To the Shores of Tripoli (1942) User Reviews (30)

A Sentimental Journey

[TB-19 · 5/10 · 28 June 1999]

While the story line is only so-so, the list of stars is quite impressive. The really special part of this movie is the exposure that the Marines in San Diego had to so many of the stars of the day. My father's unit (he was a DI) was used to film the movie. When you see Randolph Scott drilling his men, the close-ups are of Mr. Scott - the far off shots are of my father. My father also appears as an extra in other shots - the most noticeable being the scene where the men are all sitting in the bleachers. The really memorable aspect (and hopefully not TOO sentimental) of all this centers around the fact that this is the only record I have of my father in a "moving picture" (He died in 1952 when I was 3 years old, and the only pictures I have of him are still shots).

Additionally, I fondly remember a large autographed picture by Randolph Scott inscribed to my father and the men in the unit - sitting in front of the men are Mr. Scott and my father, both wearing their round DI hats. This picture was also very special to all of us children. Therefore, this movie, while never going down as one of the great ones, will always have a very special place in my heart. It also gives me a better appreciation of movie "extras" and makes me wonder, "who are they and whatever happened to them"!

Despite all its shortcomings, forced patriotism, and light as air plot, I enjoyed it

[bensonmum2 · 7/10 · 18 June 2006]

To the Shores of Tripoli is the kind of movie that I generally don't care for. The title may conjure images of Marines fighting and dying on some foreign shore, but you won't find that here. Instead you'll find a flag-waving recruitment film that makes Marine basic training look like a trip to summer camp. The movie makes it seem that the entire eight week training is made up of little more than marching and doing drills in a parking lot. And when these guys aren't in the parking lot, they're pulling pranks and wooing nurses they've been told to leave alone. Abbott and Costello's Buck Privates has more in the way of military realism than To the Shores of Tripoli.

Yet despite all its shortcomings, forced patriotism, and light as air plot, I enjoyed To the Shores of Tripoli. I was somehow able to put my brain on hold and go along for the ride. It's harmless, good-natured fun. Most of my enjoyment probably comes from the three main leads. John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, and Randolph Scott do a solid job with what they're given to work with. Much of the comedy works, particularly the hospital scene where Payne fakes an injury to be near O'Hara. And, To the Shores of Tripoli has an innocence to it that you don't find in movies anymore that I find appealing.

The Marines Have Always Been Looking For A Few Good Men

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 20 December 2007]

Stepping into the hero/heel part that Tyrone Power specialized in while at 20th Century Fox is John Payne as the spoiled kid of a former Marine officer, Minor Watson. Payne's hoping to get out of the Marines for a nice desk job in Washington, DC, but Watson's hoping that his former sergeant Randolph Scott, now a drill instructor will give Payne the necessary attitude adjustment.

Payne's getting an attitude adjustment in another direction too. He's fallen for pretty nurse Maureen O'Hara even though he's got Washington society girl Nancy Kelly pulling strings for him.

The part is such a perfect one for Tyrone Power that I'm sure it was offered to him and rejected and given to Payne who was hired by Darryl Zanuck because of his resemblance to Power and the fact he could sing opposite Alice Faye and Betty Grable. Power did similar roles in A Yank in the Raf and Crash Dive and in fact did serve in the Marines in the South Pacific after 1943.

The film was shot on location at the San Diego Marine training station and I visited San Diego a few years back and some of it looks pretty much the same. Harry Morgan made his feature film debut and if you look close you'll see that another one of the Marine recruits is the Skipper himself, Alan Hale, Jr.

To the Shores of Tripoli is badly dated and doesn't play real well against today's attitudes. Still it's a great example of a World War II propaganda piece.

