To the Shores of Tripoli (1942)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Fantastic!

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

William Manchester was an award winning novelist, reporter, historian, biographer, and friend of John F. Kennedy. His account of his experiences in combat on Okinawa are among the most vivid ever published. And this is the movie that prompted him to enlist in the Marine Corps during World War II.Manchester was impressed, he says, by the same elements of the movie that I say will impress the ordinary viewer of today. Marine Corps boot camp is a lot of fun with plenty of jocular fellows to play grabass with. Your Drill Instructor looks like Randolph Scott. He's stern and crusty on the outside, but underneath that he's a concerned and devoted friend. (Underneath THAT he's a real mean son of a gun.) You get to wear snappy uniforms and after boot camp, why it's nothing but dress blues. Your training takes place in the impeccably kempt Camp Pendleton under the blazing blue skies of San Diego. Once you finish boot camp you go to Sea School and get to take a sea-going vacation aboard a battleship. Oh, there's always Randolph Scott around to say things like, "Step to it, men," but the tone is always avuncular.On top of that, you -- a mere enlisted man -- get to make out with the stunning Maureen O'Hara, who was about twenty years old at the time. She's a lieutenant and you're supposed to do no more than salute her but nobody pays attention to these silly rules. It's all photographed in gorgeous Technicolor and you know what? Maureen O'Hara is a drop-dead hottie even without flaming red hair.Man, is John Payne lucky. Well, maybe not THAT lucky. He was supposed to wind up happily married to O'Hara, both devoted to a peaceful military routine, but half-way through the shoot, the plot was interrupted by some uncommonly rude Japanese who attacked us at Pearl Harbor. Poor Zanuck, the producer, had to stick on a brief prologue about "the current conflict" and change the ending so that Payne, Scott, O'Hara, and all the boys climb aboard a troop transport for the Pacific, enthusiastically singing the Marine Corps hymn accompanied by a marching band. What a fantasy.Want to see what happened to William Manchester? Read his awesome memoir: "Good-bye, Darkness."

The plot of "To the Shores of Tripoli" is very, very similar to the very popular "Buck Privates" starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. But, unlike this film from the year before, "To the Shores of Tripoli" is not meant to be a comedy. Like the earlier film, this one starts with an obnoxious and self-assured brat of a man (John Payne) walking into the Marine base--assuming because of his connections that he will be accorded special privileges. But, like the other film, his father goes behind his back and insists that his son needs character building and NO exceptions or special favors should be granted to him. And, like "Buck Privates", the brat manages to make a nuisance of himself until, ultimately, he finds redemption. In the interim, he relentlessly chases a pretty nurse (Maureen O'Hara), tangles repeatedly with his Sergeant and makes a few friends--then alienates them with his boorish attitude.Overall, the film looks great. It's filmed in full color--the sort of intense 1940s color that doesn't quite look real, but is better in some ways than real life! The acting is excellent (with Payne, O'Hara and Randolph Scott) and there is a nice group of actors who play the recruits such as Harry Morgan (in his first film), "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom and William Tracy (famous for his Sergeant Doubleday films with Hal Roach). As for the story, it's very predictable and formulaic throughout, but it's well-made formula! Mindless but very enjoyable wartime propaganda that must have done a lot to bolster the public behind the war effort.

Handsome playboy John Payne (as Chris Winters) is sent to join the Marines, by his well-connected father, a World War I buddy of drill Sergeant Randolph Scott (as Dixie Smith). While easily training in sunny San Diego, Mr. Payne is attracted to beautiful dark-haired nurse Maureen O'Hara (as Mary Carter). At first she is turned off by his wolfish behavior, but Ms. O'Hara falls in love, too - especially as Payne does his patriotic duty after the Japanese attack US forces at Pearl Harbor. They are an attractive couple."To the Shores of Tripoli" might imply some warfare, but it's apparently used only as the Marines' theme song.The story covers recruitment and training, implicitly encouraging the contemporary viewer to join the war effort. This is a formula film elevated by sweet Technicolor scenery, a deft lead performance by Payne, and a strong supporting cast. Young-looking William Tracy (as Johnny Dent) gets the funniest lines. Young Harry Morgan and Alan Hale Jr. also appear. And, "Marcus Welby, M.D." nurse Elena ("Consuelo") Verdugo dances. Max Rosenbloom probably had his scenes cut, considering his introduction.****** To the Shores of Tripoli (3/11/42) Bruce Humberstone ~ John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Randolph Scott, William Tracy

"To the Shores of Tripoli" is light drama/comedy about new Marine recruits going through boot camp in the 1940's. This movie is made to look like a Twentieth Century Fox musical. There is too much color in the movie. It makes the story look less real. The colors are too bold and bright. You don't see any war scenes, just training scenes. Of course, there is a spoiled, rich Marine recruit (John Payne) in love with two women (Maureen O'Hara and Nancy Kelly), who wants to get out of the Marine Corp. Randolph Scott, who plays the drill sergeant, has the best role in the movie. He trains the recruits and tries to convince John Payne to stay in the Marine Corp. This is a terrific recruiting movie. It is fun to watch. A bit of trivia: both actors have worked with both actresses several times. John Payne made five movies with Maureen O'Hara,and Randolph Scott made three movies with Nancy Kelly. The supporting cast is full of recognizable faces of the 1940's. Only Harry Morgan is known by name because of his fame from television.