Come On, Leathernecks!

"Come On, Leathernecks" is not a very good film. The writing sure isn't great and the story is confusing and seemingly illogical. It also doesn't help that you really CAN'T like the leading character....as he's a real jerk.

Jimmy (Richard Cromwell) is a spoiled jerk who somehow managed to get into the US Naval Academy...a most prestigious school. In some ways, he's a great addition to the Academy, as he's a star football player. But he's also not a team player in many ways and is just too selfish and stupid to fit in with the program. Despite his and his desire to drop out, he sticks it out and graduates. But instead of serving his term in the Navy or Marines, he decides to just quit...take his degree and go play pro football. The Navy has other plans for him!

The plot here is confusing and didn't make any sense to me. If you attend the Naval Academy or any of the military colleges, a student is required to serve at least five years of active duty and you cannot just quit or refuse. If you do, you go to Federal Prison. So I cannot understand the plot and wonder if either the rules have changed (which I doubt) or the writer simply didn't do their homework to know that you cannot just quit....at least not after you enter your Junior year at the school.

The other problem is that Jimmy is just an unlikable jerk...the type you hope would fail. Even when he's supposedly taking his service in the Marines seriously, he disobeys orders and people die as a result of his actions. Yet, inexplicably, by the end of the film he's being hailed as a hero. Confusing? Yep...and also very poorly written. A film only for folks who will watch nearly anything or who simply want a time-passer. So what does this say about me and my tastes?!

This is a sort of Boy's Own Adventure concerning a stubborn lad who has an opportunity after his years at Annapolis to choose between becoming a wealthy and cherished gridiron giant or following in his father's footsteps and becoming an officer in the marines. Richard Cromwell, still struggling with possibilities of stardom, having made a strong impression in 1930's Tol'able David, was handed secondary roles in Lives of A Bengal Lancer, This Day and Age, and Poppy, but never quite made a strong showing as a star, regardless of his handsome and graceful mien, and this foray into golly-gee heroics is strictly Saturday matinee stuff; although he has the lead role, the plot is completely predicatible, and although Cromwell is seconded by some significant character actors, including Leon Ames, Marsha Hunt and Edward "Timothy Mouse" Brophy, this is not the sort of film to burnish a resume.