Mister Roberts Overview:

Mister Roberts (1955) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by John Ford and Joshua Logan and produced by Leland Hayward.

The film was based on the novel of the same name and also Stage Play written by Thomas Heggen published in 1946 (novel); Feb 18, 1948 - Jan 6, 1951 (play performed at Alvin Theatre, NY) .

SYNOPSIS

One of the great WWII comedies, this tale of day-to-day life on the cargo ship Reluctant satirizes the boredom, pettiness, cruelty, and illogic of the military. Fonda recreates his acclaimed Broadway role of the decent Lieutenant Roberts who, while enduring a crew of half-wits and a nasty captain with an inferiority complex (Cagney), fears the Pacific naval war will be over before he ever sees anything more explosive than a fire extinguisher of home-brewed "jungle juice." Director Ford includes a number of his stock company, such as Curtis and Bond. Followed by Ensign Pulver in 1964.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

.

Academy Awards 1955 --- Ceremony Number 28 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorJack LemmonWon
Best PictureLeland Hayward, ProducerNominated
.

BlogHub Articles:

Mister Roberts (1955)

By Beatrice on Feb 3, 2016 From Flickers in Time

Mister?Roberts Directed by John Ford and Mervyn Leroy Written by Frank S. Nugent and Joshua Logan from the play by Logan and Thomas Heggen and the novel by Heggen 1955/USA Warner Bros./Orange Repeat viewing/Netflix This is pretty funny until it turns dark and features an all-star cast. Mr. Rober... Read full article


Mister Roberts (1955)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Aug 18, 2014 From 4 Star Films

Starring an all star cast including Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, and Jack Lemmon, this comedy-drama chronicles the happenings on an unimportant boat during World War II. Mr. Roberts (Fonda) is one of the officers on The Reluctant and he is good to his men but constantly at odds with th... Read full article


Mister Roberts (1955)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Aug 18, 2014 From 4 Star Films

Starring an all star cast including Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, and Jack Lemmon, this comedy-drama chronicles the happenings on an unimportant boat during World War II. Mr. Roberts (Fonda) is one of the officers on The Reluctant and he is good to his men but constantly at odds with th... Read full article


A Strange Mess: Mister Roberts

By Judy on Jul 10, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

This is a contribution to the John Ford blogathon sponsored by Christianne Benedict at Krell Laboratories. Check out all the marvelous entries! Punching his leading man. Drinking on the set. Quitting the production after being hospitalized. The tales of John Ford?s behavior on Mister Roberts aren?t ... Read full article


A Strange Mess: Mister Roberts

By Judy on Jul 10, 2014 From Cary Grant Won't Eat You

This is a contribution to the John Ford blogathon sponsored by Christianne Benedict at Krell Laboratories and Bemused and Nonplussed. Check out all the marvelous entries! Punching his leading man. Drinking on the set. Quitting the production after being hospitalized. The tales of John Ford?s behavio... Read full article


See all Mister Roberts articles

Quotes from

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!


Reber: Say, Doc, when I woke up this morning, I had...
Lt. 'Doc': And remembered you were working cargo. Continue.
Reber: [holds his side] Honest, Doc, I couldn't even straighten up! I guess it's the old appendix again, huh, Doc?
Lt. 'Doc': That appendix of yours certainly gets around, Reber. Now it's on the wrong side. Two aspirin, marked for duty. Next.
Reber: Aspirin? For a floatin' appendix, Doc?
Lt. 'Doc': Yes, it's the latest thing. I'll have one with you.


Chief Petty Officer Dowdy: [Referring to the letter from Forney] Could I have that, I'd like to post it for the crew.
Lt. 'Doc': [Referring to the letter from Roberts] No, post this one. It's theirs.


read more quotes from Mister Roberts...

Facts about

The USS Hewell (AG-145) was NOT an LCM but an "AG", a small backwaters naval cargo ship. The Hewell was the ship utilized as the Reluctant in the film.
William Powell's last film. Powell had marked difficulties retaining his lines, something that had not happened to him in earlier films, and this was one of the reasons "Mister Roberts" was his final movie appearance.
'LCM' is an abbreviation for 'Landing Craft - mechanised'. It was a landing craft designed to carry either troops or vehicles, as opposed to a landing craft only designed for troops.
read more facts about Mister Roberts...
Share this page:
Visit the Classic Movie Hub Blog CMH
book or play


See All Film Adaptations >>
Best Supporting Actor Oscar 1955






See more Best Supporting Actor awards>>
Also directed by John Ford




More about John Ford >>
Also produced by Leland Hayward



More about Leland Hayward >>
Related Lists
Create a list




See All Related Lists >>
Also released in 1955




See All 1955 films >>
More "Book-Based" films



See All "Book-Based" films >>
More "Based on Play" films



See All "Based on Play" films >>
More "Navy" films



See All "Navy" films >>