Monday, September 2, 2019

THE WORLD WAR II BLOGATHON: Corvette K-225 (1943)


This article is for The World War II Blogathon hosted by Jay of Cinema Essentials and Maddy Loves Her Classic Films running on September 1-3. Day 1, Day 2,  Day 3


Forward -

This is the story of a Corvette, a little ship, a fighting ship, and of the officers and men of the Royal Canadian Navy, who have made the name Corvette a byword for endurance and sacrifice among the submarine lanes of the North Atlantic....

Without the active cooperation of the men and ships of the Royal Canadian Navy this story could not have been told.

The search for wartime material saw Hollywood's eyes turn northward to Canada for inspiration. Corvette K-225 was filmed and released in 1943 produced by Howard Hawks with his frequent director/collaborator Richard Rosson for Universal Studios. The British ships, several of whom were built in Canada were used as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the Atlantic by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and on a lend-lease program to the American Coast Guard.


The story in Corvette K-225 concerns the exploits of the Donnacona, her captain and crew. The screenplay is by John Rhodes Sturdy, Lieut. R.C.N.V.R. who also acted as Technical Advisor. The HMS Kitchener was used for the film's ship. Camera crews accompanied five convoys for film footage. Shipyards in St. John, New Brunswick and the University of King's College in Halifax are also used for authenticity in the backgrounds. The shots of the convoy leaving Halifax Harbour are particularly impressive.

Randolph Scott plays the Captain, Lieut. Commander Duncan MacClain, devoted to his service and to his men. He is anxious to get back into action with a new ship after a disastrous run-in with a German submarine. There is a score to settle and a job to do. Equally devoted to their captain is the remaining crew which will be augmented on their next assignment by newly-minted officers and rookies who have never seen the sea. It is a cliche of war pictures because it was a fact of the actual circumstances that these disparate personalities would learn to pull together.

Fuzzy Knight, James Flavin

James Brown is the hot-headed young lieutenant whose brother was killed under MacClain's command. David Bruce is outstanding as Lt. Rawlins, whose knowledge and personality creates a character worth knowing. James Flavin is the perfect "Number One" who knows when the Captain needs to hear what others might not say. The Chief Engineer, who holds the ship together with wire and spit, is Charles McGraw.

Among the colourful crew we find garrulous Barry Fitzgerald, smart-alec Walter Sande, dog lover Fuzzy Knight, contentious pals Murray Alper and Andy Devine, farmboy Noah Beery Jr., and a fussy Thomas Gomez. Many familiar faces pass in review, so keep your eyes peeled for Bob Mitchum, Jimmie Dodd, Frank Faylen, Milburn Stone, Richard Lane, Grandon Rhodes, Addison Richards, Peter Lawford, and Ian Wolfe.

Ella Raines, Randolph Scott

Ella Raines makes her film debut as Joyce Cartwright, the sister of two of the young officers who serve with MacClain. Their meeting is complicated by one brother's death and complicated by her other brother's attitude. Nonetheless, a touching romance develops. It is the thankless role of "the girl", but Raines related in an interview that Hawks took great care with her and made her comfortable. If nothing else, it is a lovely introduction to audiences of an actress with a very interesting career. In 1949 Ella Raines would again co-star with Scott in The Walking Hills directed by John Sturges.

The importance of military and other supplies getting to Britain during this period cannot be overly stressed. The bravery of the tankers and other international ships transporting the goods is acknowledged. It is an interesting point that the captain of a Russian freighter is female. The dangers presented by the German U-boat was very real and presented as such during the sequences at sea. We experience the constant stress, the deprivations, and the life and death danger as our Donnacona faces storms of the sea and of the mind.

Barry Fitzgerald, Randolph Scott, James Brown

The action sequences are harrowing and very well done. The ending of this assignment is movingly presented as the convoy salutes the wrecked Donnacona and her depleted crew. The commander and men of Corvette K-225 are touched, but already thinking of repairs and escorting more ships across the Atlantic.

Afterward -

She will carry on, and those who come after her, for her name is legion, and the legend of her, and of those who fight in her is an inspiration for all men who believe in courage and hope.


Trivia:

The movie's advertisement in British Columbia, the birthplace of Randolph Scott's character.

The film premiered in Ottawa with proceeds going to the Navy League of Canada.



The tune you will begin to recognize interpolated in the score is The Maple Leaf Forever, a patriotic song written by Alexander Muir in 1867 as an ode to Canada's British heritage. Hollywood musical arrangers would rely on the tune whenever a story, particularly a wartime story, traveled north of the border. You'll soon be able to recognize it in Tomorrow is Forever, Captain of the Clouds, Susannah of the Mounties, and other movies.












