Rating: 
Summary: " NOW HERE THIS"!
Review: " Now Here This....anyone who has not been put on report for six months ...can now go swimming for ten minutes....that is all"Ths big big hit on broadway comes to the screen in a wonderful fashion. Henry Fonda,s performance is pristine ..because you see he isnt acting at all....he is MR. ROBERTS. Cagney is as florid as he has ever been...Lemmon wins an Oscar for his E. Pulver turn. William Powell ..s Doc shows why he was so terrific in all his films witty..urbane...with impeccable comedic timing. " is it di dah...or dah dit.....its important"? Ward Bond, Phil Carey, Betsy Palmer and T. Andrews are fine in support. A film to enjoy over and over again.
Rating:
Summary: Now Hear this....
Review: 'Mister Roberts' is great film about comradship and being stuck in the system. Henry Fonda is Lieutenant Doug Roberts, a real leader and skilled officer who finds himself stuck on a cargo ship while the 'real war' is fought elsewhere. James Cagney is brilliant as a career naval officer and the typical boss who holds down those under him that have too much talent. Jack Lemmon is hysterical as Ensign Pulver who spends most of his time with his back glued to the sack and has devised so many ways to avoid meeting up with the ship's Captain that when they do accidently run into one another Cagney doesn't even recognize him. This film is a true American original not to be missed and includes such classic scenes as the attempt to manufacture Scotch Whiskey and Lemmon's manical plots against the Captain involving a homemade firecracker.
Rating:
Summary: A classic of the World War II era
Review:
I watched this one again last night, and found it as entertaining as it was the first time I watched it. Henry Fonda depicted Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Douglas Roberts, the cargo officer on the Navy AK (cargo auxiliary) "Reluctant," referred to by her crew as "the bucket." Far behind the front lines of the war, Reluctant was charged with delivering "more toilet paper and toothpaste" than any other ship in the Navy to island outposts in the Pacific.
The dim-witted, hateful captain was acted by James Cagney--a different type of role than he usually played. He was superb! Jack Lemmon was Ensign Pulver, a lazy youngster with a juvenile attitude who was afraid of the captain. William Powell played the ship's doctor. All of the parts were played magnificently, and the story was beautifully filmed. Pure entertainment. The only criticism I have of the film is the moral behind the story. It makes Fonda a hero because he was a lousy officer who was chummy with the crew and hostile to his captain. Granted, the captain was supposed to be a vicious, nasty, small-minded tyrant, like the captain in "The Caine Mutiny," or Bligh in "Mutiny on the Bounty." But whatever the captain's temperament, a good naval officer would have tried to support him, or at the very least kept silent. To undercut his authority and incite disrespect for him is destructive to discipline, and on a naval vessel--in fact, throughout the navy--discipline is what makes the service an effective fighting force. The story must have been written by a civilian. But, it was good entertainment, nonetheless. Joseph H. Pierre, USN (Ret.)
Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: A great cast, a great script, a great movie. There's a 10- or 15-minute stretch that has one hilarious scene after another, highlighted by Mr. Roberts and the Doc (William Powell) helping Ensign Pulver prepare for a rendevous with Betsy Palmer. Ward Bond has a small role in this, and it always amazed me at how many great movies of all types that he was in--westerns like the Searchers, plus the Maltese Falcon, Grapes of Wrath, It Happened One Night, It's A Wonderful Life, Gone With The Wind, Dead End, etc.
Rating: 
Summary: "The Greatest Generation" in "The Good War"
Review: A previous reviewer who cited "The Greatest Generation" in his title line--but didn't really have too much else to say--received two "not helpful" votes and zero "helpfuls". Too bad he didn't have a little more to add on the subject: his insight is actually a good one. With the Brokaw book(s) and recent films like _Saving Private Ryan_ capturing huge reading and viewing audiences, the time seems ripe for renewed interest in WWII-themed films from the 40s and 50s.
