Here Comes the Navy

source: Here Comes the Navy

Moviecut—Here Comes the Navy

Here Comes the Navy

I'd heard about this since I was a kid! The scenes aboard Arizona, the US Pacific battle Fleet at sea! The plot is lousy but entertaining enough to hold you between those amazing scenes!

The only existing (to my knowledge) motion pictures of the USS Arizona BEFORE December 7, 1941. For that alone, this movie rates 15 stars. Cagney and O'Brien aren't bad either...but I was fascinated by the ship and the crew, man of whom lost their lives (and are still aboard)several years later. I do have a DVD of this movie (B&W of course) and I treasure it greatly. I wish this was widely available to modelers who now have an opportunity to make a replica of the Arizona in the large 1/200 scale! (also 1/526, 1/700, 1/350). The details of armament, decks, structure, hull, etc. are an extraordinary opportunity for research. What an incredible opportunity to see this piece of history!

First of all, tell Mr. Guttman to spell Ms. Stuart's name correctly. At any rate, she was around the water in "Here Comes the Navy" and in it in "Titanic." But the Navy pic is fun thanks mostly to part of WB's team of Irishers. Cagney, O'Brien, McHugh all provided plenty of enjoyment in that decade. As has been pointed out, "Here Comes the Navy" is fascinating history. You get a chill when you realize the Arizona was the ship sunk at Pearl Harbor, and when you realize that the Macon was a history maker. The (all white) Navy was very well represented in this flick, but its raison d'etre for it was just what the moviegoers of that time expected - sharp, crackling dialog between Cagney and O'Brien. It is Cagney's pic. No one can upstage that ball of fire. So, if you want to have fun, enjoy some nostalgia, get involved with some history, get your paws on "Here Comes the Navy." I'm an old Army man but, anchors aweigh. A couple tons, I imagine.

This is an excellent film for many reasons and a must see film from the classics. It's the first time James Cagney and Pat O'Brian star together in what would see 7 more such collaborations on screen and a long term friendship lasting their life time. They work so incredibly well together both seriously and comically as they do in this print. It's virtually shot all on the USS Arizona a real U.S. navel ship which sadly was just a few years later totally destroyed in the bombing raid on Pearl Harbour. It's the story of romance and quirky laughs of Cagney and O'Brian is trying to break that up as it's his sister Cagney wants. Let's not forget that other great sidekick OF Cagney's Mr Frank McHugh and a laugh a minute from the two. It's all harmless fun and frolicks in this film and the three main actors work well together. Cagney is as always that fun guy with his cheek and giggles. Overall a great backdrop, fun, laughter and a plausible story line

About half way through the movie you see the U S Pacific fleet (San Diego based at the time in 1934)on Sea Maneuvers out by Santa Catalina Island, California. This is the only motion picture footage of the "Arizona" firing her 14 inch live rounds (She is the first of several Battleships firing from left to right). Footage was taken by the U S S "Macon", Navy Airship at the time. The airship was caught in a storm about a year later very close to where they were filming and fell from the sky. About 250 of the sailors who were aboard the "Arizona" at the time of the film were also on deck December 7, 1941 when the Empire of Japan attacked the ship inside Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Notice the sleeping quarters (hammocks) for the sailors at that time.