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IMDbPro

Mister Roberts

  • 19551955
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
17K
YOUR RATING
James Cagney, Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, and William Powell in Mister Roberts (1955)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer4:07
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaWar
In the waning days of World War II, the cargo officer of a Navy supply ship chafes at its role far from the action in the Pacific's backwater areas, his frustration rising when its captain d... Read allIn the waning days of World War II, the cargo officer of a Navy supply ship chafes at its role far from the action in the Pacific's backwater areas, his frustration rising when its captain denies the crew liberty over petty irritations.In the waning days of World War II, the cargo officer of a Navy supply ship chafes at its role far from the action in the Pacific's backwater areas, his frustration rising when its captain denies the crew liberty over petty irritations.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
17K
YOUR RATING
    • John Ford
    • Mervyn LeRoy
    • Joshua Logan(uncredited)
    • Frank S. Nugent(screenplay)
    • Joshua Logan(screenplay)
    • Thomas Heggen(based on the play by)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • James Cagney
    • William Powell
    • John Ford
    • Mervyn LeRoy
    • Joshua Logan(uncredited)
    • Frank S. Nugent(screenplay)
    • Joshua Logan(screenplay)
    • Thomas Heggen(based on the play by)
  • Stars
    • Henry Fonda
    • James Cagney
    • William Powell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 108User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos1

    Mister Roberts
    Trailer 4:07
    Watch Mister Roberts

    Photos111

    Henry Fonda and Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts (1955)
    Henry Fonda and William Powell in Mister Roberts (1955)
    James Cagney, Henry Fonda, and John Ford in Mister Roberts (1955)
    James Cagney and Henry Fonda in Mister Roberts (1955)
    Jack Lemmon, Mimi Doyle, Maura Murphy, Jeanne Murray, Kathleen O'Malley, Betsy Palmer, and Lonnie Pierce in Mister Roberts (1955)
    Jack Lemmon and William Powell in Mister Roberts (1955)
    Betsy Palmer in Mister Roberts (1955)
    James Cagney and Henry Fonda in Mister Roberts (1955)
    Henry Fonda in Mister Roberts (1955)
    Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, and William Powell in Mister Roberts (1955)
    James Cagney, Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Ward Bond, and William Powell in Mister Roberts (1955)
    Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Lieutenant Roberts
    James Cagney
    James Cagney
    • The Captain
    William Powell
    William Powell
    • Doc
    Jack Lemmon
    Jack Lemmon
    • Ensign Pulver
    Betsy Palmer
    Betsy Palmer
    • Lieutenant Ann Girard
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Dowdy
    Philip Carey
    Philip Carey
    • Mannion
    • (as Phil Carey)
    Nick Adams
    Nick Adams
    • Reber
    Perry Lopez
    Perry Lopez
    • Rodrigues
    Ken Curtis
    Ken Curtis
    • Dolan
    Robert Roark
    Robert Roark
    • Insigna
    Harry Carey Jr.
    Harry Carey Jr.
    • Stefanowski
    Patrick Wayne
    Patrick Wayne
    • Bookser
    • (as Pat Wayne)
    Frank Aletter
    Frank Aletter
    • Gerhart
    Tige Andrews
    Tige Andrews
    • Wiley
    • (as Tiger Andrews)
    Fritz Ford
    • Lindstrom
    Jim Moloney
    • Kennedy
    Buck Kartalian
    Buck Kartalian
    • Mason
      • John Ford
      • Mervyn LeRoy
      • Joshua Logan(uncredited)
      • Frank S. Nugent(screenplay)
      • Joshua Logan(screenplay) (based on the play by)
      • Thomas Heggen(based on the play by) (from the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When John Ford met James Cagney at the airport, the director warned that they would "tangle asses," which caught Cagney by surprise. The next day, Cagney was slightly late on set, and Ford became incensed. Cagney cut short the imminent tirade, saying: "When I started this picture, you said that we would tangle asses before this was over. I'm ready now - are you?" Ford backed down and walked away, and he and Cagney had no further conflicts on the set. Cagney later said: "I would have kicked his brains out. He was so goddamned mean to everybody. He was truly a nasty old man."
    • Goofs
      In the scene where the ship is underway and at general quarters, several shots of the bridge show that there is no one at the helm (steering the ship).
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Ensign Frank Thurlowe Pulver: Captain, it is I, Ensign Pulver, and I just threw your stinkin' palm tree overboard! Now what's all this crud about no movie tonight?

    • Crazy credits
      The seven top-billed actors listed in the opening credits are not listed with the other players in the end credits.
    • Alternate versions
      Television and the standard VHS prints substitute a different march that is played over the loudspeakers during the scene where Henry Fonda is listening to the VE Day celebrations and throws the captain's palm tree overboard. Also eliminated is the voice-over of Fonda humming the march as he walks up the gang ladder leaving the scene.
    • Connections
      Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Henry Fonda (1978)
    • Soundtracks
      If I Could Be with You One Hour Tonight
      (uncredited)

      Music by James P. Johnson

      Words by Henry Creamer

      Published by Warner Bros. Inc. (ASCAP)

      Sung, hummed and whistled by Jack Lemmon throughout film (uncredited)

    User reviews108

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    So fun, so real, so heartbreaking
    This film is a Classic, with a capital C! You have a great story, a great cast, laughs, tears and a dose of reality. How can you go wrong with Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell and Jack Lemmon?

    What always struck me about this film was its realism. I spent some time on an auxiliary ship in the navy, and it's not glamorous. This film perfectly captures the life aboard non-combatant ships. They provide a vital service, but rarely get recognized for it. It also demonstrates what real leadership is. The main duty of an officer is to provide leadership and to see to the welfare of his troops. Mr Roberts is a shining example of a great officer.

    The film also shows that the enemy isn't always on the other ship. I have seen captains like Cagney's, and you often spent more time defending your crew from those skippers, than you did from the opposing force. As Mr Roberts said, "....I know in wartime they scrape the bottom of the barrel...", well, they sometimes scrape that barrel in peacetime.

    There's a great blend of comedy and drama throughout; but, just when you are feeling good, it delivers a punch to the gut. This is life as it is, not an idealized world.

    Sign on board for a tour of duty with this film. You'll be glad you did.
    helpful•36
    5
    • grendelkhan
    • Jan 18, 2003

    FAQ1

    • Why was the Captain's palm tree so important to him and the story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 30, 1955 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Midway Islands
    • Production company
      • Orange Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 3 minutes

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    James Cagney, Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, and William Powell in Mister Roberts (1955)
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