In Harm's Way (1965)

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. Navy captain (John Wayne) is removed from command for not following procedure when he went after a Japanese vessel. Also, a Navy commander (Kirk Douglas) is demoted for getting into a drunken brawl. But soon, they'll both get a chance to redeem themselves as the war in the Pacific begins to heat up. Based on the best selling novel by James Bassett, director Otto Preminger's ambitious WWII epic (it pushes the three hour mark) is well made and well acted but it tries to cram too much into its narrative and the film suffers because of it. Notably the Paula Prentiss and Tom Tryon story line which seems to have been cut to the point that their story seems extraneous to the rest of the film. Jettisoning their story would have cut 20 minutes out of the movie and some of the battle scenes are somewhat confusing (as in what's going on?). The film eschews jingoism and shows a warts and all Navy and its characters flawed rather than typical All-American heroes. The crisp Oscar nominated B&W wide screen lensing is by Loyal Griggs (SHANE) and there's a topnotch score by Jerry Goldsmith. The massive cast includes Patricia Neal (very good though her BAFTA best actress win for work here seems inexplicable), Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, Brandon De Wilde, Burgess Meredith, Franchot Tone, Hugh O'Brian, Jill Haworth, George Kennedy, Carroll O'Connor, Larry Hagman, Patrick O'Neal, Stanley Holloway, Bruce Cabot and Barbara Bouchet.