Watching the Movie in 1942 in the South Pacific made it very real

[holy1 · 28 September 2004]

I agree with the evaluation of bsmith5552 that it is a disappointing flagwaver, and essentially a U.S.Marine recruitment film. But it has its own place in history. I have just been refreshed as to that place in history by watching again the film version of Leon Uris's first (and maybe best) novel, Battle Cry. Uris dramatized his own experience as a young marine, first training in the States, then in Wellington and elsewhere in New Zealand and finally fighting in the islands of the Pacific He has a fascinating picture of what it was like for young Americans to find themselves in a strange and previously unheard of land like New Zealand. I was a Kiwi teenager in Wellington at that time and can vouch for the accuracy of Uris' depiction of the impact of the descent of thousands of young marines on our city and of their interaction with the locals. To the Shores of Tripoli screened in Wellington in 1942, not long after Pearl Harbor, in the time the newly formed Marine Divisions were there preparing for their involvement in the war in the South Pacific. Through that film we saw on our screens the training only months earlier of the men who were now in our midst. Bsmith5552 speaks of the repetitive sequences of close order drill. I watched the marine band perform those intricate marching exercises in colour film in a local cinema ("picture theatre" in our brand of English). This was the same week I saw them do it live in Wellington. I was transfixed as I saw utterly committed young marines rise and stand to attention in their places in the cinema as the Marines Hymn came through on the film's sound track. I was not simply present at a piece of entertainment. I was watching live drama. To the Shores of Tripoli may not have been a great movie. But in the South Pacific in 1942, when we (maybe unlike today's Iraquis) welcomed the Marines as life savers, preserving us from a Japanese invasion, it had its place in the drama of that time. I viewed it sixty years ago with great interest. I would like the little niche it has in cinema history to be remembered.

Sort of like "Buck Privates" without the laughs and singing..

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 20 March 2010]

The plot of "To the Shores of Tripoli" is very, very similar to the very popular "Buck Privates" starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. But, unlike this film from the year before, "To the Shores of Tripoli" is not meant to be a comedy. Like the earlier film, this one starts with an obnoxious and self-assured brat of a man (John Payne) walking into the Marine base--assuming because of his connections that he will be accorded special privileges. But, like the other film, his father goes behind his back and insists that his son needs character building and NO exceptions or special favors should be granted to him. And, like "Buck Privates", the brat manages to make a nuisance of himself until, ultimately, he finds redemption. In the interim, he relentlessly chases a pretty nurse (Maureen O'Hara), tangles repeatedly with his Sergeant and makes a few friends--then alienates them with his boorish attitude.

Overall, the film looks great. It's filmed in full color--the sort of intense 1940s color that doesn't quite look real, but is better in some ways than real life! The acting is excellent (with Payne, O'Hara and Randolph Scott) and there is a nice group of actors who play the recruits such as Harry Morgan (in his first film), "Slapsie" Maxie Rosenbloom and William Tracy (famous for his Sergeant Doubleday films with Hal Roach). As for the story, it's very predictable and formulaic throughout, but it's well-made formula! Mindless but very enjoyable wartime propaganda that must have done a lot to bolster the public behind the war effort.

Mindless and Colorful.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 15 January 2011]

William Manchester was an award winning novelist, reporter, historian, biographer, and friend of John F. Kennedy. His account of his experiences in combat on Okinawa are among the most vivid ever published. And this is the movie that prompted him to enlist in the Marine Corps during World War II.

Manchester was impressed, he says, by the same elements of the movie that I say will impress the ordinary viewer of today. Marine Corps boot camp is a lot of fun with plenty of jocular fellows to play grabass with. Your Drill Instructor looks like Randolph Scott. He's stern and crusty on the outside, but underneath that he's a concerned and devoted friend. (Underneath THAT he's a real mean son of a gun.) You get to wear snappy uniforms and after boot camp, why it's nothing but dress blues. Your training takes place in the impeccably kempt Camp Pendleton under the blazing blue skies of San Diego. Once you finish boot camp you go to Sea School and get to take a sea-going vacation aboard a battleship. Oh, there's always Randolph Scott around to say things like, "Step to it, men," but the tone is always avuncular.

On top of that, you -- a mere enlisted man -- get to make out with the stunning Maureen O'Hara, who was about twenty years old at the time. She's a lieutenant and you're supposed to do no more than salute her but nobody pays attention to these silly rules. It's all photographed in gorgeous Technicolor and you know what? Maureen O'Hara is a drop-dead hottie even without flaming red hair.

