Ships in movies

[Dan Thompson]

There's a topic "Greatest Navy movies" or something close to that to which I've contributed and continue to enjoy reading. I considered posting this there, but it seems sufficiently different to justify its own topic.

I've recently come across some fairly obscure movies that feature good to excellent film of ships that aren't commonly seen. It's easy to find film of the WW II mainstays but some ships are less accessible. For example, I've just been looking at a 1935 movie, Murder in the Fleet, that takes place almost entirely aboard a Northampton class cruiser. I can't tell which one but someone more familiar with that class probably could. Another movie that has just been released on DVD is Suicide Fleet (1931). A decent story but of interest here because it includes, as described on IMDb, "Aerial footage of DD345 "U.S.S. PREBLE" (commissioned 3-19-20) while running at flank speed and turning from side to side and while airplane which is photographing bow-on goes from starboard to port and back again a couple of times." Also, film of at least four Clemson class destroyers sailing in formation and several 1930s era US submarines.

A little better known that those two is Here Comes the Navy (1934), mainly because it starred James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. It is set mostly on the USS Arizona and the airship USS Macon. The 1930's saw Navy based movies flourish because the Navy was desperate to drum up public support when an isolationist Congress was cutting funds, so they enthusiastically supplied real ships and crews to a number of movie projects. Only when ships were sunk were models used and not always then. From a current perspective, it is heartbreaking to watch a large, square-rigged sailing ship sunk for real in Suicide Fleet.

That's just movies I've seen within the last few days. Anyone else want to suggest movies that provide film of real ships? Perhaps it would be worthwhile to compile a reference list.

[Russ2146]

"Hell Below", 1933, MGM, Jimmy Durante, Robert Montgomery includes sinking of USS Moody (DD-277)

[Brad Isherwood]

There's a topic "Greatest Navy movies" or something close to that to which I've contributed and continue to enjoy reading. I considered posting this there, but it seems sufficiently different to justify its own topic.

Anyone else want to suggest movies that provide film of real ships? Perhaps it would be worthwhile to compile a reference list.

Hello Dan,....and robertmelvin



This movie rocks..... APA Belinda [USS Randall APA 224]
Several Fletcher cans in this movie.....the 40MM action,kamikaze's,you really get that destroyer screen theme in some scene's.
DD 520 had a Commodore [Hubbard] aboard- 44/45 aboard for Convoy Screen.
The book - Little Ship,Big War -The Saga of DE 343 [USS Abercrombie]....has expanded convoy transit info and action accounts where DD 520 is screen command on several convoys/night retirement off Okinawa.
The book has great coverage...the author puts you on the ships deck from Leyte thru Okinawa.
Section in the book for the Sea battle of Samar which is very good.
I could not put this book down once reading....there's also a great deal of info/coment on other US warships and what happens to them as time line goes.
The book is a excellent resource in that way.
While researching DD 520 back in the early 90's...this book helped me to get an overall image of the Pacific war from mid 44-45.
The Movie...Away all boats was usefull aswell.
I have it somewhere's in a tub of VHS.
Away All Boats Youtube trailer
***
Dan....dropped by for a visit to your model/sci fi site ...thumbs up : )

[Dan Thompson]

Thanks, Brad, for the thumbs-up. I'm glad you enjoyed the models. There are ship models on that page if you go down far enough but it is mostly sci-fi.

I've been too busy with other projects lately to look at any more maritime movies, but I have been collecting them. Off the top of my head, I can recommend Battle of the River Plate which features film of three British cruisers and one American heavy cruiser. Also, Yangtse Incident which features the British frigate HMS Amethyst. Both are excellent movies as well as using real ships. Both are also interesting for using actual ships that were involved in the incidents portrayed.

[Dan Thompson]

Forgot to say I agree completely about Away All Boats. It's a favorite of mine, too.

[Brad Isherwood]

Thanks, Brad, for the thumbs-up. I'm glad you enjoyed the models. There are ship models on that page if you go down far enough but it is mostly sci-fi.

I've been too busy with other projects lately to look at any more maritime movies, but I have been collecting them. Off the top of my head, I can recommend Battle of the River Plate which features film of three British cruisers and one American heavy cruiser. Also, Yangtse Incident which features the British frigate HMS Amethyst. Both are excellent movies as well as using real ships. Both are also interesting for using actual ships that were involved in the incidents portrayed.

Battle of the River Plate enhanced DVD
Looking into getting this enhanced DVD from Hens Tooth.
a matter of finding a broker.
Picked up Waterloo on DVD from a broker in Virginia back in Sept.
Local HMV ordered it...no prepay either....in less than 30 days.

