Destroyer

Year:

1943

Duration:

USA:99 min

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

IMDB rate:

6.7

Director:

William A. Seiter

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1943-08-19

Cast

Actor

Character

Glenn Ford

Edgar Buchanan

Edward G. Robinson

Steve Boleslavski

Marguerite Chapman

Mary Boleslavski

Leo Gorcey

Sarecky

Regis Toomey

Lt. Cmdr. Clark

Edward Brophy

Casey (as Ed Brophy)

Warren Ashe

Lt. Marton

Benson Fong

Japanese Sonar Man

Richard Loo

Japanese Submarine Commander

Gene Rizzi

Survivor

Frank Beckford

Yeoman (uncredited)

Dean Benton

Moore (uncredited)

Curt Bois

Yasha

Lynton Brent

Doctor (uncredited)

Roy Brent

Sailor (uncredited)

Lloyd Bridges

2nd Fireman (uncredited)

Charles D. Brown

Doctor (uncredited)

Stanley Brown

Marine / Fireman (uncredited)

George Bruggeman

Cook (uncredited)

Alma Carroll

(uncredited)

Eddy Chandler

Chief Gunner's Mate (uncredited)

Cliff Clark

Commandant (uncredited)

Roger Clark

Chief Engineer (uncredited)

Edmund Cobb

1st Workman (uncredited)

Tristram Coffin

Doctor #1 (uncredited)

Eddie Coke

Storekeeper (uncredited)

Eleanor Counts

Sarecky's Girl (uncredited)

Roy Darmour

Pharmacist's Mate (uncredited)

Eddie Dew

Survivor (uncredited)

Lester Dorr

1st Ship Fitter (uncredited)

John Estes

Helmsman (uncredited)

Jerry Franks Jr.

Pharmacist's Mate / Bridge Talker (uncredited)

Jack Gardner

Sailor (uncredited)

Bud Geary

2nd Ship Fitter (uncredited)

Eddie Hall

Austin (uncredited)

Lloyd Hanson

Collins (uncredited)

Al Hill

Knife-Eating Sailor (uncredited)

David Holt

Sobbing Sailor (uncredited)

David S. Horsley

Thomas (uncredited)

Mauritz Hugo

Survivor (uncredited)

Bobby Jordan

Sobbing Sailor (uncredited)

Stephen Keyes

Seaman Guard (uncredited)

Kenneth MacDonald

Naval Officer (uncredited)

George Magrill

Marine (uncredited)

Don McGill

Survivor (uncredited)

Charles McGraw

Assistant Chief Engineer (uncredited)

Robert McKenzie

Justice of the Peace (uncredited)

David McKim

Signalman (uncredited)

Frank Melton

Doctor (uncredited)

John Merton

Chief Quartermaster (uncredited)

Gertrude Messinger

Girl (uncredited)

Bob Milton

J.V. Talker (uncredited)

Dennis Moore

Communications Officer (uncredited)

Pat O'Malley

Postman (uncredited)

Larry Parks

Ens. Johnson (uncredited)

Shirley Patterson

Bigbee's Girl (uncredited)

Paul Perry

Doctor (uncredited)

Don Peters

Helmsman (uncredited)

Neil Reagan

Lt. J.C. Randolph (uncredited)

Mickey Rentschler

J.V. Talker (uncredited)

Addison Richards

Ferguson (uncredited)

Ronald R. Rondell

Survivor (uncredited)

Clark Ross

Pharmacist's Mate (uncredited)

Virginia Sale

Spinster (uncredited)

Charles Sherlock

Chief Machinist's Mate (uncredited)

George Sherwood

Workman (uncredited)

Mel Shubert

James (uncredited)

Milburn Stone

Radioman (uncredited)

John Tyrrell

Marine (uncredited)

Dale Van Sickel

Sailor (uncredited)

Dorothy Vernon

Justice of the Peace's Wife (uncredited)

Eddy Waller

Riveter (uncredited)

Pierre Watkin

Admiral (uncredited)

Frank Wayne

Pharmacist's Mate (uncredited)

Craig Woods

Bigbee (uncredited)

Billy Young

Storekeeper (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

Ray Enright directed additional scenes after William A. Seiter left the picture.

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Victories can often be considered Pyrrhic, for example, the "defeat" gained by Bon Homme Richard over Serapis falls within that classification. If Pyrrhic victories are thus allowed in a discussion of when did the first U.S. victory over a British ship occur then history records the date of 11 October 1776 when 16 American vessels gained a Pyrrhic victory over 30 British vessels at the Battle of Valcour Island. The Americans were under the command of General Benedict Arnold.

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During the air attack on the destroyer, U.S. airplanes pose as Japanese planes; specifically, Douglas SBD dive bombers with solid circles painted on their wings, and a Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber.During the strafing runs, close ups of the planes' noses show two machine guns. Both the Douglas SBD and Zero had these, albeit of different calibers.

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Goofs

When the Japanese torpedo strikes the John Paul Jones II, the ship's interior is shown to have its interior watertight doors open. Part of General Quarters (Battle Stations) procedure is to establish watertight integrity throughout a ship by shutting all watertight doors. This minimizes flooding in the event the ship is struck by enemy fire.

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Robinson's character describes the action against HMS Serapis on 23 September, 1779. He states this was the first U.S. victory over a British ship. Actually, John Paul Jones, while in command of the 18-gun Sloop-of-war USS Ranger defeated the HMS Drake on 24 April, 1778. This was not the first U.S. victory. On 7 April, 1777, the Brigantine USS Lexington defeated HMS Edward.

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When the Japanese aircraft are shown attacking the JPJ one of them crashes into the captain's gig breaking it in half. Later, as the crew is abandoning ship, they are seen in the gig. Destroyers carry only one gig.

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Quotes

Steve Boleslavski: Sighted schooners, sank same.

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