Shipmates Forever

Surprisingly good pre-war film about a former radio crooner (that's a singer to you Millennials). Dick Powell finds himself trying to deal with military life at the Naval Academy at Annapolis. This was an enjoyable Hollywood look at their take on life of a cadet moving through Annapolis. He has a poor attitude, but does well with his studies. But, has few friends and little support amongst his fellow cadets. He's seen as having a silver spoon. It was refreshing to finally see a film get when NOT to salute correct in a film. It's one of the things that Hollywood just can't seem to get right. They like to have actors throwing salutes around willy nilly. When actually there are rules. They don't give an accurate account of how tough four years at the United States Military academies can be. But there are some good characters and it's well acted. And you find yourself caring for the characters.

While this film has a few very familiar clichés and Dick Powell is way too old to play a college freshman, it is an enjoyable film....and one I recommend.

When the film begins, Dick (Dick Powell) is visiting his father, the Admiral (Lewis Stone). Their meeting is a bit tense, as the Admiral longs for his son to join the Navy and make a man of himself. Dick is more content to be a successful singer. Additionally, Dick's lady (Ruby Keeler) likes that Dick isn't in the Navy, as her family has a long naval history...and she's lost a couple close loved ones during the war. Inexplicably, Dick suddenly reverses himself and joins the Naval Academy!! This DEFINITELY came from out of no where and soon he's in Annapolis doing everything but going to classes. Like most college films of the era, they never show any of the men going to classes! Instead, Dick is hazed and he remains aloof from the other cadets. After all, he has no intention of staying in the Navy for long. And, not surprisingly, the Admiral is ashamed to call him his son. Can Dick redeem himself and gain a sense of camaraderie? Or will he remain a bit of a butt-head? What do you think?

This film follows a very familiar pattern seen in many film (such as "A Yank at Eton" and even "A Chump at Oxford" to an extent). But it manages to do it very well...better than I'd expected. Much of this is due to Powell's nice performance and much of it is the nice location shooting...aboard ships and at the Academy. Worth seeing even if the picture is a bit dated and predictable.

first movie i ever saw in person. i was very impressed and, although only five, i was ready to enlist in the navy. i have seen it several times since then and still think it is a good movie. although some might think it dated and anachronistic it still has a good deal to say about duty and honor. those things are in short supply today.

SHIPMATES FOREVER (Warner Brothers, 1935) cashes in on the recent success of FLIRTATION WALK (1934), set in West Point, reuniting Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Ross Alexander, John Arledge, Frederick Burton, with Frank Borzage as its director, in a Navy themed product filmed on location at Annapolis, Maryland. As with FLIRTATION WALK, SHIPMATES FOREVER centers mostly upon Powell, not so much for his crooning, but his ability as a serious actor and ladies' man. Although labeled a musical, the movie emphases more on plot than tunes, and contains more sentimental moments than comedy, thus being a true departure for both Powell or Keeler, best known for their backstage musicals with Busby Berkeley dance numbers and gold-digging chorus girls.

The scenario has Powell playing Richard John "Dick" Melville III, singer at the Sky Club in New York City, who would rather be entertaining than serving in the Navy as traditionally expected of him by his admiral father (Lewis Stone). Dick meets and immediately falls in love with June Blackburn (Ruby Keeler), a dancing teacher for little children, who also comes from a long line of Navy relatives. With the intention of taking his Navy entrance exam to show his father he can pass it, and not entering the academy, Dick has a change of heart and enters the academy anyway, with the intention of throwing away his commission in the end. Dick soon resents the friendship of his fellow roommates, "Cowboy" Lincoln (Eddie Acuff), Johnny "Coxwain" Lawrence (John Arledge) and Lafayette "Sparks" Brown (Ross Alexander) from Arkansas to room alone after plebe year. Basically, a loner with his only companion being June, Dick becomes a disappointment to his father, who wants him to be nothing more than a true Navy man.

Other members of the cast include Dick Foran (Gifford); Robert Light (Ted Sterling, June's cousin); Mary Treen (Cowboy's Girlfriend); Joseph King and The Meglin Kiddies. Of the supporting players, it's Ross Alexander who provides some good doses of comedy, especially where he successfully sneaks in a radio into his room during plebe year under the noses of his superiors.

When I first watched SHIPMATES FOREVER on Memorial Day weekend on Turner Network Television (TNT) back in 1989, I actually didn't care for it mainly because I was expecting a big song and dance/ flag waving, military musical in the tradition of 1936 releases of BORN TO DANCE (MGM) or FOLLOW THE FLEET (RKO Radio), or possibly an overblown lavish scale production in the manner of MGM's ANCHOR'S AWEIGH (1945) with Keeler tap dancing galore and Powell leading a military parade of singing sailors. After repeated viewings, I find SHIPMATES FOREVER breaks away from the usual military musical clichés, and truly believe it holds up better than FLIRTATION WALK due to the realistic way Navy life is depicted.

With tunes by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, including "Don't Give Up the Ship," "I'd Love to Take Orders from You" and the charming "I'd Rather Listen to Your Eyes," the songs grow tiresome after being re-prized two or three times. While Keeler never tap danced in FLIRTATION WALK, she doesn't sing a note in SHIPMATES FOREVER, yet shows off her dancing skills first in the dancing school to the amazement of her students and another at the Sky Club. With some time out for song interludes, there's no production numbers. Reportedly distributed in theaters at 124 minutes, it's the 109-minute print that's currently in circulation on the TV markets, DVD format and broadcasts on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. While Powell recruited to military duty as THE SINGING MARINE (1937), he would make a return engagement into the Navy once again, co-starring opposite the popular comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello for IN THE NAVY (Universal, 1941).

Trivia: The theme to SHIPMATES FOREVER was reworked as a 1939 military programmer titled ON DRESS PARADE (WB, 1939) starring The Dead-End Kids, with Leo Gorcey assuming the role originally enacted by Powell, but minus the singing. (** Bells)

The Warner Brothers gang is back again, and this time they're out to sea. Richard Melville III (Dick Powell) comes from a long time of Navy men. His father (Lewis Stone) is commander of the fleet and expects that his son will follow in his footsteps. Dick doesn't want to; in fact, he has become quite successful as a crooner on the radio. And besides, his girl (Ruby Keeler) doesn't want her husband to turn out dead like her Navy brother and father. Now before you start having flashes of The Jazz Singer, read on. Dick decides to give his father's way a try, but he is stubborn enough to isolate himself during his training. It is too bad too, because his father knows how he could benefit from the company of guys like Sparks (Ross Alexander), Cowboy (Eddie Acuff), and Coxswain (John Arledge).

A really great film, Shipmates Forever is undeniably similar to Flirtation Walk not only for the cast or the story but the director Frank Borzage too. However, the similarities are no hindrance and this second chance has actually improved upon the original. It features a great many more comic moments which liven it tremendously. Alexander is always good for a laugh, and it is too bad he took his own life only a few years later. Perhaps the funniest and most shocking moment is during a "I'd Rather Listen To Your Eyes." Powell's crooning draws all of the women, and a series of Busby Berkeley-esquire close-ups on their eyes illustrates the melody. That is, until a pair of men's eyes pop up! Other songs include the Warren and Dubin standards "Don't Give Up The Ship" and "I'd Love To Take Orders From You." It is a wonder why this one has never been released.