Was chatting on a WW-2 webforum on Graf Spee,
the question was...could she have broken out.
Mentioned that this being the first gunship naval battle of WW-2,
you do not give the enemy a trophy...as Langsdorff did.....that photo of a burned and twisted
Graf Spee was propaganda win..... bet chairs were kicked around the room after that pic made the rounds.
Although Graf Spee's fuel cleaning system was wrecked,....she had fuel to break out,
her main armament...and the aft torpedo tubes.
Considering she had shot up several British cruisers.....Langsdorff should have shown confidence
in his gunnery.
In my opinion....you do breakout,....and if you fail,..at least the ship sinks in the ocean,..
No trophy propaganda photo.

[Elvis965]

"Task Force" with Gary Cooper has many shots of all types of ships, but mostly carriers.

Those I can remember are Langley, Saratoga, and Yorktown, along with an Essex, but I'm not sure which one. Tracy probably knows.

I know the Essex at the end of the movie is Franklin, but I doubt the one earlier in the movie is.

There's also an old movie (1930's - and for the life of me I can't remember the name), that filmed quite a bit on Enterprise. All I remember is at the end a pilot was lost in the fog. All I can think of is "Dive Bomber" with Errol Flynn, but I know that's not right.

Also can't forget Oriskany in "Bridges at Toko Ri", or some nice shots of Kearsarge in "The Caine Mutiny", or the 3 escort carriers at the end of "Magnum Force".

Bob

[Cliffy B]

"Flight of the Intruder" has a very nice revolving shot of CV-62 at the end as well as other shots through out. As the credits role the camera angle switches to one from a helo that circles the ship from a shallow angle. Makes a full circle before it fades to black. Many nice details can be seen since the helo was very close and/or the zoom lens was used. It was filmed in 1990 so it might help those wishing ot build her during the Gulf.

"Operation Petticoat" had some nice shots of a Gato type sub minus all deck guns (save for an air cooled .30 or .50cal in one scene). The end features some shots of a FRAM Fletcher launching a depth charge attack and firing its 5"/38s.

[Doug]

"Hell Diver" was filmed aboard the Saratoga in the early 30s. Most interesting was that they censored the arresting gear during the landing sequences.

One of the best scenes in "Away All Boats" was a Fletcher steaming by the "Belinda" with all guns blazing

"Flight Command," 1940, had a few sequences aboard the Enterprise. And great views of the F3F.

"Baby and the Battleship," the only other movie filmed aboard the Vanguard. Let's you see parts of the ship other than the inside of the turret.

[Elvis965]

Flight Command," 1940

THAT'S the movie I was trying to think of!

Bob

[Seasick]

wrong thread

[robertmelvin]

Its been ages since I've seen it, but a movie called "The Enemy Below" with Robert Mitchum paying the captain of a USN DE was not only a great move, but as I remember had some good shots of what I recall may have been an Evarts Class DE. Haven't seen it in years, but I remember it as a great movie with the ship figuring prominently in the shots.

Bob

[Elvis965]

T'was a Buckley class in The Enemy Below:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/634.htm

At least they got that right in the movie!

Bob

[G-Rider]

T'was a Buckley class in The Enemy Below:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/634.htm

At least they got that right in the movie!

Bob

DE 181, USS Straub, was a Cannon-class DE. However, she portrayed a Buckley class DE in The Enemy Below.

GR

[robertmelvin]

T'was a Buckley class in The Enemy Below:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/634.htm

At least they got that right in the movie!

Bob

Elvis, thanks for that link. I'm actually building Revell's old 1/249 Buckely right now. Not a bad little kit, especially considering its age. The PE set for it really sets it off. I'm hung up right now slowly scratch building the weapons, which are the kit's weak point (unfortunately, scratch building is my weak point, at least one of them). The molded on bulkhead detail is really nice, but those weapons are just gawd awful.

Bob

[meatloaf109]

The Caine Mutiny,
They were Expendable,
and, In Which We Serve

[robertmelvin]

Being a great fan of the Elco 80' P.T. Boats, I'll second "They Were Expendable". Not really accurate for the P.T.s used at the time, but nice eye candy for us Elco lovers.

Bob

[Elvis965]

DE 181, USS Straub, was a Cannon-class DE. However, she portrayed a Buckley class DE in The Enemy Below

While 181 was the hull number painted on the ship, that wasn't the actual ship in the movie.

DE-634 USS Whitehurst played the part of the DE-181, USS Haynes in the movie. 634 was painted over and 181 painted in it's place for the movie.

Bob

[cmakeng]

LCS2 USS Independence in Cars 2
http://blog.al.com/press-register-busin ... ver_s.html

[Guest]

Titanic is my all time favorite movie on Ship.