Der Admiral

This film is a leadership tutorial masterpiece. As a substitute high school math and science teacher, I have run this to conduct leadership laboratories. Additionally, the theme composition that opens the film is marvelous. I have tried to reconstruct the lyrics (had trouble understanding last verse lyrics) so that I could present the composition for adoption by the U. S. Naval Academy Mens' Chorus. Any help along these lines would be appreciated. I have attempted to locate survivors of Ward Costello, its composer, without success...for any necessary permission.

The most memorable scene is between Halsey (Cagney) and the candidate of air group commander (Richard Jaekel), when Jaekel says, "I thought I was alone." Cagney replies, "You were and you always will be."

Robert Montgomery directs this brief, but informative study of Adm. William F. 'Bull' Halsey Jr. in the Pacific during WWII. James Cagney is super as the highly decorated and revered Fleet Commander. Stoic, stern, confident and compassionate...Cagney in one of his best film performances.

Supporting cast is a mix of veteran actors and younger stars: Walter Sande, Les Tremayne, Dennis Weaver, Richard Jaeckel, James Yagi, Robert Burton and Ward Costello.

Except for a few shots of planes and ships, "The Gallant Hours" mostly takes place in fairly stark room sets, and feels a little like a photographed stage play.

The film overcomes any shortcomings with James Cagney's performance as William F. Halsey Jr., a leader who literally had the fate of a number of nations on his shoulders, including mine, Australia. Cagney not only looks like his subject, but also seems to be channelling him.

The film brings home that the United States victory over the Japanese in the Solomon Islands in 1942 was a close run thing. Although sometimes outnumbered, daring strategy, brilliant codebreaking and courage turned the tide. This was before the full mobilisation of America's industrial might and manpower had by 1945 virtually made the Pacific an American lake.

The director of "The Gallant Hours", Robert Montgomery started as an actor, but he was also a decorated naval officer in WW2. He was a strong character and once admonished John Ford on the set of "They Were Expendable" for belittling John Wayne in front of the cast for not enlisting during the war.

Maybe it was just as well Montgomery didn't include battle scenes in "The Gallant Hours" because they would have been either the bathtub model effects of that CGI-less era or would have incorporated documentary footage, which never integrated seamlessly.

The film has a memorable hymn-like theme sung a Capella by a male choir: "Away He Went". However even Miklos Rozsa may have been wary of using so much reverence so often in his score for "King of Kings".

The film reminds Australians and New Zealanders how much is owed to those Americans who put it on the line in the Solomon Islands in 1942. But now, in 2018, it seems another nation is following Imperial Japan's old path down through the South China Sea and into the Pacific, albeit with artificial islands and debt entrapment instead of torpedoes and 16-inch shells, but relentlessly nonetheless.

During a visit to New Zealand in 1954, the retired Halsey said something about those crucial battles in the Solomons that may seem more prescient now...

"I hope we never have to do anything like that again. But if we do, I hope we are all together again. We certainly formed a wonderful team that time, I'm sure we could do it again if we had to. And God help us if we ever have to do it again".

This classic film is about Admiral Halsey's leadership of the US forces in the South Pacific during the early part of World War II. The film is more about leadership than warfare. Combat is not depicted on screen, so this film would not appeal to those who seek lots of action. I strongly recommend the film, especially to history buffs.

When in the days that pass this life that we live,if you happen to come upon this film keep it,view it,and know truly that this is what is meant by the golden age of Hollywood.This is not about the roaring twenties or the 1940s or in fact anything that you can touch.It is a film that involves a time when we in our resolve as a sovereignty were to be attacked by surprise and while unable to provide front line support sufficient to deter such unwarranted aggression we did what we could to figure out how to do what we had as yet been unable to do and that is stop the Japanese.Our military history will recognize that the defense of Guadalcanal will be recognized as a perimeter that was held and cleared at great cost.However,the ability of the Marine Corps to hold were aided by the very gallant efforts of our Navy and so many others that though Guadalcanal was the focus of our efforts,the reader might do well to look up Defense of the South Pacific.This was in fact when we started to take back what was a very high cost to relinquish.Names like battle of savo island,The straights of Iron Bottom Sound,the Solomons,The Tokyo Express,you will learn just how drama can unfold on the silver screen without running up a 300 million dollar tab.This film is about a ordinary man in Admiral William Halsey who at a very critical time in our efforts in the South Pacific took command of our defenses and in a matter of speaking light a fire and proceeded to defend and ultimately defeat the aggression of a dangerous and superior force in the Japanese.This film is not to go past when you come to it.I am personally pleased that where I was a youngster when I first viewed this very fine film, fortunately it has been made available through videotape(VHS)and maybe those that know better would know that these are the films we truly care for.This is in defense of the Gallant Hours, it would do well as a fine package in Digital Versatile Disc.I do not think you can do any better a movie than The Gallant Hours.I can not recommend a picture any more highly than I than this film.A moving tribute to a very ordinary man who said that he would get the credit for the work that was started by others.A worthy movie going experience.It might be well to know that there are subtle ways by which this movie becomes a picture worth saving and it is emphasized in the following words,"I knew a lad who went to sea and left the shore behind him,the lad was me and now I can not find him.Away,away,away he went and left the shore behind him."A do not miss.Sincerely