Destroyer (1943)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Join the navy, see the world, or in the case of the crew of the John Paul Jones II, join the navy and deliver the mail. The fact that this battle ship was meant to see action and simply ended up playing Mr. Postman has upset its commander (Regis Toomey) and his two rival assistants (Edward G. Robinson and Glenn Ford) who differ in how the ship should be run. Robinson's a grizzled old fool who helped build the ship, having served on the original John Paul Jones and aided Toomey in going off to officer's school. He thinks he's entitled, pretty much like an old dog who refuses to learn new tricks, but unbeknownst to him, Ford has fallen in love with Robinson's pretty daughter (Marguerite Churchill).In actuality, their rivalry is really light-hearted, causing an almost comedic relationship between the two which just needs to come to some sort of compromise. Three quarters of the film is done as a comedy, almost inappropriately, between their not so serious rivalry and the presence of two portly crew members, Edgar Buchannan and Edward Brophy. Then, there's Leo Gorcey, pretty much playing his "Bowery Boys" character, given a question by a navy psychiatrist pre-dating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", inquiring whether or not he likes girls. The comic element of the film is somewhat inappropriate, so when the film switches gears for a confrontation with Japananese planes attacking them, the mood swing seems very severe in spite of being extremely well filmed.With tons of films on the importance of the military during World War II having already been done (and many much better), this one is a slight disappointment because of the way it deals with its subject matter. It's not a complete, disaster, however, because it does provide enough entertainment and some patriotic flag-waving to stir up the hearts and minds of the war era movie going public. Robinson would have better war films, however, with the following year's "Tampico" and the light-hearted "Mr. Winkle Goes to War" which you knew just from the title alone was going to be a comedy with a patriotic twist.

The movie " DESTROYER " is based on an inspiring story written by Frank Wead and directed by William A. Seiter. Filmed during the war years to inspire a nation, it did just that. With a fabulous cast which includes the like of Edward G. Robinson, Glenn Ford, Edgar Buchanan, Leo Gorcey and Regis Toomey as Lt. Cmdr. Clark, the entire group does an excellent job of inspiring any audience who views it. It's a simple story of American construction men who not only build war ship but then reenlist to sail in it as well. The movie also includes the war years back home and the moral boosting women manning the U.S.O. clubs back home. It dates back to W.W.II and how difficult it was to to convince a nation to support a war that was necessary, not contrived as we have recently done. A Good show with a good cast. ****

First Rate for the period. A good patriotic Navy film, in the class with "Men of Honor" and Top Gun. Great depiction of sailors,Ships and the sea. As a U.S. Navy Veteran and "Tin-can-Sailor" an affectionate term for "Destroyer" Sailors, this shows the connection of the men and the Ship. The personality and the Valor of the Ship and her namesake and the men that make HER sail. To the sailor she is more than just steel that floats, she is Life; one lives, eats and sleeps the ship. If she don't float, we die. She takes us in harm's way and if we do it right, she brings us home. Home is the sailor, home from the sea. "Well done "Boli."

The movie is worth seeing just to see Marguerite. I also enjoyed seeing Edward G. Robinson. Leo Gorcey was also very effective in this movie. Glenn Ford worked well with the other stars and was believable as a navy man.