''Join the Marines'' is a 1937 American

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

directed by

Ralph Staub Ralph Staub (July 21, 1899 in Chicago, Illinois – October 22, 1969, Los Angeles, California) was a movie director, writer and producer. Three of his short subjects in the '' Screen Snapshots'' series have been nominated for the Academy Award a ...

and written by

Joseph Krumgold Joseph Quincy Krumgold (April 9, 1908 – July 10, 1980) was an American writer of books and screenplays. He was the first person to win two annual Newbery Medals for the most distinguished new American children's book. Life Krumgold was born in ...

and

Olive Cooper Olivette "Olive" Cooper (1892–1987 was a prolific American screenwriter known for movies like ''Cocoanut Grove (film), Cocoanut Grove'', ''Bandit King of Texas'', and ''Three Little Sisters''. She wrote many of the screenplays for Roy Rogers a ...

. The film stars Paul Kelly,

June Travis June Travis (born June Dorothea Grabiner; August 7, 1914 – April 14, 2008) was an American film actress. Background Born June Dorothea Grabiner, she was the daughter of Harry Grabiner, vice-president of the Chicago White Sox in the 1930s. ...

Purnell Pratt Purnell Pratt (October 20, 1885 – July 25, 1941) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1914 and 1941. He was born in Bethel, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California. Partial filmography * ''The Great D ...

, Reginald Denny,

Warren Hymer Edgar Warren Hymer (February 25, 1906 – March 25, 1948) was an American theatre and film actor. Early life He was born in New York City. His father, John Bard Hymer (1875/1876 – 1953) was a playwright (with nine Broadway plays to ...

and

Irving Pichel Irving Pichel (June 24, 1891 – July 13, 1954) was an American actor and film director, who won acclaim both as an actor and director in his Hollywood career. Career Pichel was born to a Jewish family in Pittsburgh. He attended Pittsburgh Cent ...

. It was released on January 25, 1937 by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...

Plot

New York policeman and Olympic

javelin throw The javelin throw is a track and field event where the javelin, a spear about in length, is thrown. The javelin thrower gains momentum by running within a predetermined area. Javelin throwing is an event of both the men's decathlon and the ...

er Phil Donlan is on his way to the 1936 Olympic Games when he meets lovely Paula Denbrough on the ocean liner to Europe. Paula is planning to marry

playboy ''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. K ...

Steve Lodge, but her father, a colonel with the

Marine Corps Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...

, uses his influence to prevent the marriage. Paula believes that Phil is at fault and exacts revenge by exaggerating some of Phil's pranks into a scandal that causes his expulsion from the Olympics team and later from the NYPD. Paula and Phil fall in love on the return trip, but Phil has no career prospects and wishes to impress Paula, so he joins the Marines. When Paula and Phil's romance ends, Phil declares that he will become an officer in order that he may resign his commission and leave the Marines. Phil shows great physical strength and leadership qualities, and he is rapidly promoted to the rank of corporal, and later, the acting frst sergeant. He volunteers for duty in the

South Seas Today the term South Seas, or South Sea, is used in several contexts. Most commonly it refers to the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of the equator. In 1513, when Spanish conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa coined the term ''Mar del Sur'', ...

and singlehandedly quashes a rebellion by challenging the natives to spear-throwing competitions that win their respect. When commissioned as a second lieutenant, Phil plans his resignation but faces a revolt by the natives, who do not respect Phil's replacement.

Cast

* Paul Kelly as Philip H. "Phil" Donlan *

as Paula Denbrough *

as Col. J. B. Denbrough * Reginald Denny as Steve Lodge *

as Hoiman *

as Col. Leonard *

Sterling Holloway Sterling Price Holloway Jr. (January 4, 1905 – November 22, 1992) was an American actor and voice actor who appeared in over 100 films and 40 television shows. He did voice acting for The Walt Disney Company, playing Mr. Stork in ''Dumbo'', Ad ...

as Alfred *

Ray "Crash" Corrigan Ray "Crash" Corrigan (born Raymond Benitz; February 14, 1902 – August 10, 1976) was an American actor most famous for appearing in many B-Western movies (among these the Three Mesquiteers and Range Busters film series). He also was a ...

as Lt. Hodge *John Holland as Lieutenant *

Carleton Young Captain Carleton Scott Young (October 21, 1905 – November 7, 1994) was an American character actor who was known for his deep voice. Early years Born in Fulton, Oswego, New York, Young was the second and only surviving child of St ...

as Corporal * John Sheehan as O'Day *

Arthur Hoyt Arthur Hoyt (March 19, 1874 – January 4, 1953) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 275 films in his 34-year film career, about a third of them silent films. Career Born in Georgetown, Colorado, in 1874, Hoyt ma ...

as Capt. James *Richard Beach as Marine *

Howard Hickman Howard Charles Hickman (February 9, 1880 – December 31, 1949) was an American actor, director and writer. He was an accomplished stage leading man, who entered films through the auspices of producer Thomas H. Ince. Career In 1900, Hickman d ...

as Pruitt *Val Duran as Chinese Bartender *

Landers Stevens John Landers Stevens (1877–1940) was an American stage and film actor. A character actor he appeared in prominent screen roles in the early 1920s before switching to smaller supporting parts, often authority figures, in the following decade. H ...

as Dr. McCullough

References

External links

* 1937 films American action films 1930s action films Republic Pictures films American black-and-white films Films directed by Ralph Staub Films set in Oceania Films about the United States Marine Corps Films produced by Nat Levine 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{action-film-stub