Man, is John Payne lucky. Well, maybe not THAT lucky. He was supposed to wind up happily married to O'Hara, both devoted to a peaceful military routine, but half-way through the shoot, the plot was interrupted by some uncommonly rude Japanese who attacked us at Pearl Harbor. Poor Zanuck, the producer, had to stick on a brief prologue about "the current conflict" and change the ending so that Payne, Scott, O'Hara, and all the boys climb aboard a troop transport for the Pacific, enthusiastically singing the Marine Corps hymn accompanied by a marching band. What a fantasy.

Want to see what happened to William Manchester? Read his awesome memoir: "Good-bye, Darkness."

Title a bit misleading; but good flick.

[michaelRokeefe · 6/10 · 2 December 2010]

TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI sounds like the title of an action packed war movie; not exactly what you get. A cocky young son of an officer, Chris Winter(John Payne)shamelessly joins the Marine Corps with the attitude of entering a country club. A tough-as-nails drill sergeant Dixie Smith(Randolph Scott)does his best to whip the rich boy into a legitimate and worthy Marine. Love interest Maureen O'Hara is a solid highlight. This movie was partially filmed in Hawaii just before the Pearl Harbor "sucker punch". Cinematography earned an Oscar nomination. This WWII entry from 20th Century Fox has a strong supporting cast featuring: John Hamilton, Nancy Kelly, William Tracy, Henry Morgan, Alan Hale, Jr., Russel Hicks and Charles Tannen.

John Payne signs up for Maureen O'Hara

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 14 March 2010]

Handsome playboy John Payne (as Chris Winters) is sent to join the Marines, by his well-connected father, a World War I buddy of drill Sergeant Randolph Scott (as Dixie Smith). While easily training in sunny San Diego, Mr. Payne is attracted to beautiful dark-haired nurse Maureen O'Hara (as Mary Carter). At first she is turned off by his wolfish behavior, but Ms. O'Hara falls in love, too - especially as Payne does his patriotic duty after the Japanese attack US forces at Pearl Harbor. They are an attractive couple.

"To the Shores of Tripoli" might imply some warfare, but it's apparently used only as the Marines' theme song.

The story covers recruitment and training, implicitly encouraging the contemporary viewer to join the war effort. This is a formula film elevated by sweet Technicolor scenery, a deft lead performance by Payne, and a strong supporting cast. Young-looking William Tracy (as Johnny Dent) gets the funniest lines. Young Harry Morgan and Alan Hale Jr. also appear. And, "Marcus Welby, M.D." nurse Elena ("Consuelo") Verdugo dances. Max Rosenbloom probably had his scenes cut, considering his introduction.

****** To the Shores of Tripoli (3/11/42) Bruce Humberstone ~ John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Randolph Scott, William Tracy

Eye candy, but a disappointment

[HotToastyRag · 3/10 · 29 April 2018]

I was really excited to see To the Shores of Tripoli. John Payne in a uniform, Randolph Scott as the hard-as-nails sergeant, and Maureen O'Hara in the middle of a love triangle-what could go wrong? Well, only part of my assumptions going in proved to be correct. To make sure he wouldn't be in contention to get the girl, they grayed up Randy's hair. Still, he's infinitely nicer, more responsible, and has more in common with Maureen, so why would a little gray hair get between them? It doesn't make any sense why she doesn't look twice at him, or why he isn't given his own love interest.

John Payne, although incredibly handsome, plays a first-class jerk in this movie. He's mean, manipulative, and doesn't have any respect for the Marines, Maureen, or her status as a lieutenant in the nurses' division. For example, in order to spend time with her, he pretends to get hit by a car-by slamming his hand down on the car and then falling to the ground-so he can spend all night in the hospital. He's incredibly selfish, and didn't care that he would worry and traumatize the driver, or that he was shirking his military duty, or that he was using valuable resources that could have been used on a truly wounded man. I didn't think his gesture was romantic, and I wasn't rooting for him.

I didn't really like this movie, and the next time I'm in the mood to see John and Maureen together, I'll pop in Sentimental Journey. Still, it wasn't an entire loss. Randy looked really good with gray hair, a uniform, and a stern expression.

Marine, Him?

