The Fighting Seabees (1944) ( Donovan's Army (The Fighting CBs) (The Fighting Sea Bees) )

The Fighting Seabees (1944) (Blu-Ray) (*)

$21.99

Alternate Title: Donovan's Army (The Fighting CBs) (The Fighting Sea Bees)
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Oscar Academy Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Mono )
French ( Mono )
French ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
France ( Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C )

Running Time:
99 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Black & White
Remastered

Movie filmed in 1944 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Edward Ludwig

Written By:
Borden Chase
Æneas MacKenzie

Actors:
John Wayne ..... Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan
Susan Hayward ..... Constance Chesley
Dennis O'Keefe ..... Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow
William Frawley ..... Eddie Powers
Leonid Kinskey ..... Johnny Novasky
J.M. Kerrigan ..... Sawyer Collins
Grant Withers ..... Whanger Spreckles
Paul Fix ..... Ding Jacobs
Ben Welden ..... Yump Lumkin
William Forrest ..... Lt. Tom Kerrick
Addison Richards ..... Capt. Joyce
Jay Norris ..... Joe Brick
Duncan Renaldo ..... Construction Worker at Party

Synopsis:

The Fighting Seabees is Republic Pictures' rip-roaring tribute to the US Navy's Construction Batallions (C.B.), without whom no plane would ever have gotten off the ground during WW2. John Wayne stars as Wedge Donovan, head of civilian construction company stationed in a pre-Pearl Harbor South Pacific war area. Despite Donovan's pleas to the Navy brass, he is denied permission to train his men for combat, the better to stave off imminent Japanese attack. Only after incurring heavy losses is Donovan given a commission and his men officially enlisted in the Navy. The self-sacrifical climax, as Donovan destroys a Japanese tank batallion at the cost of his own life, is one of the best-staged action highlights of its kind. As Constance Chesley, Susan Hayward finds herself in the unenviable position of being the apex in a romantic triangle involving herself, Wedge Donovan and Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow (Dennis O'Keefe); her climactic speech, explaining how it's possible to love two men equally, is so well delivered that it transcends its essential corniness. Of the supporting cast, William Frawley stands out as Irish seabee Eddie Powers, who virtually signs his own death warrant when he begins singing happily just before an enemy sneak attack.

All-American hero John Wayne takes a crew of construction workers and turns them into one of WWII's toughest fighting forces in this action-packed war classic. But first he has to convince the army brass to let his civilians bear arms, and then he's got to whip them into combat shape. Now Wayne is fighting for his life on a different battlefield when he's brought up on court-martial charges for leading his troops in an all-out assault against the Japanese. It's Wayne at his best, playing the kind of rough-and-tumble man of honor that made him a legend and Hollywood's biggest star. An entertaining combination of strong supporting performances by Daniel O'Keefe and ravishing, about-to-be superstar Susan Hayward.

Construction workers in World War II in the Pacific are needed to build military sites, but the work is dangerous and they doubt the ability of the Navy to protect them. After a series of attacks by the Japanese, something new is tried, Construction Battalions (CBs=Seabees). The new CBs have to both build and be ready to fight.

This product was added to our catalog on Saturday 27 February, 2021.