''Shipmates Forever'' is a 1935 American

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

directed by

Frank Borzage Frank Borzage (; April 23, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an Academy Award-winning American film director and actor, known for directing '' 7th Heaven'' (1927), '' Street Angel'' (1928), '' Bad Girl'' (1931), '' A Farewell to Arms'' (1932), ''Man's ...

and written by

Delmer Daves Delmer Lawrence Daves (July 24, 1904 – August 17, 1977) was an American screenwriter, film director and film producer. He worked in many genres, including film noir and warfare, but he is best known for his Western movies, especially '' Br ...

. Set at the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

, the film stars

Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility, and successfully transformed into ...

Ruby Keeler Ethel Ruby Keeler (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993) was an American actress, dancer, and singer who was paired on-screen with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Bros., particularly ''42nd Street (film), 42nd Str ...

Lewis Stone Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio's popular '' Andy ...

Ross Alexander Ross Alexander (born Alexander Ross Smith; July 27, 1907 – January 2, 1937) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Alexander was born Alexander Ross Smith in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Maud Adelle ( Cohen) and Alexander Ross ...

John Arledge Johnson Lundy Arledge (March 12, 1907 – May 15, 1947) was an American film and stage actor. Biography He played dozens of supporting roles in the Hollywood movies of the 1930s–1940s, including the tractor driver who destroys a house in ''Th ...

Eddie Acuff Edward DeKalb Acuff (June 3, 1903 – December 17, 1956) was an American stage and film actor. He frequently was cast as a droll comic relief, in the support of the star. His best-known recurring role is that of Mr. Beasley, the postman, in ...

, and

Dick Foran John Nicholas "Dick" Foran (June 18, 1910 – August 10, 1979) was an American actor, known for his performances in Western musicals and for playing supporting roles in dramatic pictures. Early years Foran was born in Flemington, New Jers ...

. The film was released by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

on October 12, 1935. Powell, Keeler, Alexander and Arledge combined previously with Borzage and Daves under similar circumstances of plot and character in '' Flirtation Walk'', a film about the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

, the year before. The U.S. Navy provided technical assistance for the filming. Locations shots were made at the Naval Academy and a portion of the story's "final cruise" included footage of the battleship USS (BB-33), which conducted midshipmen cruises for the Navy in the 1930s. Rare footage of the Martin P3M flying boat is also featured.

Plot

Dick Melville (Powell) and June Blackburn (Keeler) meet during a naval review in

New York Harbor New York Harbor is at the mouth of the Hudson River where it empties into New York Bay near the East River tidal estuary, and then into the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States. It is one of the largest natural harbors in t ...

. Though both come from Navy families, Dick pursues a singing career and June, her father and brother both having been killed in the war, has vowed never to marry a Navy man. Admiral Melville (Stone), Dick's father, is the new superintendent of the Naval Academy and his dearest wish is that his son follow in his footsteps as a naval officer. He maneuvers Dick into enrolling as a

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

by accusing him of being afraid of failing the entrance exams. Though with no intent of accepting a commission, Dick passes the tests, however he finds he cannot turn down the appointment because it would disappoint his father. Dick's roommates are "Sparks" Brown (Alexander), a radio operator from the South; "Coxswain" Lawrence (Arledge), a sailor appointed from the fleet; and "Cowboy" Lincoln (Acuff), from the West. All of the plebes receive hazing from the upperclassmen, but Dick is a special target of teasing because of his father and his fame as a singer. Dick hates the academy and decides to leave until June encourages him to finish what he started. Academically, he is at the head of his class, but he has made no friends. Dick sticks it out but the admiral worries about his isolation, as one of the goals of the academy is to create bonds between the midshipmen. Coxswain flunks out of school and castigates Dick for his attitude. After June moves to New York to become a professional dancer, Dick is more alone than ever. June returns for the annual

Ring Dance Circle dance, or chain dance, is a style of social dance done in a circle, semicircle or a curved line to musical accompaniment, such as rhythm instruments and singing, and is a type of dance where anyone can join in without the need of Partne ...

but Dick finds excuses not to allow her the tradition of placing his

class ring In the United States, a class ring (also known as a graduation, graduate, senior, or grad ring) is a ring worn by students and alumni to commemorate their final academic year and/or graduation, generally for a high school, college, or university ...

on his finger. During Dick's final summer cruise, Coxswain is one of the ship's crew and proudly informs his former roommates that he has been accepted for readmission to the academy. His love of the Navy makes Dick uncomfortable and he places his ring on his finger one night on deck. During gunnery training, one of the ship's steam lines bursts and starts a boiler fire. Coxswain tries to shut off the fuel leads and is overcome by smoke and fire. Although Dick tries to save him, Coxswain is killed. Both men are badly burned and Dick is recognized as the survivor by his class ring. When he finally returns to the academy, Dick is greeted enthusiastically by his classmates. He proudly leads the Brigade of Midshipmen at the graduation parade, about to become a new

ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

Cast

as Richard John 'Dick' Melville III *

as June Blackburn *

as Adm. Richard Melville *

as Lafayette 'Sparks' Brown *

as Lincoln 'Cowboy' *

as Gifford *

as Johnny 'Coxswain' Lawrence * Robert Light as Ted Sterling *

Arline Pretty Arline Pretty (September 5, 1885 – April 14, 1978) was an American film actress of the silent era. Life and career Pretty was born September 5, 1885, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother was a musician. For three years, Pretty acted on ...

as Nurse (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * * {{Frank Borzage 1935 films 1930s English-language films Warner Bros. films American musical films 1935 musical films Films directed by Frank Borzage American black-and-white films 1930s American films Films scored by Bernhard Kaun Films set in New York City Films set in Maryland Films shot in Maryland Films about the United States Navy Films set in military academies