[writers_reign · 6/10 · 9 December 2014]

Fox never balked at plundering the Marine Hymn for titles - a few short years after this hit the screen they used the preceding line (From) The Halls of Montezuma, for an early Richard Widmark vehicle. There's little original here; playboy John Wayne enlists in the marine core shortly before Pearl Harbor so it's light on action. Payne's old man had served and remained friends with Randolph Scott and prevails upon him to whip son Payne into shape. Payne meanwhile falls heavily for nurse Maureen O'Hara (they co-starred in four films, including Miracle on 43nd Street) and helmer Bruce Humberstone gets a lot of mileage out of the on-again off-again affair. William Tracey scores heavily as does Harry Morgan in his movie debut. Watchable but that's about all.

Tell It to the Marines

[richardchatten · 4/10 · 23 December 2020]

Darryl Zanuck personally signed his name to this seminal, jaw-droppingly glamourous war movie full as leading lady Maureen O'Hara put it, of "unfurling flags, marching men, and martial music" and "credited with more new enlistments in the United States Marine Corps than any other promotional campaign that year". Shot at San Diego Marine Base, it also represents a key moment in film history as Miss O'Hara's first Technicolor production, for which she'd been becomingly transformed into a brunette.

While it was in production (SPOILER COMING:) Pearl Harbor was bombed (a moment when according to the movies every single American simultaneously had their radios on when the news first hit the airwaves); cue the outrageous super-patriotic climax when John Payne finally puts his love-life on hold the better to head for the Pacific.

Hirohito and Tojo probably never saw it; but Dr Goebbels probably needed oxygen after seeing this one!

Semper Fi!

[pageiv · 10/10 · 6 October 2007]

I never heard of this movie until I saw it on FMC. As a former Marine I thought it stellar, though I'd never consider it a "war flick". Like the synopses says, it's about a cocky recruit and a hard core sergeant that knew his dad in WWI trying to turn him around.

I'm amazed at the poor ratings here, there isn't much action, which may explain the 5.8 vote here, but the all star cast gives a knock down performance.

The best part of this is a remembrance when Hollywood would line up for the military's help in making a movie with it shot at MCRD San Diego.

This movie isn't about rouge officers, or sadistic NCO, it's not about military cover-ups, it's a great American movie about average people serving their country.

Better than some of the reviews I've read given you watch this knowing it's a propaganda film.

[PatrynXX · 7/10 · 13 April 2020]

Yeah lots of kissing , not much of an ending. But acting kills it . It is glossy, very pro military. And Randolph Scott through and through. Used to seeing him in westerns but when he's in the scenes the acting has to match so . Again the acting is above alot of the movies I've seen during this time. For a 1942 film on the dvd I just watched the colour is fairly amazing. trailer's in b/w but the film is rather well restore on the 24th cen Fox dvd. Maureen plays a bit player and it's clear whatever is going on between the two plays second fiddle, but even the editing is okay. Other than the fact there is no real ending. I don't have alot to complain about.

Quality: 8/10 Entertainment:7/10 Re-Playable: 7/10

A super-jingoist and propaganda wartime drama with humor and a love story

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 18 March 2020]

Warlike patriotic movie in the guise of drama, in which a smarmy playboy, : John Payne, goes into a Boot Camp, but he comes across a tough and strict Sergeant : Randolph Scott, who results to be his father's old friend. The handsome playboy is transformed into a Marine in boot camp thanks the rigid Sergeant. Along the way he falls in love for the Nurses Chief : delicious Maureen O'Hara in this story of life in a Marine training camp, previous Pearl Harbor bombing by Japanese. Here a Sergeant takes bath after bath of recruits through training and we are meant to feel his frustration seeing his sometimes harsh approach to the men, while fully appreciating that he is the man for the job.

