Mister Roberts. 1955. USA. Directed by John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy. Screenplay by Frank Nugent, Joshua Logan, based on the play by Thomas Heggen, Logan, based on the novel by Heggen. With Jack Lemmon, Henry Fonda, James Cagney. 35mm. 123 min.
In the last days of WWII, the Navy ship USS Reluctant is parked in a Pacific backwater where the crew is getting anxious to go ashore. The captain of the ship is a hardnosed bully, even when the easy going Lt. Roberts tries to cajole his way into shore liberty. Roberts is honest and has empathy for the crew, while the Captain barks orders. Enter Ensign Pulver, who is as goofy and eccentric as the Captain is uncaring. Joshua Logan rounded out the directorial trio, although he remained uncredited.