Mister Roberts (1955) | |
Director(s) | John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy, Joshua Logan (uncredited) |
Producer(s) | Leland Hayward |
Top Genres | Comedy, Drama, Family, War |
Top Topics | Based on Play, Book-Based, Navy |
Featured Cast:
Mister Roberts Overview:
Mister Roberts (1955) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by John Ford and Joshua Logan and produced by Leland Hayward.
The film was based on the novel of the same name and also Stage Play written by Thomas Heggen published in 1946 (novel); Feb 18, 1948 - Jan 6, 1951 (play performed at Alvin Theatre, NY) .
SYNOPSIS
One of the great WWII comedies, this tale of day-to-day life on the cargo ship Reluctant satirizes the boredom, pettiness, cruelty, and illogic of the military. Fonda recreates his acclaimed Broadway role of the decent Lieutenant Roberts who, while enduring a crew of half-wits and a nasty captain with an inferiority complex (Cagney), fears the Pacific naval war will be over before he ever sees anything more explosive than a fire extinguisher of home-brewed "jungle juice." Director Ford includes a number of his stock company, such as Curtis and Bond. Followed by Ensign Pulver in 1964.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1955 --- Ceremony Number 28 (source: AMPAS)
Award | Recipient | Result |
Best Supporting Actor | Jack Lemmon | Won |
Best Picture | Leland Hayward, Producer | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
Mister Roberts (1955)
By Beatrice on Feb 3, 2016 From Flickers in TimeMister?Roberts Directed by John Ford and Mervyn Leroy Written by Frank S. Nugent and Joshua Logan from the play by Logan and Thomas Heggen and the novel by Heggen 1955/USA Warner Bros./Orange Repeat viewing/Netflix This is pretty funny until it turns dark and features an all-star cast. Mr. Rober... Read full article
Mister Roberts (1955)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Aug 18, 2014 From 4 Star FilmsStarring an all star cast including Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, and Jack Lemmon, this comedy-drama chronicles the happenings on an unimportant boat during World War II. Mr. Roberts (Fonda) is one of the officers on The Reluctant and he is good to his men but constantly at odds with th... Read full article
Mister Roberts (1955)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Aug 18, 2014 From 4 Star FilmsStarring an all star cast including Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, and Jack Lemmon, this comedy-drama chronicles the happenings on an unimportant boat during World War II. Mr. Roberts (Fonda) is one of the officers on The Reluctant and he is good to his men but constantly at odds with th... Read full article
A Strange Mess: Mister Roberts
By Judy on Jul 10, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat YouThis is a contribution to the John Ford blogathon sponsored by Christianne Benedict at Krell Laboratories. Check out all the marvelous entries! Punching his leading man. Drinking on the set. Quitting the production after being hospitalized. The tales of John Ford?s behavior on Mister Roberts aren?t ... Read full article
A Strange Mess: Mister Roberts
By Judy on Jul 10, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat YouThis is a contribution to the John Ford blogathon sponsored by Christianne Benedict at Krell Laboratories and Bemused and Nonplussed. Check out all the marvelous entries! Punching his leading man. Drinking on the set. Quitting the production after being hospitalized. The tales of John Ford?s behavio... Read full article
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Quotes from
Reber: Say, Doc, when I woke up this morning, I had...
Lt. 'Doc': And remembered you were working cargo. Continue.
Reber: [holds his side] Honest, Doc, I couldn't even straighten up! I guess it's the old appendix again, huh, Doc?
Lt. 'Doc': That appendix of yours certainly gets around, Reber. Now it's on the wrong side. Two aspirin, marked for duty. Next.
Reber: Aspirin? For a floatin' appendix, Doc?
Lt. 'Doc': Yes, it's the latest thing. I'll have one with you.
Chief Petty Officer Dowdy: [Referring to the letter from Forney] Could I have that, I'd like to post it for the crew.
Lt. 'Doc': [Referring to the letter from Roberts] No, post this one. It's theirs.
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Facts about
Although he played the part of Lt. jg Doug Roberts on Broadway, Henry Fonda was not the first choice to recreate the role for the film version (the producers felt the 50 year old Fonda too old to play the role). The producers first wanted Marlon Brando, but he was committed to another project at the time and could not get out of it. Then the producers turned to Tyrone Power. But director John Ford insisted on Fonda - they had made several successful films together - and would not direct the film without him. Since the producers needed the director with 6 Academy Awards to helm the film, they gave in to him. Ironically, once filming began, Ford and Fonda saw eye to eye on almost nothing. Fonda had played the character on Broadway for 2 years, and felt he knew the character inside out. Ford had other ideas and on his set, you saw things his way or you saw the door. Things came to a head when, during a meeting with producers, Fonda and Ford to clear the air, Ford sucker punched Fonda. Ford left the production soon after (Ford's war-related health reasons were given as the official explanation). Mervyn LeRoy, and later Joshua Logan, the director of the Broadway play, took The original Broadway production of "Mr. Roberts" by Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan opened at the Alvin Theater on February 18, 1948, ran for 1157 performances and won the 1948 Tony Award (New York City) for the Best Play. Henry Fonda reprises his role in the movie.
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