''To the Shores of Tripoli'' is a 1942 American

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring John Payne,

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural ...

and

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor whose career spanned the years from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of ...

. The film was produced by

Darryl F. Zanuck Darryl Francis Zanuck (September 5, 1902December 22, 1979) was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. He played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of ...

. Its cinematography was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

in 1943. Titled after a lyric in the

Marines' Hymn The "Marines' Hymn" is the official hymn of the United States Marine Corps, introduced by the first director of the USMC Band, Francesco Maria Scala. Its music originates from an 1867 work by Jacques Offenbach with the lyrics added by an anonymou ...

, which contains the phrase "... to the shores of Tripoli" (which is, itself, a reference to the Battle of Derne), the film is one of the last of the pre-Pearl Harbor service films. When the film was in

post-production Post-production is part of the process of filmmaking, video production, audio production, and photography. Post-production includes all stages of production occurring after principal photography or recording individual program segments. The ...

the

Pearl Harbor attack The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, j ...

occurred, causing the studio to shoot a new ending in which Payne's character re-enlists. The supporting cast features

Nancy Kelly Nancy Kelly (March 25, 1921 – January 2, 1995) was an American actress in film, theater and television. A child actress and model, she was a repertory cast member of CBS Radio's ''The March of Time'' and appeared in several films in the late 1 ...

Maxie Rosenbloom Max Everitt Rosenbloom (November 6, 1906 – March 6, 1976) was an American professional boxer, actor, and television personality. Nicknamed "Slapsie Maxie", he was inducted into '' The Ring's'' Boxing Hall of Fame in 1972, the International Je ...

Harry Morgan Harry Morgan (born Harry Bratsberg; April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) was an American actor and director whose television and film career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter in both ''December Bride'' (1954–1959 ...

, and

Alan Hale Jr. Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; (March 8, 1921 - January 2, 1990) was an American actor and restaurateur. He was the son of actor Alan Hale Sr. His television career spanned four decades, but he was best known for his secondary lead role ...

Plot

Wealthy Culver Military Academy drop-out and

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 ...

Chris Winters enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he meets his

drill instructor A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces, fire department, or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. Foot drill, military step, and marching are typically taught by drill instructors. Australia Austr ...

Gunnery Sergeant Dixie Smith and falls in love with a Navy nurse, Lieutenant Mary Carter. Smith receives a letter from Winters's father, Captain Christopher Winters, about his playboy son. Sgt. Smith had served in World War I under the elder Winter, and he affectionately calls Winters "The Skipper". Chris Winters cannot understand why officers and enlisted men do not associate under the non-fraternization policy, even if the officer is a woman and the enlisted man is a male. Chris's society girlfriend Helene Hunt wants Chris to get a cushy civilian job in Washington, D.C., and to make this happen, she uses her uncle's power and her influence on the base commander, General Gordon. In sequences filmed at the

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot (commonly referred to as MCRD) San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and t ...

, Smith gives the younger Winters an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership qualities by drilling his platoon. To Smith's amusement, the Marines mock Chris and perform slapstick antics during the drill as Winters marches them away. As Smith is enjoying himself, the platoon marches back and near perfectly performs close-order drills. Smith is greatly surprised until he looks over the platoon and notices several Marines have black eyes, chipped teeth, and bruises. Chris Winters says, "I was captain of the boxing team at Culver." Winters is selected for Sea School and, on gunnery practice during naval maneuvers, he bravely saves Dixie Smith's life while repairing gunnery targets. Chris picks a fight with Smith. However, Smith claims that he struck the first blow, so that (by being busted in rank for his confessed offense) Smith will save Chris from the Naval Prison. Despite winning the respect of Dixie Smith and his fellow Marines, Chris decides to leave the Marines. At this point, Chris hears the news of the Pearl Harbor attack while driving in a car with Helene. The road is blocked by his old platoon marching to a Navy transport ship. Chris Winters runs to Sgt. Smith to re-enlist; Chris enters the ranks that close up as he dresses in his old uniform from his satchel; he tosses away his civilian clothes and is in uniform except for his two-toned shoes. On the transport ship, he is reunited with Mary Carter.

