In Harm's Way (1965)

A Naval officer, reprimanded after Pearl Harbor, is later promoted to Rear Admiral and gets a second chance to prove himself against the Japanese.

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

Wendell Mayes (screenplay), James Bassett (novel)

Stars:

John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Rock
Kirk Douglas	...	Eddington
Patricia Neal	...	Maggie
Tom Tryon	...	Mac
Paula Prentiss	...	Bev
Brandon De Wilde	...	Jere
Jill Haworth	...	Annalee
Dana Andrews	...	Admiral Broderick
Stanley Holloway	...	Clayton Canfil
Burgess Meredith	...	Commander Egan Powell
Franchot Tone	...	CINCPAC I
Patrick O'Neal	...	Commander Neal Owynn
Carroll O'Connor	...	Lt. Commander Burke
Slim Pickens	...	C.P.O. Culpepper
James Mitchum	...	Ensign Griggs

Storyline

On patrol the morning of December 7th while commanding a cruiser Captain Torrey receives word of the attack on Pearl Harbor. His orders are to find the Japanese force and attack it. The picture tells the story of three families during the outbreak of World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

u.s. navy | adultery | pearl harbor | warship | uniform | 

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Taglines:

Stripped of everything - they lived and loved and fought as if there were no tomorrow...

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Patricia Neal, a very heavy smoker, nearly died the same year this film was released after suffering three intracranial aneurysms.

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Goofs

When making the parachute drop all of the Marines have proper chin straps with cups. Colonel Gregory just has a standard web strap and he has it on the point of his chin. If this had been an actual jump, the helmet would have come off, and the strap would have broken his nose and possibly broken his neck.

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Quotes

[the Cassiday is underway, trying to escape the attack on Pearl Harbor]
Lt. Cline: Captain Harding, sir, and the exec!
Commander Rafe Harding USN, Cassiday's CO: [Standing on the bow of a pursuing motor whaleboat, frantically waving his hat up and down] Cassiday! Stop! Let us aboard!
Lt. Tom Agar: How the hell can we stop? It'll take twenty minutes at this speed!
LTJG 'Mac' McConnel: [Making a decision not to stop] Does anyone on this bridge see anything back there?
Bosun's Mate Chief Culpepper, USS Cassiday: Well, if they do, Mr. McConnell, I'll guarantee you they won't see nothin' again.
Lt. Tom Agar: [Laughing] Let 'er rip, Mac!

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Alternate Versions

Videotape version is shorter than theatrical version televised on A&E. Battle footage at end of film shorter on video.

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Connections

Edited into Bass on Titles (1977)

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Soundtracks

Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
(uncredited)
Written by Charles Tobias, Lew Brown, and Sam H. Stept

User Reviews

War done as melodrama

In Harm's Way (1965) - Director: Otto Preminger A more drama-driven war flick than most that focuses on how the war affected the personal lives of the men and women in and around Pearl Harbor before and after the infamous attack. John Wayne delivers one of his best performances as a Captain near the end of his career learning to communicate with a son (played by the ever young Brandon DeWildez) he's only recenlty reunited with, and handling a later-in -life romance with whiskey voiced Patricia Neal.

Kirk Douglas is around as a commander who just can't seem to get his personal life in order but who valiantly tries to redeem himself by heroically undertaking a no-win spy plane mission. Two old pros, Burgess Meredith and Dana Andrews fill out the major supporting roles while throw-away roles are notable for stars-of-tomorrows' Larry Hagman and Christopher George, to name a couple.

Quality melodrama with enough action to keep the guys interested and enough sexual tension to keep, well everybody interested. Oh and a personal favorite, unfortunately underused in the movie in the lovely heady shape of Paula Prentiss.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

6 April 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Première victoire

Filming Locations:

Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$4,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Otto Preminger Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

165 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System) Mono (35 mm prints)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1