Minesweeper (film)
| Minesweeper | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | William Berke |
| Produced by |
William H. Pine (producer) (uncredited) William C. Thomas (producer) (uncredited) |
| Written by |
Edward T. Lowe Jr. (original screenplay) and Maxwell Shane (original screenplay) |
| Starring |
Richard Arlen Jean Parker Russell Hayden |
| Music by | Mort Glickman |
| Cinematography | Fred Jackman Jr. |
| Edited by |
Ted Bellinger Howard A. Smith William H. Ziegler |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 67 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Minesweeper is a 1943 American film directed by William A. Berke, a fictional account of a former navy deserter who returns to duty under an assumed name as a sailor aboard a minesweeper, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The minesweeper used during filming was YMS 121.[1]
Plot
Richard Houston (Richard Arlen) is an officer in the U.S. Navy who deserted during peacetime service to escape gambling debts, and took up life as a hobo. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor spurs him to rejoin the Navy under the assumed name of Jim "Tennessee" Smith. Houston is assigned to serve aboard a minesweeper, where he successfully carries out numerous successful efforts to defuse mines in the San Diego harbor while struggling to keep his identity secret.
Complicating matters, Houston falls into a love triangle, competing with Seaman Elliot Nash (Russel Hayden) for the affections of Mary Smith (Jean Parker), niece of Chief Petty Officer "Fixit" Smith (Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams), who has taken a liking to Houston. Later, Houston overstays his shore leave while gambling, and Smith, having taken over his position, is killed by a mine. Houston nearly deserts again, but instead returns to his ship to take on one last heroic mission.
Cast
- Richard Arlen as Richard Houston - posing as Jim "Tennessee" Smith
- Jean Parker as Mary Smith
- Russell Hayden as Seaman Elliot Nash
- Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as CPO Ichabod Ferdinand "Fixit" Smith
- Emma Dunn as Mom Smith
- Charles D. Brown as Commander Lane
- Frank Fenton as Lt. Ralph Gilpin
- Chick Chandler as Seaman "Corny" Welch
- Douglas Fowley as Cutter Lieutenant Wells
- Ralph Sanford as Seaman Cox
- Billy Nelson as Bos'un "Freshwater" Heims
- Grant Withers as CPO Gregg, In Charge of Diving Crew
- Robert Mitchum as unnamed seaman who dies in boat explosion early in film.
References
- ↑ Dick Wagner, Judy Wagner, North Bend, page 104, 2010 (including image).
External links
- Minesweeper at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Minesweeper at the Internet Movie Database
- Minesweeper is available for free download at the Internet Archive