The D.I.

Year:

1958

Duration:

106 min

Genres:

Drama

IMDB rate:

7.4

Director:

Jack Webb

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1958-03-28

Filming Locations: Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, Oceanside, California, USA

Cast

Actor

Character

Jack Webb

Gunnery Sgt. Jim Moore

Don Dubbins

Pvt. Owens

Jackie Loughery

Annie

Lin McCarthy

Capt. T.L. Anderson

Monica Lewis

Burt (as Matt Davis)

Virginia Gregg

Mrs. Charles D. Owens

Jeannie Beacham

Hostess

Lou Tobin

Bartender at Cotton Club

Earle Hodgins

Guard

Jeanne Baird

Mother at Woman's Store

Barbara Pepper

Woman Customer

Melody Gale

Little Girl at Woman's Store

John T. Ahern

Pvt. Casto (uncredited)

John R. Brown

S / Sgt O'Neil (uncredited)

George D. Bryan

Pfc. Hayes (uncredited)

Michael K. Gebbia

States (uncredited)

Charles M. Golden

Pvt. Labarsky (uncredited)

Joseph C. Holmes

Pvt. Madison (uncredited)

Joey

Drill Instructor Sergeant (uncredited)

Richard Kiel

Ugly Marine (uncredited)

Louis R. Lazarko

Sgt. Louis R. Lazarko (uncredited)

Charles A. Love

Pvt. Hillbilly (uncredited)

Thomas Martin

Club Waiter (uncredited)

Peter J. O'Neill

Pvt. Rodriguez (uncredited)

George Oliviere

Cpl. Masters (uncredited)

Paul E. Prutzman

Sgt. Braver (uncredited)

Thomas E. Richards

Cpl. Duprey (uncredited)

Dick Ryan

Waiter (uncredited)

Gordon L. Seiple

Pvt. Carver (uncredited)

William E. Smith

Pvt. Douglas McKinley (uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Club Doorman (uncredited)

George W. Thornton II

George W. Thornton II (uncredited)

Patton A. Wasson

Sgt. Zannoth (uncredited)

James C. Willma

Cpl. Johnson (uncredited)

Douglas E. Wilson

Pvt. Franklin (uncredited)

Laurence C. Windsor Jr.

Pvt. Severeign (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The ribbons Jack Webb wears on his dress uniform are from top to bottom and left to right are: First Row: Navy Cross; Second Row: Navy Commendation, Bronze Star, Navy Presidential Unit Citation; Third Row: Purple Heart, Good Conduct, China Service; Fourth Row: American Defense Service, American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific Campaign; Fifth Row: Victory Medal World War II, World War II Occupation, National Defense; Sixth Row: Korean Service, United Nations Korean Service, Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

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Jack Webb as Drill Sergeant Jim Moore was shown in opening credits as a Tech Sergeant, a rank that no longer exists. He wears insignia of what is a modern day Gunnery Sergeant. Technical sergeant was a rank in the United States Marine Corps until 1958. From 1941 until 1946, the rank was equivalent to grade 2, ranking with gunnery sergeant and other technical ranks with which it shared its insignia. From 1947 until 1958, the rank was reclassified as E-6 and became the sole rank in this grade. The rank was renamed gunnery sergeant and elevated to E-7 after the reorganization of grades in 1959.

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Many real-life Marines are extras in the movie.

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Goofs

After the Captain signs Pvt. Owens general discharge paper and as they leave the office to go meet Owens Mother, they zoom in on the paper and the top two corners are very ruffled. Once they return and the Captain picks the discharge paper back up and the camera zooms in, the top two corners are in perfect condition.

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In the middle of the movie, Jack Webb is wearing dress Alpha uniform with 4 service stripes (hash marks), which indicates more than 16 but less than 20 years of service. Near the end of the movie, he is in his blues with 3 hash marks, indicating between over 12 but less than 16 years of service.

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During a bar scene, Gunnery Sergeant Moore is antagonized by another D.I. named Joey, who wears only the ribbon for the National Defense Service Medal. Since Joey is obviously old enough to have previously served in both World War II and the Korean War, he should also have been wearing service ribbons denoting service during those conflicts.

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Quotes

TSgt Moore: Why don't you take a long walk on a short pier?

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TSgt Moore: The deadliest weapon in the world is the United States Marine and his M1!

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TSgt Moore: [shouting] If your brains were made of dynamite you couldn't blow your nose!

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Faq

Q

WORLD PREMIERE HAPPENED WHEN AND WHERE?

A

The Warner Bros. hit film, The D. I., had a holiday World opening in Chicago:Chicago Tribune, Thursday, May 30, 1957:TOWER TICKERby Herb LyonThat Toddlin' Town [Or Name Dropper at Work]: Jack Webb, exhausted from pitching his movie, "The D. I.," canceling a run to Detroit to rest up here---before heading home to Hollywood Sunday. And doing the smooch bit all over town with his leading lady, Jackie Loughery. [It's gotta be love, luff, luv]. . . . "An ad in the same paper proclaims: "TODAY, 8:30 a.m., Come On, Everybody, celebrate the holiday with a World Premiere show of shows! . . . Jack Webb . . . "The D. I." . . . The first story of that rugged breed they call the drill instructor . . . Extra---ALL SHOWS---Today Only, IN PERSON! Jack Webb, Jackie Loughery on stage with Howard Miller, all performances . . . "

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