The Beano Ships

[The Sailor]

During WW2, uncountable supply ships were in operation by the US Navy to keep up the supply of virtually everything to hundreds of warships on active duty in the Pacific theater.
Everything of comfort was in short supply from movies to beer or anything else that made life a bit easier on the supply runs.
The most announced message on the tannoy system was " Now hear this, now hear this, there'll be no movie tonight".
These ships became known as the beano ships.

There was quite a good movie on the subject staring James Cagney as the captain, Henry Fonda as the exec and Jack Lemon as the ensign.
The name escapes me. Can anyone remember it?

[John Brown]

Sailor

I think the film you are referring to was called 'Mr Roberts' and was released in 1955.

Another good film, with a bit more of a serious theme, was 'The Caine Mutiny' released in 1954 and starring Humphrey Bogart and Fred McMurray.

Regards...John

[rusty]

The film , For Ever England , John Mills 1st film??, only 10 at the time.
still like to see it once more,

ps right thread ??

[John Brown]

Rusty

In answer to your question..it was not quite old Johns first film but I think it was his first leading roll. Incidentaly, the ship that played the part of HMS Rutland was in fact HMS Curacao the cruiser that was cut in half by the liner Queen Mary with the loss of over 500 men during WW2.

Regards...John

[rusty]

John, Thank you for info ,re the roll played by h.m.s. CURACAO a tragic end.just left Liverpool sad.
Regards rusty.

[The Sailor]

Yes John, you got it. 'Mr Roberts.'
I remember the captain's potted palm going over the side.

I have the old black and white movie, Forever England. There was a more modern one made in colour.
Brown of Renown.

[BB60]

Mister Roberts (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048380/) is my favorite movie. The interaction between characters was superb! It starred such greats as Jimmy Cagney, Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, William Powell (The Thin Man, Life With Father) in his last theatrical role and Ward Bond.

Here is one scene from the movie where Capt Morton (Cagney) makes a deal with Lt jg Roberts (Fonda) to give liberty to the crew. The Crew loved Mister Roberts because he looked after their welfare and Roberts had done some favors to get the crew to a liberty port. The Capt uses this to blackmail Roberts into stop sending reqests for transfer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddskeaNSTBc

This clip is at the end of the movie, after Roberts has "gone to the war". The Palm medal is a medal the crew made for him for all he had done for them. Ensign Pulver (Lemmon) is a bit of a milquetoast, he was always saying he was going to put marbles in the Capt's overhead. The palm tree was an award the capt had been given for moving cargo. He cherished it above everything else, except the hat of a full commander.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj31jgSfi-k

If you can watch the movie, it is a well spent 2 hours.

[BB60]

I watched the Caine Mutiny (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046816/) again the other night. It is based on the Herman Wouk novel of the same name. The movie concerns itself with the events leading up to the mutiny and the subsequent trial, while the book spans about two years of time, ending at the conclusion of the war. Both are great. I highly recommend them. This is one of the few times where the movie is as good as the book, although the movie only tells a part of the book.

Here is the famous "rolling balls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9KlQPX1qiE)" scene where the Capt Queeg falls apart on the stand. Humphrey Bogart is at his best in this movie and it also stars Van Johnson, Fred McMurray, Jose Ferrar and E.G. Marshall.

Watch it if you can.

[The Sailor]

is a bit of a milquetoast
'Hey Alabama, you read the rules, you're not supposed to use words like that on here'.
Where are the Mods when you need 'em?

[herakles]

I had to look up that word! Never come across it before. Quite like in in fact.

[BB60]

Just wanting y'all to think I am wealthy, throwing out ten dollar words like they were candy.

Originated from this cartoon------> http://www.toonopedia.com/milqueto.htm

[The Sailor]

Yeah well, we aren't used to elequent show offs here are we Herk?