It is set on location in San Diego Marines base , California, and it is dedicated to the brave Marines Corps who were trapped and besieged by Japanese army in the island of Wake, Pacific Ocean Compared to the likes of "Full Metal Jacket" with Lee R. Ermey as a two-fisted sergeant , it is all rather mild, and there is never any questioning of the righteousness of America's fighting men as a force for good. Providing a lot of patriotism and liberal sympathies extending to make the military service a total pride, and especially at its final full of military parades and jingoist songs. Film title is not to be confused with Tripoli 1951 a period pirate adventure which also performed John Payne and Maureen O'Hara . In fact the title comes from the Marine Corps in their first war feat attacked pirates in Tripoli, Libya. Star Randolph Scott is specialised in taking authoritarian types and give them more light and shade that the script sometimes allows. This was one of his last non-westerns characters as a rival for the true starring, John Payne. Here the good-looking John Payne is fine as a real seducer . Payne was a well-known actor of the Forties and Fifties, playing important films as Miracle on 3th street , Silver Lode, Slightly Scarlet , though, nowadays he is really forgotten. As John Payne acted in all kinds of genres as Western, Film Noir, musical and dramas, such as : Dodsworth, Hats off , Tin Pan alley, Weekend in Habana, The great American broadcast , Springtime in the Rockies, Iceland, The razor's edge, Kansas City confidential, Hello Frisco hello, The Dolly sisters, College swing, Footlight serenade, and Tennessee's partners. Trio protagonists : Randolph Scott, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara are well accompanied by a pretty good support cast, such as :Nancy Kelly who delivers additional gorgeous decoration, Henry -Harry-Morgan in his first screen role as a likeable Private, William Tracy, Minor Watson, Alan Hale Jr, Russell Hicks, and a very secondary role for Hillary Brooke, among others.

Shot in colorful and vivid Technicolor by Hollywood's three best cameramen as William Skall, Harry Jackson, Edward Cronjager. As well as sensitive and moving musical score by classy composer Alfred Newman, adding several patriotic songs. The ordinary screenplay with usual elements from recruitment and Privates training from the prestigious Lamar Trotti. Lavishly produced by Milton Sperling and powerful producer Darryl F Zanuck, the motion picture was professionally directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, though with no originality and it turns out to be a little corny and dated. Rating : 5/10. Average but passablr

Underestimated flag-waving war romance pre-World War II...

[Doylenf · 19 February 2004]

PEARL HARBOR seems to have borrowed elements of its plotline from TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI--only this time the cocky hero with plenty of attitude is JOHN PAYNE and the Navy nurse he falls in love with is MAUREEN O'HARA. The scene where she gets even with him in the dispensary is reminiscent of the much more graphic event in PEARL HARBOR's early courtship scene.

Anyway, as patriotic flag-waving recruitment films go, this one is typical of what the public clamored for during World War II. I'm sure the stirring drill scenes and dress parade moments, combined with stirring soundtrack music, were geared to get marine enlistments into high gear. And maybe they succeeded.

Having put in some military years at the San Diego Naval base, much of the background looks achingly familiar to me. All of the location scenes at the military base have the requisite real flavor while the story itself is the timeless cliche about the spoiled rich boy who is given the rough treatment by a sergeant who wants to turn him into a tough marine. Naturally the over confident military brat becomes a hero in time to rescue his sergeant during a mine sweeping operation--and in time to ensure a happy ending for his romance with nurse O'Hara.

JOHN PAYNE is at his best as the cocky young marine, his left eyebrow getting its usual workout as he seeks to outmanouver everyone in his path. He also gets to show off his splendid physique in the scene where hot-tempered O'Hara plays a dirty trick on him. RANDOLPH SCOTT is excellent as the drill sergeant and others in the cast are up to par--including NANCY KELLY in a rather thankless assignment as "the other woman".

MAUREEN O'HARA is stunning in technicolor but, as usual, has virtually little to do aside from looking gorgeous in a number of close-ups. Her role is typical of the many innocuous cardboard heroines she had to play in the '40s.

Summing up: Nice marine recruitment film, if a bit obvious in its patriotism.

Worst military film in history

[bpotte · 1/10 · 18 September 2018]

There were two good things about this movie: The color was good. The actors did a good job of playing their parts. But after that, it was a horrible film. John Payne plays an unmitigated jerk who at the end of the film rejects the Marine Corps AND the woman he's been harassing - although inexplicably he is shown with her on the transport at the last scene?!?! She's happy to be with him even though he had rejected her for a socialite and a cushy Washington job??

The movie should be rated R for it's depiction of unbelievable sexual harassment which results in the jerk ultimately getting his girl. Am I to infer that if I think I'm good looking and I overpower a protesting woman who has repeatedly said "no" that I will be proven to be a woman-winning Casanova in the end? Shameful!

