Flagwaving story of a new American destroyer, the JOHN PAUL JONES, from the day her keel is laid, to what was very nearly her last voyage. Among the crew, is Steve Boleslavski, a shipyard welder that helped build her, who reenlists, with his old rank of Chief bosuns mate. After failing her sea trials, she is assigned to the mail run, until caught up in a disparate battle with a Japanese sub. After getting torpedoed, and on the verge of sinking, the Captain, and crew hatch a plan to try and save the ship, and destroy the sub.
Practical Effects
Real Navy cooperation = authentic ship sequences
Acting
Robinson's working-class intensity anchors the melodrama
Production
USS Kearny subbing in for fictional destroyer
Director
William A. Seiter
Edward G. Robinson
Steven 'Boley' Boleslavski
Glenn Ford
Mickey Donohue
Edgar Buchanan
Kansas Jackson
Marguerite Chapman
Mary Boleslavski
Regis Toomey
Lt. Cmdr. Clark
Warren Ashe
Lt. Bert Marton
Leo Gorcey
Seaman Sarecky
Edward Brophy
Engineer Casey
Eddy Waller
Marty, a riveter
Roger Clark
Chief Engineer
Curt Bois
Swab with large nose
Kenneth MacDonald
Admiral (Clark's CO)
Charles D. Brown
Doctor, finding Boley unfit for further sea duty
Cliff Clark
Commandant
Richard Loo
Japanese Submarine Commander
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real USS Kearny had been torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1941, giving this fictional drama genuine scars.
Released during peak WWII when Hollywood functioned as an unofficial arm of the Office of War Information.
US
