17 Dec Destroyer
Destroyer, WWII Movie starring Edward G. Robinson and Glenn Ford
(1943) In 1943 a destroyer is built to replace the S.S. John Paul Jones which has been sunk in the Pacific. In order to carry on the tradition of the famous revolutionary war hero, this ship is given the same proud name. One of the WWI veterans of the original destroyer has been helping to build the new Jones and enthusiastically re-enlists in order to be on its crew.
The WWI veteran is played by Edward G. Robinson who was 50-something at the time. He really did serve in the Navy during WWI, but he said in his autobiography that he learned more about ships when he was making this movie. Robinson did a fine job playing the elder crabby seaman who had a tough time adapting to the ways of the younger sailors.
Glenn Ford was his young antagonist. I’ll tell you what, these men all looked great in their Navy dress uniforms. They didn’t have to say much to get a date.
At the beginning of the film, credit is given to the “officers and men of the U.S. Destroyer Base and U.S. Naval Training Station at San Diego, CA.” This was still early in the war. I’ll bet there wasn’t one Navy family member who watched this movie and didn’t choke up when the young sailors cried themselves to sleep their first night onboard.
I thought this might be based on a true story but I can find no evidence of a new John Paul Jones being built. There was a post-WWI destroyer by the name of Paul Jones that went on to serve in the 2nd World War until she was decommissioned in 1945 and scrapped in 1948.
No Comments