Battle Stations

Although I'm dating myself, I saw this in its original release. At the time, I was familiar with the WWII stories of the USS Franklin and the USS Bunker Hill. The dive bomb and kamikaze attacks on those two Essx class carriers provide much of the plot of this film, as well as some of the film footage. The film shows once again that ordinary men, of that time at least, had undreamed of reserves of valor with which to face otherwise overwhelming horror. If you chance to see this title in a flea market, grab it.

"Victory At Sea" devotes some time to the Franklin's saga and Gary Cooper's "Task Force" incorporates part of the story, as well.

Richard Boone, then playing TV's Dr. Conrad Styner on "Medic", William Bendix, of "The Babe Ruth Story" and his own TV series and a young Claude Aikens provided a human thread through the story.

Yes, this is an interesting film, especially for anyone who is interested in the U. S. Navy, in action, in the Pacific, during WWII. The Japanese would almost certainly have lost, regardless of the outcome of this, or any other naval battle in the Pacific, during WWII (due to deficiencies in their system of command), but, that doesn't mean that they didn't put up a fight--and sometimes it was one helluva fight, too! This is a good, solid film about them knocking one of our carriers, out of action, late in the war (when they were already losing badly, especially due to the B-29 incendiary bombings that were starting to burn all of their major cities, to the ground). And we had plenty more carriers, by then, that they didn't knock out of action. (Who can go up against an industrial giant, that can build 24 fleet carriers, in the same time that you build one???) But, nevertheless, they are an honorable people, and nation, and they fought valiantly, sometimes fearsomely, nonetheless--often causing great Allied casualties, in the process. So, it wasn't so easy, for the U. S. to triumph (especially in the beginning of the Pacific War), and this movie is a classic example, of some of the difficulties faced by our servicemen (and women, though not so much, in this particular movie), in order to triumph, in the end. In the same vein, I also immensely enjoyed James Cagney's depictions of Admiral William "Bull" Halsey's command, during the height of the Guadalcanal campaign, in the movie, Gallant Hours. And I also enjoyed watching the 1943 movie, Guadalcanal Diary, when I was a kid, back in the 50's and 60's (which, in my opinion, featured William Bendix's most serious, and memorable role, as a young, supporting actor--in that desperate fight!) I would like to see a movie made about the actions of Admiral Willis Lee, on the battleship George Washington, during the night when it sank the pride of the Japanese Navy, the battleship Kirishima, during the last major naval engagement, fought over Guadalcanal (which was briefly mentioned in the movie Gallant Hours). Admiral Lee admitted that everything in the Japanese Navy was as good as in the U. S. Navy, except for one thing--his battleship had radar--and he knew how to use it (unlike many of our cruiser commanders, in previous engagements, which were sometimes unmitigated disasters, as a result!) That was his only advantage, that and his unexpected approach with his heretofore undetected large capital ship, in a narrow channel. The enemy wasn't expecting him, and when they did spot and begin shelling the battleship South Dakota, they weren't expecting to find a second U. S. monster, in those narrow waters, and they never saw him coming--until he was at point blank range--and opened fire! By then, it was too late...

The movie is a standard 1950"s war movie, entertaining, and loosely tells the story of the USS bunker Hill, a carrier that was severely damaged but survived due to the bravery of her crew.

The best part though is that it was filmed onboard an Essex class carrier. It has lots of shots of the interior of the carrier. Most movies only show the flight deck, but this one gives an inside look at the ship. Everything from the hanger deck, mess deck, barber shop, living quarters to the after steering compartment! It also gives a good idea of the confusing labyrinth that the inside of a big ship can be.

This movie was a little unique, because it had no women in it. I had a tiny part in one scene with Keefe Brasselle. The scene: prisoners on the ship painting and talking about escaping and going ashore for the last time, before the battle. Much of the movie was shot on the USS Princeton. I was an electronic Tech. aboard the ship from 1954 to 1957.

This movie would interest people who want to know more about the war and how it affected people.

I saw this movie in the 1950s in its theatre run. It stuck with me as a tale of considerable heroism, although the years may have taken their toll on the precision of my memory. If Columbia would release it on video I'd run right out and buy it, Grade B or not. Better yet, the tale within it would lend itself well to a major studio "Saving Private Ryan" blockbuster, so how about it, Hollywood?