In the waning days of World War II, the United States Navy cargo ship Reluctant and her crew are stationed in the "backwater" areas of the Pacific Ocean. Trouble ensues when the crew members are granted liberty.
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Title: Mister Roberts (1955)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Henry Fonda | ... | Lt. j.g. Douglas A. Roberts | |
| James Cagney | ... | The Captain | |
| William Powell | ... | Doc | |
| Jack Lemmon | ... | Ensign Frank Thurlowe Pulver | |
| Betsy Palmer | ... | Lt. Ann Girard | |
| Ward Bond | ... | Chief Petty Officer Dowdy | |
| Philip Carey | ... | Mannion (as Phil Carey) | |
| Nick Adams | ... | Reber | |
| Perry Lopez | ... | Rodrigues | |
| Ken Curtis | ... | Dolan | |
| Robert Roark | ... | Insigna | |
| Harry Carey Jr. | ... | Stefanowski | |
| Patrick Wayne | ... | Bookser (as Pat Wayne) | |
| Frank Aletter | ... | Gerhart | |
| Tige Andrews | ... | Wiley (as Tiger Andrews) | |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Mister Roberts is aboard a US cargo ship, working in the Pacific during the Second World War. He'd do anything to leave the quiet of the ship to join in the "action". Trouble is, the captain of the ship, is a bit of a tyrant, and isn't willing to sign Roberts' transfer requests. Also on board is Ensign Pulver, who avoids work as best he can, whilst living off the riches of his buying and selling. Roberts and the crew are in constant battle, even over the smallest of disagreements. Written by Rob Hartill
Taglines:
Warner Bros. happily bring to the screen the happiest play that ever played! See more »Parents Guide:
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Doc: What is it you want to be, Doug, a hero?
Lt. j.g. Douglas A. Roberts: Hero? Doc, you haven't heard a word I've said. Look, Doc, the war's way out there, and I'm here. Well, I don't want to be here, I wanna be out there. I'm sick and tired of being a lousy spectator.
See more »
(uncredited)
Music by James P. Johnson
Words by Henry Creamer
Published by Warner Bros. Inc. (ASCAP)
Sung, hummed and whistled by Jack Lemmon throughout film (uncredited)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
John Ford encouraged James Cagney and Jack Lemmon to ad-lib, much to Henry Fonda's chagrin. See more »Goofs
Several mentions are made regarding the "Congressional Medal of Honor", this is not the correct title for the award. It is known as the Medal of Honor, and while it may be awarded by congress, it has also been awarded by presidents. See more »Quotes
Lt. j.g. Douglas A. Roberts: We've got nothing to do with the war. Maybe that's why we're on this ship, cause we're not good enough to fight. Cause our glands don't secrete enough adrenaline, or our great-great-grandmothers were afraid of the dark or something.Doc: What is it you want to be, Doug, a hero?
Lt. j.g. Douglas A. Roberts: Hero? Doc, you haven't heard a word I've said. Look, Doc, the war's way out there, and I'm here. Well, I don't want to be here, I wanna be out there. I'm sick and tired of being a lousy spectator.
See more »
Crazy Credits
The seven top-billed actors listed in the opening credits are not listed with the other players in the end credits. See more »Alternate Versions
Theatrical prints and the DVD version play Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" in this scene. Fonda (or perhaps Mel Blanc) hums this tune in voice-over as he leaves the scene. A snippet of the television print version of this scene is in the supplemental material on the DVD in the segment featuring Jane Fonda. This can be compared to the feature version on the same disc. See more »Soundtracks
If I Could Be with You One Hour Tonight(uncredited)
Music by James P. Johnson
Words by Henry Creamer
Published by Warner Bros. Inc. (ASCAP)
Sung, hummed and whistled by Jack Lemmon throughout film (uncredited)
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 July 1955 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Mister Roberts See more »Edit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$21,200,000Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
The cast and story of "Mister Roberts" are both of high quality, and they fit together well to produce one of the best war movies to be set in the Second World War. It effectively and thoughtfully presents many facets of military life - from boredom to conflict, from slapstick to sadness - without resorting to any labored or overblown material.
The cast is excellent in its own right, and the main characters are ideally matched with their roles. Henry Fonda could be no better in portraying Roberts in all his interactions with the other characters, Jack Lemmon is always entertaining as Pulver, and in Doc, William Powell gets the kind of role he played better than anyone. James Cagney is flawless as the sometimes small-minded captain, bringing out his shortcomings, yet also allowing you to understand why the character is like that.
Most of the settings work well, and they help to create a believable atmosphere of navy life. The running confrontations with the palm tree and the letters are well-conceived, and they are also used effectively, getting a lot of material out of them without stretching things too far. "Mr. Roberts" communicates some worthwhile ideas while remaining enjoyable, and provides good entertainment and comedy without avoiding the realities in the characters' lives.