Made in 1955--almost midway between the close of what Studs Terkel termed our "Good War" and the escalation of Viet Nam into a real war (for the U.S. anyway)-- _Mr. Roberts_ captures the spirit of the WWII era and its aftermath in a way few other films , especially those in the post-Viet Nam era, can. The theme of the non-combatant soldier or sailor, yearning to see action, is one that has become a topus in literature and film. Such a simple spirit of patriotism, however, would probably be viewed with suspicion in a more contemporary work. Of course, even the fifties saw grimmer portraits of war (e.g._From Here to Eternity_). _Mr. Roberts_ does not totally skirt the horrors of war, either, as the ending attests. It is, in the main, however, still a comedy. The heavier issues--the source of the Captain's spitefulness, for instance--are glossed over. In fact, we really don't get to know much about any of the crew's previous lives--except that the captain was a resentful busboy once and that Mr. Roberts is from Nebraska. That's quibbling, to be sure. Certainly, _Mr. Roberts_ deserves its classic status. Despite having undergone a shift in directors midway through production, it retains a unity of vision that is remarkable. Unlike many films based on plays, this film doesn't need to be "opened up" extensively--it's primarily limited to the confines of the ship, but that is only appropriate. And, of course, it's great to see veterans like Jimmy Cagney and William Powell get plum roles so late in their careers. Henry Fonda is as steady as a rock. Jack Lemmon is, well, Jack Lemmon, a little hammy, but exuberant. He won the Academy Award, but all the cast turn in solid performances.
Rating:
Summary: Thank You, Mr. Roberts!
Review: As a current active member of the US Navy, few Navy-related subjects appeal to us servicemembers. Alot of them are poking fun of how wrong alot of the things we do in the movies. For example, "Crimson Tide". What submarine allows pets? In fact, the interior is much too big for a compacted submarine that's already roomy enough for the missiles it carries but not for the crew. Anyway, "Mr. Roberts" clearly displays an enjoyable and humorous outlook of Navy life. Even if I've been in uniform for a little over five years, and this movie clearly took place in WWII, there are still Naval gestures and behaviors carried on today. LT(jg) Roberts is a well-respected officer among his men. We have those in real-life! What appeals to me about this movie is the similar camaraderie the fictional crew has to us. The best part of the movie is the lively liberty they had. Of course, today it's not a welcomed sight, but it simply reminded me of the good times during port visits with friends. The laughter, the jokes, the overall good fun and experience of a foreign port is all I saw with these guys. When I watch this movie with Navy friends, we all have a good time watching. Sometimes pausing the movie and reminisce about the Navy life. A great and moving film. Thank you, Mr. Roberts!
Rating:
Summary: A Warm, Funny, and Well-Acted Film.
Review: Fonda, Cagney, Powell, & Lemmon . . . What more do you want? This film became a favorite of mine when I'd see it on TV on the occasional Saturday afternoon. I'd sit down and watch Henry Fonda battling wits with James Cagney, Jack Lemmon playing the young Ensign Pulver, and William Powell as the less-than-conservative Doctor. It is a NON-WAR, war movie, if you can believe that. I suppose that by the mid-Fifties, audiences wanted more comedies and less serious war dramas. As this was an adaptation of a stage play, it was perfect for the times. It has a wonderful mix of humor, antics, and drama, and it is a thrill to see these high-caliber actors in a quality film. The film is essentially about standing up for yourself, for your fellow sailors, and for what is right. The film's ending affected me greatly when I saw it long ago, and I sincerely hope that it has the same affect on you.
Rating:
Summary: A Warm, Funny, and Well-Acted Film.
Review: Fonda, Cagney, Powell, & Lemmon . . . What more do you want? This film became a favorite of mine when I'd see it on TV on the occasional Saturday afternoon. I'd sit down and watch Henry Fonda battling wits with James Cagney, Jack Lemmon playing the young Ensign Pulver, and William Powell as the less-than-conservative Doctor. It is a NON-WAR, war movie, if you can believe that. I suppose that by the mid-Fifties, audiences wanted more comedies and less serious war dramas. As this was an adaptation of a stage play, it was perfect for the times. It has a wonderful mix of humor, antics, and drama, and it is a thrill to see these high-caliber actors in a quality film. The film is essentially about standing up for yourself, for your fellow sailors, and for what is right. The film's ending affected me greatly when I saw it long ago, and I sincerely hope that it has the same affect on you.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite movies
Review: Fonda, Cagney, Powell, & Lemmon! This is one of my favorites. A captain bligh type (Cagney) is stood up to by the first officer (Fonda), until a deal it cut so the men can have liberty. Lemmon is just behind fonda in rank (hidden behind). We have William Powell as the doc. Things get real interesting and fun when the captain wins an award represented by a palm tree.
Rating:
Summary: Whooo did it?! Whooo did it?!
Review: Fonda, Cagney, Powell, & Lemmon! This is one of my favorites. A captain bligh type (Cagney) is stood up to by the first officer (Fonda), until a deal it cut so the men can have liberty. Lemmon is just behind fonda in rank (hidden behind). We have William Powell as the doc. Things get real interesting and fun when the captain wins an award represented by a palm tree.
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