...with a great cast, from a terrific storyteller. Despite the film's numerous faults, it is a movie I like and have watched more than once.

Otto Preminger made some of my favorite films, (Laura, Anatomy of a Murder, Man with the Golden Arm, etc), and he does tell an interesting story here, but the production values of the film are weak. First of all this is a period story of WWII in the pacific, told in a 1965 film. Preminger doesn't even bother to dress the actors in any type of 1940's clothing, let alone have their hair and makeup reflect the era the story takes place. The women in the film are all dressed like Jackie Kennedy in 60's era sheath dresses and Jackie-flip hairdos. The music gives a nod to 40's swing, but with 60's era arrangements. The naval battles against the Japanese look like they were done with toy boats, and the story is simplistic.

All of that said, Preminger's talent as a storyteller still prevails in this tale of an aging rear admiral (Wayne) who has to deal with WWII, a son from whom he is estranged (Brandon de Wilde), a mature nurse who is hot for him (Neal), a violent, alcoholic assistant (Douglas), an admiral who actively works against him (Andrews), and the suicide of his son's fiancee (Haworth). So this is a character-driven movie masquerading as an action film. I didn't mind the lack of action, because the actors really bring the characters to life, and their predicaments are absorbing.

Wayne is really brilliant as Admiral Torrey, who puts up with naval incompetence and internal politics to get his job  done This is the kind of role Wayne really excelled at in the great John Ford films. Patricia Neal is very good as the mature nurse who finds Wayne a big hunk of Heaven. Of course Douglas is terrific as the captain who can barely conceal his violent, angry nature, and I liked Tom Tryon's performance as the uber sexy naval officer and husband who sends his wife swooning at every opportunity. To be honest, he sent me swooning too.

So if you don't mind the character driven story, which fails to deliver on the action hero end of things, this is a good film to watch if you have three hours to relax for a movie.
... with a great cast, from a terrific storyteller. Despite the film's numerous faults, it is a movie I like and have watched more than once. Otto Preminger made some of my favorite films, (Laura, Anatomy of a Murder, Man with the Golden Arm, etc), and he does tell an interesting story here, but the production values of the film are weak. First of all this is a period story of WWII in the pacific, told in a 1965 film. Preminger doesn't even bother to dress the actors in any type of 1940's clothing, let alone have their hair and makeup reflect the era the story takes place. The women in the film are all dressed like Jackie Kennedy in 60's era sheath dresses and Jackie-flip hairdos. The music gives a nod to 40's swing, but with 60's era arrangements. The naval battles against the Japanese look like they were done with toy boats, and the story is simplistic. All of that said, Preminger's talent as a storyteller still prevails in this tale of an aging rear admiral (Wayne) who has to deal with WWII, a son from whom he is estranged (Brandon de Wilde), a mature nurse who is hot for him (Neal), a violent, alcoholic assistant (Douglas), an admiral who actively works against him (Andrews), and the suicide of his son's fiancee (Haworth). So this is a character-driven movie masquerading as an action film. I didn't mind the lack of action, because the actors really bring the characters to life, and their predicaments are absorbing. Wayne is really brilliant as Admiral Torrey, who puts up with naval incompetence and internal politics to get his job  done This is the kind of role Wayne really excelled at in the great John Ford films. Patricia Neal is very good as the mature nurse who finds Wayne a big hunk of Heaven. Of course Douglas is terrific as the captain who can barely conceal his violent, angry nature, and I liked Tom Tryon's performance as the uber sexy naval officer and husband who sends his wife swooning at every opportunity. To be honest, he sent me swooning too. So if you don't mind the character driven story, which fails to deliver on the action hero end of things, this is a good film to watch if you have three hours to relax for a movie.