Cast

* John Payne as Chris Winters Jr. *

as Mary Carter *

as Sgt. Dixie Smith *

as Helene Hunt *

William Tracy William Tracy (December 1, 1917 – June 18, 1967) was an American character actor. Early life and career Tracy was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is perhaps best known for the role of Pepi Katona, the delivery boy, in ''The Shop ...

as Johnny Dent * Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom as Okay Jones *

as Mouthy (as Henry Morgan) *

Edmund MacDonald Edmund Francis MacDonald (May 7, 1908 – September 2, 1951) was an American actor. Early years MacDonald was born in Boston. He had one brother. Career MacDonald gained early acting experience in stock theater on Long Island. He made hi ...

as Butch *

Russell Hicks Edward Russell Hicks (June 4, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American film character actor. Hicks was born in 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army in France. He later became a lieutenant Colonel in the Cali ...

as Maj. Wilson *

Margaret Early Margaret Early (December 25, 1919 – November 29, 2000) was an American film actress who was active in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. She is best remembered for her endearing Southern charm. Life and career Born on Christmas Day 19 ...

as Susie *

Minor Watson Minor Watson (December 22, 1889 – July 28, 1965) was a prominent character actor. He appeared in 111 movies made between 1913 and 1956. His credits included '' Boys Town'' (1938), ''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' (1942), ''Kings Row'' (1942), '' Guada ...

as Captain Christopher Winters Sr. *

as Tom Hall * Richard Lane as Lieutenant * John Hamilton as Gen. Gordon

Production

George Raft George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...

was meant to star but could not get released from Warner Bros. John Payne was going to star in ''

Song of the Islands ''Song of the Islands'' is a 1942 musical comedy film starring Betty Grable and Victor Mature. It was directed by Walter Lang and released through 20th Century Fox. Plot Jeff Harper sails to the tropical paradise Ahmi-Oni with his sidekick Rusty ...

'' but was assigned to this movie instead; Victor Mature replaced Payne on ''Song of the Islands''. The original planned ending was a simple romantic coupling with Maureen O'Hara's Navy nurse, but after Pearl Harbor, it switched to John Payne signing up for war. Portions of the film were shot at the

Reception

Contemporary reviews were generally positive.

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though his ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' expressed disappointment in the film, calling it "a compound of familiar cliches ... If this film is a fair estimation of Marine discipline and tradition, then wire Congress. For, with typical cinematic license, it assumes that one arrogant kid, protected by a sergeant's strange sentiment, could violate every rule in the book. Further, it does not lay emphasis upon a genuine esprit de corps. Contrary to military nature, the Marines fall in around a self-willed lad." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', however, wrote that the film "has landed well up to the front of the series of army, navy and air corps features which are doing good business, helped no little by current events ... Payne and Scott make an entertaining pair of fighters." ''

Harrison's Reports ''Harrison's Reports'' was a New York City-based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publisher ...

'' called it "A fine picture ... The direction and acting are of high standard." ''

Film Daily ''The Film Daily'' was a daily publication that existed from 1918 to 1970 in the United States. It was the first daily newspaper published solely for the film industry. It covered the latest trade news, film reviews, financial updates, informatio ...

'' wrote: "No finer masterpiece of raw, red-blooded, thumping action has come out of Hollywood's studios."

John Mosher John Mosher (1928–1998) was an American jazz bassist, classical bassist and composer who worked, recorded and toured with a wide range of primarily West Coast artists from the 1950s through the mid-1990s. Early years A native of Sioux City, I ...

of ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American weekly magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. Founded as a weekly in 1925, the magazine is published 47 times annually, with five of these issues ...

'' found that the target practice scenes had "a quiet charm" and wrote that "No one could look more military than Randolph Scott." The Marines credit the movie as the biggest single recruitment aid in 1942. In 1940, before Pearl Harbor, there were only 19,400 Marines; when World War II ended there were 485,052 Marines and this number was subsequently reduced to 77,000 as the United States de-mobilized. Though a critical and financial success, author

Leon Uris Leon Marcus Uris (August 3, 1924 – June 21, 2003) was an American author of historical fiction who wrote many bestselling books including '' Exodus'' (published in 1958) and ''Trinity'' (published in 1976). Life and career Uris was born in Ba ...

ridicules the film in his reaction of Marines who see it in ''

Battle Cry A battle cry or war cry is a yell or chant taken up in battle, usually by members of the same combatant group. Battle cries are not necessarily articulate (e.g. "Eulaliaaaa!", "Alala"..), although they often aim to invoke patriotic or religious ...

''.

References

External links

* * * *
An scene from the movie
{{H. Bruce Humberstone 1942 films 1942 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American war films 1940s English-language films Films scored by Alfred Newman Films directed by H. Bruce Humberstone Films shot in California Films about the United States Marine Corps Military humor in film War romance films American World War II films 20th Century Fox films Films produced by Darryl F. Zanuck Films with screenplays by Lamar Trotti 1940s American films