stars
    • John Wayne
    • Susan Hayward
    • Dennis O'Keefe
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edward Ludwig
    • Writers
      • Borden Chase
      • Æneas MacKenzie
      • Ethel Hill
    • Stars
      • John Wayne
      • Susan Hayward
      • Dennis O'Keefe
    • 45User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos37

    "The Fighting Seabees," Republic 1944.
    John Wayne and Susan Hayward in The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    John Wayne in The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    John Wayne, Susan Hayward, and Dennis O'Keefe in The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    John Wayne and Susan Hayward in The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    The Fighting Seabees (1944)
    The Fighting Seabees (1944)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Wayne
    John Wayne
    • Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan
    Susan Hayward
    Susan Hayward
    • Constance Chesley
    Dennis O'Keefe
    Dennis O'Keefe
    • Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow
    William Frawley
    William Frawley
    • Eddie Powers
    Leonid Kinskey
    Leonid Kinskey
    • Johnny Novasky
    J.M. Kerrigan
    J.M. Kerrigan
    • Sawyer Collins
    Grant Withers
    Grant Withers
    • Whanger Spreckles
    Paul Fix
    Paul Fix
    • Ding Jacobs
    Ben Welden
    Ben Welden
    • Yump Lumkin
    William Forrest
    William Forrest
    • Lt. Tom Kerrick
    Addison Richards
    Addison Richards
    • Capt. Joyce
    Jay Norris
    • Joe Brick
    Duncan Renaldo
    Duncan Renaldo
    • Construction Worker at Party
    Abdullah Abbas
    • Construction Worker
    • (uncredited)
    Lee Adams
    • Construction Worker
    • (uncredited)
    Joel Allen
    • Coxswain
    • (uncredited)
    Walter Bacon
    • Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    Roy Barcroft
    Roy Barcroft
    • Seabee Barcroft
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Edward Ludwig
    • Writers
      • Borden Chase
      • Æneas MacKenzie
      • Ethel Hill(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The name "Seabees" is a nickname for the US Navy's Construction Battalions (CBs) division.
    • Goofs
      In some of the Japanese attacks, they are using belt-fed American light machine guns rather than than Japanese stick-fed light machine guns.
    • Quotes

      Eddie Powers: I'm Eddie Powers, Donovan's factotum, meaning, "Man Friday". That's Latin.

      Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow: Well, I'm glad to know you Friday even if it's only Thursday.

    • Crazy credits
      The film's opening credits dedication states: "Proudly and gratefully we dedicate this picture to the Civil Engineer Corps and the Construction Battalions - the Seabees of the United States Navy who have fired the imagination of the world with their colorful exploits throughout the Seven Seas."
    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in That's Action (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Song Of The Seabees
      Music by Peter De Rose (as Peter DeRose)

      Lyrics by Sam Lewis (as Sam M. Lewis)

    User reviews45

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Been there & Done that!!
    I was a "Seabee" w/ MCB 4, from 1964-1970!! In basic training in Port Hueneme California, during our first week of training we were marched to the post theater, and were shown this movie. We for the most part thought it was a good movie, but thought it might have been a little overplayed as a promotional thing to peak our interests in becoming a "SeaBee!? ..Well after two full tours in Viet Nam, with my battalion! I have come to the realization. That this is one of the few Wayne war movies of the WW2 time frame that is as close to accurate as they could portray a unit of the Armed Forces! A bunch of Construction workers doing their damndest to get a job done no matter the adversity or dangers ! the only real link they had to being in the military was the fact they were wearing uniforms! they Build and Fight! and Party hard !! just as we did and as the Bees still do !!
    helpful•40
    5
    • bigdogbarkin1
    • Apr 9, 2006

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 1944 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Donovan's Army
    • Filming locations
      • Port Hueneme, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Republic Pictures (I)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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