Here Comes the Navy

Metal worker James Cagney is humiliated by naval officer Pat O'Brien. So he joins the Navy to get even with him. Naturally. Then he falls in love with Pat's sister, only he doesn't know it's Pat's sister. Their romance may be short-lived, however, because Jimmy and Pat can't stand one another.

Cagney and O'Brien made a lot of these types of movies. This was the first and one of the best. Usually Jimmy's the cocky jerk and Pat's the nice guy. That's sort of the case here, too, but I actually found myself liking Cagney more than O'Brien. He's fun and likable, even if he's not always right. Pat, on the other hand, is a sour puss throughout the movie. Gloria Stuart plays O'Brien's sister who Cagney falls in love with. She's very pretty and does a fine job in a part that requires very little. Historically important for being partially filmed on board the USS Arizona, which was destroyed at Pearl Harbor seven years later. Also some footage of the dirigible USS Macon, which crashed the year after this film was released. It's a fun movie that fans of the stars will certainly enjoy. The climax is implausible but exciting. There is a blackface gag that will set some today back on their heels, so be prepared for that.

Cagney was great as a stubborn smart aleck, and that is what the James Cagney had a great manner of getting the girl, whether it be Bette Davis in THE BRIDE CAME C.O.D. (1941) or Gloria Stuart in HERE COMES THE NAVY (1934).

In HERE COMES THE NAVY, Chesty O'Conner (Cagney) joins the navy simply to have a shot at a rematch brawl with naval officer Biff Martin (Pat O'Brien). On board, he wants to take O'Brien's girl who turns out to be his sister (Stuart). He befriends Droopy Mullins, a sidekick type splendidly played by Frank McHugh.

This was a delightful film, a must for fans of Cagney's humor. And for navy buffs who like to note the service between the world wars, as the Department of the Navy is cited as cooperating in this film.

Oh, and my wife reminds me to point out that there is a blimp in this picture. It is dated to that extent, but its themes and comedy are always applicable. (The blackface scene being the notable exception, but as such attitudes were very present in yesterday's Hollywood, we must bit our lips and let them pass. In this film, the actual African American characters look at Cagney in blackface as if he were goofy. They, too, let it pass.)

About half way through the movie you see the U S Pacific fleet (San Diego based at the time in 1934)on Sea Maneuvers out by Santa Catalina Island, California. This is the only motion picture footage of the "Arizona" firing her 14 inch live rounds (She is the first of several Battleships firing from left to right). Footage was taken by the U S S "Macon", Navy Airship at the time. The airship was caught in a storm about a year later very close to where they were filming and fell from the sky. About 250 of the sailors who were aboard the "Arizona" at the time of the film were also on deck December 7, 1941 when the Empire of Japan attacked the ship inside Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Notice the sleeping quarters (hammocks) for the sailors at that time.

I'd heard about this since I was a kid!

The scenes aboard Arizona, the US Pacific battle Fleet at sea!

The plot is lousy but entertaining enough to hold you between those amazing scenes!

Jimmy Cagney is a high metal man who gets into a brawl with Naval Petty Officer Pat O'Brien. In pursuit of his grudge, Cagney joins the Navy, where he is a self-centered guy, but makes friends with Frank McHugh. He also charms Gloria Stuart, who tries to civilize him. She turns out to be O'Brien's sister.

In other words, same old same old when it comes to plot, just the sort of movie that William Haines started in for Metro in the 1920s; Cagney is a low-class guy, although just as cocky as Haines ever was. He's in high-energy mode here, and Naval cooperation gives this one some documentary interest. Cagney, O'Brien and McHugh are assigned to the USS Arizona, and there's ample footage of that ship, now under the waves at Pearl Harbor. Later, Cagney is assigned to the USS Macon, one of the two largest dirigibles commissioned by the Navy. The year after this movie was made, the airship crashed into the Pacific, with the loss of two men.

Although this is pretty much a standard movie, its production values are first-rate, and alloys Bacon gets good performances out of his actors. Arthur Edeson's cinematography and his views of the Macon and her hangar are lovely.