Highly Overrated But Still Good

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Otto Preminger directed this WWII drama that takes place shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, where the Navy was desperately trying to regroup and come up with a proper counter-attack. John Wayne plays Captain Rockwell 'Rock' Torrey, who, despite a reprimand, is enlisted to lead the mission to take and hold Guadalcanal, and whom later would be promoted to Rear Admiral of the fleet. Kirk Douglas plays Commander Paul Eddington, who is also involved with the mission, though suffers from personal problems. Patricia Neal plays a Lt. who becomes involved with Torrey, and Brandon De Wilde plays his son, also in the service. Long but compelling film has good acting and characters, with effective battle scenes. Believably recreates its time and place in such a crucial period in U.S. history.

Even though it is 167 minutes long, how can anyone get jaded from watching this movie about the battle at sea only shortly after Pearl Harbor being attacked on 12/07/41? Shortly after the beginning of the movie is when that infamous yet unforgettable moment in history took place, and there is a sea battle toward the end of the movie. The movie is definitely star-studded with one of the most outstanding galaxy of stars ever amassed. John Wayne as Admiral Rockwell "Rocky" Torrey is the best Otto Preminger could have chosen for that role as a man dedicated to fighting passionately at sea. Kirk Douglas was a "perfect" pick for Commander Paul Eddington, a man you wanted to kill because of his mean, hostile spirit and, much more than this, because of some of the harmful things he did to others. The beautiful Paula Prentiss made a great acting accomplishment as Bev McConnell, and Tom Tryon seemed to click well with her as her husband Lieutenant William "Mac" McConnell. Patricia Neal was very appealing as the nurse Lieutenant Maggie Haynes. Brandon DeWilde was consummate as Ensign Jeremiah "Jere" Torrey. Slim Pickins, as CPO Culpepper was his same country-boy self, and the late very pretty English actress Jill Haworth was as adorable as adorable could be as Ensign Annalee Dorne. The movie was not simply a war drama, but there was just focus on the feelings and/or struggles of the characters. Maggie Haynes was so much in love with "Rocky" Torrey, and wondered if theirs would be a lasting relationship. Ensign Jere Torrey was the son of Admiral Torrey, but he was embittered with his father since Rocky had abandoned his family when Jere was only a year old. And too, there was a point when the relationship between Jere and Ensign Dorne was somewhat stormy. Bev McConnell was a maudlin worrier about her husband. Yes, there was introspection on feelings in this dramatic feat. The main thing I didn't like about this movie is that it was in black-and-white. The Pacific Ocean would have been more drawing in color, naturally. But overall, it was one of Preminger's best, a superb enactment of the book by the same name: the book was written by James Bassett. The music score by Jerry Goldsmith was somewhat haunting, but there was something about it I personally liked. Again, this story which focuses on people's individual struggles, as well as on war at sea, is not a bit boring. Paramount should be proud.

It is difficult to imagine two more different Men then John Wayne, the ultimate male American movie star and Otto Preminger who loved to stir the pot of controversy with his films tackling subjects such as drug addiction in The Man With A Golden Arm ( with a splendid Kim Novak), or the Catholic Church in The Cardinal starring Tom Tryon, or Politics in Advise and Consent. Preminger was known as a screamer who yelled at people a lot but never his A List movie stars all of whom liked working with him. In particular Kim Novak, Paul Newman, Frank Sinatra, and Duke Wayne, Kirk Douglas. (Preminger must have had a soft spot because he regularly cast Burgess Meredith and others such as Dana Andrews who was at one time a big star but who suffered from bouts of alcoholism and returned the beautiful Gene Tierney to the screen after her bouts with depression in Advise and Conset)First billed John Wayne and Director Otto Preminger together these two Men created a rousing WW2 Film.Preminger cast John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Paula Prentiss, Patricia Neal, and a supporting cast of Preminger contractees such as Tom Tryon, and Jill Haworth and Brandon DeWilde. The scenes between Duke Wayne and Ms Neal are affecting. The entire cast does superior work.I recommend this film

One thing I think this film captures is the real toll war takes on human relationships. It's more somber than the usual Hollywood war film. The leading characters spend the film doing their duty to the best of their ability. They aren't even thinking about the future a lot of the time. There doesn't seem to be a future, only the grim present. While I've seen the story referred to here as "melodrama," it seems to be pretty close to real life.Wayne plays his part beautifully. His conversations with his estranged son, his relationship with the nurse (played sensationally by Patricia Neal) - he really is a "rock." A fine man, who seems to be bearing the weight of the whole war on his shoulders, at times.The cinematography is spectacular, overall. It's been a long time since I saw the film but I'll never forget the shot of San Francisco, with Paula Prentiss. There is so much expressed in that shot.The deliberateness of the pacing is, to me, very effective. War is not an adventure, it's just doing a job, in very difficult circumstances, no matter what you'd rather be doing. Duty is deliberate.