Le forze statunitensi si ritirano da Giava, prima dell'invasione giapponese e il medico della Marina statunitense Corydon M. Wassell, aiuta e conduce in salvo i restanti militari feriti vers... Leggi tuttoLe forze statunitensi si ritirano da Giava, prima dell'invasione giapponese e il medico della Marina statunitense Corydon M. Wassell, aiuta e conduce in salvo i restanti militari feriti verso gli ultimi punti di evacuazione alleati.Le forze statunitensi si ritirano da Giava, prima dell'invasione giapponese e il medico della Marina statunitense Corydon M. Wassell, aiuta e conduce in salvo i restanti militari feriti verso gli ultimi punti di evacuazione alleati.
- Regia
- Sceneggiatura
- Star
- Candidato a 1 Oscar
- 3 vittorie e 2 candidature totali
- British Convoy Commander
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- U.S. Sailor
- (non citato nei titoli originali)
- Robert Kraus
- (non citato nei titoli originali)
- Wounded Dutch Soldier
- (non citato nei titoli originali)
- Mate of the 'Janssen'
- (non citato nei titoli originali)
Recensioni in evidenza
DeMille in his autobiography admitted that the romantic flashbacks concerning Dr. Wassell were completely made up. The real Corydon Wassell and his wife were married all the time the action of the film took place. He described as a white lie, I think one's marital status is a bit more than that. Having said that the teaming of Cooper and Laraine Day was worked well and the romance fits in nicely.
Dr. Corydon Wassell was an early hero of World War II who was a doctor in the US Navy having been previously a medical missionary in China. He was ordered to abandon his stretcher cases as the Allies were evacuating Java in 1942 before the Japanese advance. He stayed and got themsafely evacuated with a few adventures along the way. He was decorated by President Roosevelt and FDR's radio message concerning Wassell's courage inspired DeMille to make this film.
DeMille said he could only envision Gary Cooper for the part. I'm sure that was the case because of DeMille's past success with Coop, but also because the Arkansas born and bred Wassell was similar to Cooper's own Oscar winning character of Tennessee native Sergeant York.
The rest of the cast performs admirably. The most poignant scene in the film involves a woman being shot during the Japanese aerial attack on the Dutch freighter Janssen in front of her little boy. As she urges the kid to go on and not look back, if a tear doesn't come to your eye you are made of stone. DeMille's films, especially his costume pictures sometimes have some stilted Victorian dialog, but in this one there is none.
Also I'd like to single out from the supporting cast Paul Kelly who plays one of the stretcher cases. He's a griper and a complainer all the way through, but when that kid's mother is shot as I previously described, he takes charge of the little boy in a scene that is the best in the film. Also Philip Ahn who plays Cooper's oriental confidante does it with strength and dignity which were his hallmarks as an actor when so many Asian players were stereotyped.
Even if you don't like DeMille, you'll like this film.
Back to the story: Stuck in Java with a charge of a dozen severely wounded sailors, he finds out there's a boat sailing that can take them to safety in Allied territory. He's anxious to get his men out of danger of a Japanese invasion, but the orders say only men who can walk can come aboard. Gary doesn't have the heart to tell the dozen men on stretchers that they can't go, so he decides to disobey the orders and smuggle them aboard. Will it work? Or will the self-sacrificing doctor give even more to his patients?
In the supporting cast are Laraine Day as Gary's former love interest and Philip Ahn, his assistant during his research days before the war. The dozen soldiers and handful of nurses are also given unique characters and reasons to keep them going. One nurse (Carol Thurston) gives a sailor (Dennis O'Keefe) a blood transfusion, and she believes that they are connected forever because of their bond. One man (Elliott Reid) falls in love with his nurse (Signe Hasso), only to find out she's already in love with a Dutch soldier (Carl Esmond). The screenplay is full of great lines, interesting characters, and compelling plot points. I humbly apologize to this movie for thinking it wouldn't be any good. It's very good!
Lo sapevi?
- QuizGary Cooper pulled rank and flat out refused to have his well known hairy chest shaved for the bathtub scene in the final reel.
- BlooperDuring the evacuation convoy, the trucks are alternately shown on paved and dirt roads between shots.
- Citazioni
Dutch Army Captain: Unless the Japanese can be stopped, it will be impossible for any of your 42 wounded sailors to escape.
Dr. Corydon M. Wassell: Good gravy.
- Curiosità sui creditiAfter the closing Paramount logo Cecil B. DeMille addresses the audience over a blank screen: "Ladies and gentlemen just a moment please. Since the completion of The Story of Dr. Wassell, we have heard that Hoppy is alive. A prisoner of war of the Japanese. Thank you."
- ConnessioniFeatured in Amo mia moglie (1970)
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Dettagli
Botteghino
- Budget
- 2.720.000 USD (previsto)
- Tempo di esecuzione2 ore 20 minuti
- Proporzioni
- 1.37 : 1