A recruit takes over the training of the platoon on the say so of the drill instructor? And this recruit gets this chance because he claims the drill instructor is too harsh? Then this recruit succeeds because he beats up the members of the platoon displaying precisely the behavior he criticised? How inconsistent is that?

A list of the unmilitary situations in this film would fill an encyclopedia. Right down to the last little details, the film is ridiculous. The nurses ship out with the troops? Give me a break!

Disappointing Flag Waver!

[bsmith5552 · 4/10 · 11 October 2003]

I just saw "To the Shores of Tripoli" recently and was very disappointed. I expected a blood and guts war movie, but what I got was essentially a U.S. Marine recruitment film.

Set just prior to the U.S. entry into WWII, it tells the story of womanizing playboy Chris Waters (John Payne) who is sent by his father to enlist in the marines. He reports to his father's old sergeant Dixie Walker (Randolph Scott) with instructions "to make him into a man". The wise old sergeant see some potential in his charge but the two clash repeatedly. Into the mix comes Nurse Mary Carter (Maureen O'Hara) whom Carter tries to woo. That's it.

20th Century Fox under Producer Darryl F. Zanuck seems to have lavished a large budget complete with technicolor on this picture. Color films of the time were rare and were usually reserved for big budget musicals. The so-called marine training we see is restricted to close order drills with little action to boot. There's a brief fight between Payne and Scott and a sequence involving navy target shooting. The rest of it concentrates on the interplay between the three stars and little else.

The best thing about this movie is a chance to catch the timeless beauty of Maureen O'Hara. Yet to acquire her trademark flaming red hair, she is nonetheless breathtaking in glorious technicolor.

Payne and Scott are totally miscast. Payne is not very convincing as a rich kid playboy and Scott, who was more at home in the saddle, simply is not my vision of a sadistic drill sergeant. He did do better though, in 1943's "Gung Ho".

There are some other recognizable faces in the cast. Elena Verdugo has a nice bit as a Spanish dancer. Very young Harry Morgan and Alan Hale Jr. play members of Payne's unit, Stanley Andrews plays a doctor, Hugh Beaumont an orderly, Frank Coglan Jr. a bell boy, Gordon Jones an MP and Walter Sande a pharmacist.

I don't know this for a fact, but it looks like the film was conceived and made prior to Pearl Harbor and that the "boys go to war ending" was tacked on after the fact.

Should have been better.

Before Sgt. Foley there was Sgt. Smith.

[PWNYCNY · 8/10 · 31 May 2006]

After watching this movie, I now know where the "Officer and a Gentleman" screen writers probably got their idea for the character Sgt. Foley. Randolph Scott was the Sgt. Foley of the 1940s. This movie was made during World War Two, but it spares us the jingoistic propaganda associated with most war movies of that era and offers interesting and likable characters, especially Maureen O'Hara as a Navy nurse and John Payne as the recruit. While watching this movie I thought of Richard Gere and how he would have fit in well in this movie. The similarities between this movie and "Officer" must be more than just coincidental. "Officer" was more intense but this movie did not need to rely on such theatrics to maintain audience interest because the star of this movie was the USMC itself.

A good cast deserves a better film than this!

[Bri22 · 4/10 · 20 May 1999]

This film was, oddly enough, in the "war" section of the local video store. Mighty strange, considering the most violent scene involves removing adhesive tape from an amorous Marine recruit (played by John Payne, who appears to have his right eyebrow permanently cocked in a leering question mark). The plot is a tired one - a nonconformist recruit butts heads with the tough-but-caring sergeant who must make him into a Marine. Maureen O'Hara has the thankless task of playing the love interest in the movie - a nurse who must fend off the endless (and criminal, by today's standards) amorous advances of Private Chris Winters. Dull movie, with nothing new to offer even the most diehard Randolph Scott fan.

absolute rubbish

[tinyandmisty · 1/10 · 15 January 2016]

having just watched this excuse for a movie once again, I find it hard to understand how people take notice of such ridiculous and dumb propaganda. obviously made during the war years aimed at immature youngsters between the ages of six and recruitment age. any similarity between actual military service and what takes place in this movie is purely accidental. one has to be extremely gullible to believe anything other than the names of cast, and the titles. military rules are NOT broken on a regular basis just to make you love the corps even more. and marines are definitely not as dumb or childish as they are portrayed in this movie

Shocking ending

[Duesenberger · 13 November 2011]

As a slice of cinematic history, this film is worth watching. It was clear to me that it must have been written, and production largely completed before December 7, 1941. I'd like to see if there is any historical evidence of this.

