“The Fighting Seabees” (Movie Review-3/20/44)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 3/20/44 | T.M.P., Sam Zolotow

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles and the occasional radio broadcast delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Clips

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Netflix has this movie on DVD, but with a “very long wait.” Which means I didn’t get it in time to preview for this post. It is supposed to arrive today so maybe I will have something pithy to add later. I have seen it a couple times in the past and my chief memory of it is that Fred Mertz (William Frawley) doesn’t make a convincing construction worker/warrior.

Opening credits

[Tax-chick]

Formulaic, yet sluggish.

[spudville]

It seemed pretty good when I arrived at Naval Station Port Hueneme in California for training as a heavy equipment operator. After our first night on base they mustered all the new recruits and we went to the theater and watched John Wayne in the Fighting Seabees. After the movie we went out on the grinder and soon a huey helicopter came in and landed. Out stepped the Duke. He shook our hands and said a few words and then he was gone. Made quite an impression on this young recruit!

[Chode]

my uncle was in the 101st. Seabee Battalion

[Tax-chick]

That must have been amazing!

[spudville]

I was 17 years old and it has been one of my enduring memories. Hope it never fades. As I age ( like a fine wine ) many are the forgotten memories without a picture or something tangible to jog it. This, however is a keeper!

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Amazing. When was that, if I may ask?

[spudville]

1975.

[Bobalu]

I really like this old film :-)

[Homer_J_Simpson]

That was a little after my time. I was stationed at Long Beach Naval Hospital in 1972 and I recall taking a day trip up the coast to visit friends at both Point Mugu and Port Hueneme. I don’t even remember who the friend was at Hueneme, just that I went there. Or maybe the friend from Pt. Mugu wanted to go to the E-club there. As you said, it is fading.

[James R. McClure Jr.]

Peace be with you,

NMCB 24 "Dixie Doer" BTTT!

James R. McClure Jr.
Jeffersonian Anti-Federalist Democrat candidate for IN09

[Smokin' Joe]

One of my all time favorites. I was working on a marine construction crew building seawalls and piers in High School.

"The difficult we do right away, the impossible takes a little longer."

Seabees motto.

[colorado tanker]

This war movie has a little more Hollywood in it than most, but I’m watching anything with the Duke in it. And Susan Hayward? Hubba, hubba!