In Harm's Way 1965

[whitehall]

The last B&W epic war movie starring Duke Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Pat Neal . I watched it again today and tried to pick out the actual events the movie was based on. My guess is that the island "Gavabuto" might have been Guadalcanal, the "old swayback cruiser might have been the Indianapolis( Duke's character Rock Torrey was relieved of duty for not zig zagging). Rock's son Jer might have been JFK (run over in a PT boat by a Japanese destroyer). Adm Broderick' relationship with the press might have been based on MacArthur. Good movie and hardly noticed it was in B&W.

 

[Flopper]

The last B&W epic war movie starring Duke Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Pat Neal . I watched it again today and tried to pick out the actual events the movie was based on. My guess is that the island "Gavabuto" might have been Guadalcanal, the "old swayback cruiser might have been the Indianapolis( Duke's character Rock Torrey was relieved of duty for not zig zagging). Rock's son Jer might have been JFK (run over in a PT boat by a Japanese destroyer). Adm Broderick' relationship with the press might have been based on MacArthur. Good movie and hardly noticed it was in B&W.

Saw the movie and enjoyed it but did not read the book. James E. Bassett, the author stated that much of the book was based on his personal experience but should not be considered an accurate portrayal of all events. Typically this means the author loosely bases characters and their actions on real events and real people but deviates from history as needed to tell the story and express the authors ideas. Some authors of historical novels stick very closely to historical events and form their characters carefully to match history. I suspect this not the case since the author changed the names of characters and places.

In general, black and white cinematography is a good choice for most war movies for several reasons. Color creates a mood of gaiety, vibrancy, and happiness where b&w creates a mood of stark realism, drama, gloom, melancholy, all too present on the battlefield. In the 60's color became the standard and b&w the exception. Generations of movie goers automatically rejected anything that was not in color which is really sad because b&w can be used to enhance movies. In order to increase the appeal of movies in b&W, they were colorized often producing faded colors, blue eyed Indians, and blondes with a greenish tint.

Often color is a distraction and covers up the the lack composition in scenes. Movies like The Longest Day, Psycho, Schindler's List, The Artist, and The Third Man would have suffered from the use of color.

 

[whitehall]

Intelligence officer character "Powell" who was also a screen writer might have been based on Hollywood director John Ford who was all over the place in the South Pacific during the war. The character Adm Broderick might also have been based on real life Adm. Gormley who was relieved of duty and replaced with Halsey during the Guadalcanal campaign.

 

[Flopper]

Intelligence officer character "Powell" who was also a screen writer might have been based on Hollywood director John Ford who was all over the place in the South Pacific during the war. The character Adm Broderick might also have been based on real life Adm. Gormley who was relieved of duty and replaced with Halsey during the Guadalcanal campaign.

I find "In Harm's Way" more entertaining that what many consider Wayne's best war movie, "Sands of Iwo Jima." I think his best was the "Longest Day", but I'm prejudice because "The Longest Day" is one of my favorite movies.

 

[fncceo]

Although it's probably an amalgam of other battles, to me it comes close to The Battle Off Samar, during The Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Where a detachment of destroyers, a light cruiser, providing protection to escort carriers went head to head with the Japanese Battleship Yamaha and many heavy cruisers.

The destroyers went in so aggressively that the Japanese believed they had to be part of a larger force and retreated.

One of the ballsiest naval engagements of The War.

 

[AZrailwhale]

Although it's probably an amalgam of other battles, to me it comes close to The Battle Off Samar, during The Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Where a detachment of destroyers, a light cruiser, providing protection to escort carriers went head to head with the Japanese Battleship Yamaha and many heavy cruisers.

The destroyers went in so aggressively that the Japanese believed they had to be part of a larger force and retreated.

One of the ballsiest naval engagements of The War.

There wasn't anything as large as a light cruiser at Samar, it was three DDs and three DEs. I had a great-uncle there. From the little he talked about it, I think he was on the DE Samuel B. Roberts. Regardless, it was one of the most gallant efforts in warfare, far eclipsing the Charge of the Light Brigade. Every man on those six escorts KNEW beyond a shadow of a doubt they were dead before the engagement and every man did his duty. In my opinion, every member of those six ship's crews should have received the CMH for that action. The only battle that came close was HMS Rawalpindi against the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in WWII.

 

[whitehall]

The Neil Owynn congressman character might have been based on LBJ.