There was no reference in the film to the global conflict in which Europe and Asia were involved at the time until the last minutes of the film. I wonder how the original script ended? Most shocking is the brief shot at the end during the final marching parade where an older Asian man is shown cheering the marines as they march on by. The man is replete with "Foomanchoo" mustache and holding a sign saying "Me Chinese" while waiving a small American flag. Rarely was Hollywood so blatantly racist.

The early Technicolor looks colorized by today's standards and yet beautiful for its time. I could have done without the endless marching and parade grounds scenes which took over most of the movie.

Maureen O'Hare is gorgeous in this advertisement for the Marines.

[cgvsluis · 5/10 · 7 January 2022]

This was like a giant love letter to the marines, as so many war time films were, and Maureen O'Hare is at the top of her game.

The general story is about a wealthy good-for-nothing playboy who is sent to the Marines by his father, a former leatherneck, who is hoping it will straighten out his son. He writes a letter of introduction to a fellow soldier and the head of his son's unit in basic training. The Sargent Dixie is played by the handsome Randolph Scott who is also at the top of his game. The playboy is played by John Payne and he does a wonderful job looking handsome and making you dislike him. On the night before he reports for basic training Chris Winters meets Mary (Maureen O'Hare) at a local dance joint. He hoodwinks her in to spending the evening with him...only to discover once he is in training that as a military nurse she outranks him as Lieutenant.

It takes Chris a long time to learn what it means to be a marine. He has the skills, but not the mindset...until Pearl Harbor.

My favorite scene involves mustard and some revenge.

If you are a fan of military films...you should see this one.

Underrated flag-waiver, and O'Hara is gorgeous!

[WarnersBrother · 8/10 · 24 November 2001]

This plot of this film- selfish rich boy joins the armed forces and by turns is converted into a red-blooded selfless team player- is often called cliche'. However, you have to bear in mind that it wasn't at the time it was made; It was one of the genre of plots that became cliche' latter (In fact, it is basically a color remake of "I Wanted Wings"...a much better film IMHO... substituting the Marines for the Air Corps.)

But what it does have is a great cast, great production values and the distinction of the first pairing the lovely Maureen O'Hara, stunning in beautiful early Technicolor, and John Payne. Arguably this is one of the great, if minor, pairings of the 40's ("Sentimental Journey", "Miracle on 34th Street", etc.) that culminated in a return to the Marine/Tripoli theme: In 1950 the pair would almost single-handedly capture the city in "Tripoli".

Is it great cinema? Nah...but it's a fun picture to watch for buffs.

Every Stereotype in the Military Book - To the Shores of Tripoli

[arthur_tafero · 5/10 · 6 February 2023]

This lighthearted musical comedy is a bit short on the music, a bit short on the comedy, but very big on stereotypes. Payne is a stereotype college who joins the marines to be like his dad, a WW1 hero. He has more connections in the Marines than a busy phone operator connecting calls. Maureen O'Hara is also in this farce, and Randolph Scott tries to keep a straight face playing the role as a drill sergeant. Believe me, he would not have made the cut for Full Metal Jacket. The film is fine for what it is; a jingoistic rah-rah piece to rally the public behind our troops early in WW 2. But as either a serious film or light romantic comedy, it falls a bit short. Semper Fi.

Johnny Carson??

[jackofawtrades · 10/10 · 29 May 2006]

I only saw the man in the movie for a few moments. Am I mistaken? or is Johnny Carson also in this movie. Apparently he is not one of the bigger stars or he would be listed with the rest of them, but I know that face...and that voice is unmistakable. I really enjoyed the movie though. I thought it was great. But my mom thinks I'm nuts because by the time she sat nack down Johnny was gone and they never showed him again. I am hoping they show the movie again soon on AMC and that I'm available to view it. Wow..Johnny Carson is extremely young in this movie, too, probably low to mid 20's, if that. I'm not sure if mentioning an actor who isn't listed in the credits is considered a spoiler, but I checked the box just in case.