In Harm's Way DVD (1965)

In Harm's Way

1965

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

from 411 members

In Harm's Way, based on James Bassett's novel Harm's Way, has enough plot in it for four movies or a good miniseries (when it was shown on network television in prime time, it was broken into two very full nights). On the morning of December 7, 1941, a heavy cruiser, commanded by Captain Rockwell Torrey (John Wayne), and the destroyer Cassidy, under acting commander Lieutenant (jg) William McConnell (Thomas Tryon), are two of a handful of ships that escape the destruction of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Under Torrey's command, the tiny fleet of a dozen ships carries out its orders to seek out and engage the enemy fleet. But lack of fuel and a daring maneuver (but tragic miscalculation) by Torrey causes his ship to be seriously damaged. He's relieved of command and assigned to a desk job routing convoys in the shakeup following the attack, and his exec and oldest friend, Commander Paul Eddington (Kirk Douglas), is reassigned after a brawl, the result of his anger after identifying the body of his wife (Barbara Bouchet) who was killed during the attack while cavorting with an Marine Corps officer. Torrey's shore assignment leads him to reestablish contact on a very hostile level with his estranged son, Ensign Jere Torrey (Brandon de Wilde), from his long-ended marriage; he establishes a romantic relationship with Lt. Maggie Haynes (Patricia Neal), a navy nurse; and he also befriends Commander Egan Powell (Burgess Meredith), a special-intelligence officer. Partly as a result of his contact with Powell, Torrey is chosen by the commander of the Pacific Fleet (Henry Fonda) to salvage an essential operation called Sky Hook, which has become bogged down through the indecisiveness of its area commander, Vice Admiral Broderick (Dana Andrews). Promoted to rear admiral, with Eddington -- who'd been rotting away on a shore assignment, drunk most of the time -- assigned as his chief of staff, Torrey gets Sky Hook rolling and finally finds his purpose in this war, gaining the belated admiration of his son in the process. Eddington is similarly motivated but is still haunted by the violent, ultimately self-destructive demons that blighted his marriage and his life -- he is particularly attracted to a young nurse, Annalee Dohrn (Jill Haworth), not knowing that she is already involved romantically with Jere Torrey. Meanwhile, McConnell survives the sinking of his ship and is ordered to join Torrey's staff. Matters all come to a head when the Japanese begin a counter-offensive to Torrey's planned troop landing. And just at the time Torrey needs his men at their best, Eddington's violence and rage boil to the surface in a way that will destroy him and blight both men's lives. In a final attempt at redemption, Eddington provides Torrey with the information he needs to set up a battle that he has at least a chance of winning, pitting his small task group of destroyers and cruisers against the Japanese task force led by the Yamato, the largest battleship ever built.~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

In Harm's Way details

Format:	PG DVD
Starring:	Paula Prentiss, Kirk Douglas, Dana Andrews, Brandon De Wilde, Burgess Meredith, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Stanley Holloway, Patricia Neal, Larry Hagman
Director:	Otto Preminger
Genres:	Action/Adventure - Westerns, Drama
Studio:	PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT

DVD 1 disc

Name	Discs
In Harm's Way	PG Feature

DVD Information

Run time:	2 hours 40 minutes
Rental release:	07 Jun 2004
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review In Harm's Way

Not bad.

By a customer from East Sussex , 10 Jul 2005

[Highly rated reviewer]

Would have been better if the women had been cut from the film as they slowed down the movie & women 'know your place' & that is not in a war film!

Also the womens hairstyles & clothes didn't look like 1940's to me but more like the 1960's.
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Good John Wayne - Average Movie

By a customer from Surrey, England , 18 Dec 2006

Without John Wayne this movie would have been a disaster. The plot is sound enough, but it was clearly made on a low budget shoe string, correctly hoping John Wayne would make up the shortfalls to bring in the Box Office cash. The ship models are too obvious and inaccurate, and the (very short) sea battles unconvincing. Its worth a watch, but dont expect to be overcome with inspiration. You wouldnt watch it a second time.
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a class act

By duke51 (142 reviews) from Peterlee , 08 Dec 2006

This is a movie that is often overlooked by critics but its an absorbing story held together by a remarkable performance from John Wayne.One of the last major productions to be made in black and white , there are lots of famous faces and its a good yarn.Give it a try
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Not bad.

By a customer from East Sussex , 10 Jul 2005

[Highly rated reviewer]

Would have been better if the women had been cut from the film as they slowed down the movie & women 'know your place' & that is not in a war film!

Also the womens hairstyles & clothes didn't look like 1940's to me but more like the 1960's.
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south pacific

By david campbell from troon,scotland , 25 Jun 2005

melodramatic recount of warfare in the south pacific at the outset of ww2 after the bombing of pearl harbour.it concentrates on naval officer 'rock'{wayne}in one of his larger than life parts,a bit overlong but you can play spot the star.worth a look for that alone.
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