19 comments:

  1. I have not seen CORVETTE K-225, but it sounds like a worthy addition to the list of quality patriotic films made during the war. The name in the cast that jumped out at me was David Bruce. I remember him best from THE MAD GHOUL, an above-average "B" horror movie he made the same year. He played the unfortunate title character.

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    1. I feel that with his obvious talent, David Bruce deserved a different career but would hate to be deprived of my October viewings of The Mad Ghoul. A rare and fine lead is in Lady on a Train, and I look forward to his roles in The Sea Hawk, Adventures of Don Juan, and The Smiling Ghost. I believe he will impress you in this Hawks' picture.

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  2. This sounds like an interesting film with an intriguing cast. Canada is very under-represented in WWII films generally, so it's nice to know that Hollywood remembered the Canadians at least once. And I wasn't familiar with The Maple Leaf Forever, but film scores of this time were always using bits of musical shorthand like that. It's one I'll have to listen out for.

    Thanks so much for bringing this to the blogathon.

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    1. Thank you. It was my pleasure to revisit and write about this movie for the blogathon. I found the movie better than remembered. That is always a treat.

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  3. First up I gotta say I love your opening title tagline. Has to be the best one out there! "Faster than a speeding scooter! Able to leap tall dust bunnies in a single bound! Cozily clad film fan with a blog" just brilliant :)

    Corvette K-225 sounds really good to me. I need to set my sonar to hunt that down. Apart from westerns I haven't seen Randolph Scott not saddled on a horse! Always good to see our Canadian friends in film. Hope to see it soon.
    All the best
    Mikey

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    1. Thanks a lot! You made my day. I chuckled to myself for days when I came up with the tagline.

      Randy looks good in uniform and handles the role quite well. The Southern Gent accent may not completely go with a British Columbia sailor, but ... Hollywood. And they treated Canada with respect. Much appreciated.

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  4. I've yet to see this film, but how can you go wrong with Randolph Scott and Howard Hawks?

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    1. You can't go wrong. Scott and Hawks, two fellows who knew their business.

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  5. AMANDA MCBROOM is the daughter of DAVID BRUCE. She is an actress, singer and songwriter. I remember her from the GUNSMOKE ep BRIDES AND GROOMS with HARRY MORGAN. She took over the role that KAREN GRASSLE had played in the ep THE WIVING. Also MISS MCBROOM won a GOLDEN GLOBE for writing the song THE ROSE.

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    1. Amanda McBroom is someone I have not thought of in a long time. Thank you for the information. It is very quirky how that ties into this movie. I had no idea! Thanks.

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  6. Well, I feel like an unpatriotic Canadian for not having seen – or even heard of – this film. But your review made me swell with pride to see this Canadian contribution honoured in film.

    Plus, Randolph Scott! No need to say more.

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    1. It is indeed a point of pride to see the respect given the Canadian Navy, and to have Randolph Scott as its main representative. I'm so pleased to have been able to introduce you to this wartime rouser from Hawks. I think you will really like it.

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  7. I thought I was pretty well acquainted with Hawks' movies, but I have literally never heard of this one. That's one reason (among many!) why I enjoy your blog -- your highlighting lesser-known films that should be noticed. This one sounds interesting, especially for Ella Raines, of whom I'm a big fan; as you note, she had an interesting career. She was herself an interesting actress, who didn't hew to the expected choices in her performances. So she's another reason to watch the film - thanks!

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    1. Thank you so much. The feeling is most definitely mutual. I love the discoveries you have led me to.

      A perhaps inauspicious debut for our Ella, but surrounded by pros and showing audiences that here was a different personality worth remembering.

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  8. Paddy you have done it again! You have made me add yet another title to my ever growing to watch list LOL. Great review. This sounds like a very good film with a cracking cast. Thank you so much for joining us for this blogathon. Apologies for not replying sooner, but I've not been well and haven't been up to checking the blog out much.

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    1. Maddy, it was my pleasure. Thanks for always coming up with blogathon themes that inspire.

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  9. BOB MITCHUM! I think I read one time that the studio put him in 12 movies his first year. ANDY DEVINE! His name turns up quite often too.

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    1. Very busy actors. It is such fun to see young Bob Mitchum before his stardom. Andy Devine always makes me think of my childhood and fond memories of Wild Bill Hickok.

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