Mister Roberts
Comedy, War
Warner Bros.  (1955) 122 mins NR

7.8 (6,518 votes)
The USS Reluctant carries cargo along World War II's forgotten Pacific seaways. Beyond the horizon, the real war passes its stir-crazy crew by. Mister Roberts, directed by John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy, is the classic story of men fighting to survive not war's dangers but it indignities.

Henry Fonda's reprise of his Tony®-winning Broadway role returned him to movies after seven years away. Jack Lemmon won his first Academy Award® as hapless, lecherous Ensign Pulver. James Cagney's petty, scrappy Captain makes a fierce adversary. In his final film, William Powell makes world-weary Doc a sage for the ages. Mister Roberts has moments of unforgettable humor. But sadness tempers the comedy. No shot is fired. No blood is spilled. Yet Mister Roberts endures as one of our most truthful war sagas...

Play
Cast and Crew
Henry Fonda  ......  Lt. JG Douglas A. 'Doug' Roberts
Jack Lemmon  ......  Ens. Frank Thurlowe Pulver
William Powell  ......  Lt. 'Doc'
James Cagney  ......  Capt. Morton
Betsy Palmer  ......  Lt. Ann Girard
Ward Bond  ......  Chief Petty Officer Dowdy
Director  .....  John Ford; Joshua Logan; Mervyn LeRoy
Producer  .....  Leland Hayward
Writer  .....  Joshua Logan; Frank Nugent; Thomas Heggen; Frank S. Nugent
Notes
Goofs:
Continuity: In the scene where the ship is underway and at general quarters, several shots of the bridge show that there is no one at the helm (steering the ship). (more)

Trivia:
Mr. Roberts opened at the Alvin Theater on February 18, 1948 and ran for 1157 performances. Henry Fonda reprises his role in the movie. (more)

Filming Locations:
Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA (more)

Quotes:
Capt. Morton: [on the loudspeaker in reference to his "missing" palm tree... ] All right! Who did it? Who did it? You are going to stand sweating at those battle stations until someone confesses! It's an insult to the honor of this ship! The symbol of our cargo record has been destroyed and I'm going to find out who did it if it takes all night! (more)

Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 4 nominations (more)