I had just watched John Ford's first Talking film, "The Black Watch" (1929) with Victor McLaglen and Myrna Loy, and I was amazed at how well it worked. It was an odd, but interesting mixture of a James Bond type movie with a "Gunga Din" British- in-India flavor. I was amazed that Ford made such a great talkie his first time out.
I was expecting good things here, as the movie starts out with seemingly as a drama with a brother joining the Navy to rival his older brother who has a successful career in the Army. It quickly goes from drama to light comedy, much of it very light.
The Naval Academy atmosphere is quite nice and realistic looking, but it clashes with the small scope of the comedy. The best gag in the film is a rather homely guy trying to fill up a dance card for his sister. The Academy men expect that his sister will look like him and make up excuses for not offering to dance. When she turns out to be very cute, they all change their minds and try to get a chance to dance with her.
Its predictable, but mildly amusing.
Without a developed central conflict, one is left to appreciate some of the films occasional nice touches. This is an early talking appearance by Stepin Fetchit. He's quite funny here. There's a funny brief guest appearance by future star Lee Tracy as a Football announcer. Also John Wayne and Ward Bond deliver a few laughs. It is amusing watching Wayne throw a pie at one of the Navy recruits.
It is the major central romantic characters in the film, William Janney and Helen Chandler, who are dull and have little chemistry together. Chandler did go on to star in "Dracula" (1931), so it is interesting watching her doing comedy here.
George O'brien get star billing, but he is really a minor supporting character. He was apparently given star billing because he was far more famous than Janney. He had starred in two hit films with Janet Gaynor, "Blue Eagle" (1926) and. F. W. Munau's masterpiece, "Sunrise," (1927). This was Janney's first starring role.
Again, if you want to see Ford directing a great action-adventure early talkie, watch "The Black Watch," if you want to see Ford sputtering at directing a quirky, predictable and dull light comedy, watch this one.
