During World War II, the Japanese Navy cripples the U.S. cruiser Marblehead on the Java Sea. The Marblehead crew keeps the ship afloat for two days until they reach the port at Jilatjap, Java, where they are met by a Dutch hospital train commanded by former Arkansas country doctor, Navy Lieutenant Commander Dr. Corydon M. Wassell. The wounded are then taken to a hospital deep in the jungle. While Wassell treats sailor "Hoppy" Hopkins, Javanese nurse Tremartini donates her blood to save his life, and feels that she now has a permanent bond with him. In order to distract Hoppy from his pain, Wassell tells him about how a medical journal photograph of a beautiful American nurse named Madeline, who was working in China, inspired him to leave Arkansas to work as a missionary. Just after Wassell learns that thousands of Japanese soldiers have landed on Java, the hospital is hit during an air attack. Those patients able to walk take shelter in a cellar, while the immobile are placed underneath their beds. During the raid, Ping, a Chinese soldier, continues Wassell's story: When Wassell finally arrives in China and meets Madeline, they fall in love. Wassell searches for a cure to a devastating disease that claims the lives of thousands of Chinese. Wassell theorizes that the disease is carried by snails, but is unable to identify the specific snail genus. Wassell is disappointed when the hospital's board of directors names Dr. Ralph Wayne, a missionary and Wassell's rival for Madeline, as the new head of research and sends Wassell to a remote jungle outpost. A bomb blast cuts short Ping's story, and he dies when a falling beam pierces his chest. Wassell soon gets evacuation orders, but only the walking wounded are to be shipped off; the rest must remain in the jungle. Reluctant to tell the men his mixed news, Wassell mobilizes everyone and takes them to Jilatjap, but the captain of the departing ship Pecos refuses to allow the bedridden soldiers aboard, as he anticipates an enemy attack. Realizing that his debilitated men face certain death if left behind, Wassell insists on remaining with them, and thereby becomes the only high ranking American officer left on the island. With the help of Johnny, an able-bodied soldier who missed the boat, and Javanese helpers, the small troop returns to their jungle hospital, but are forced to take shelter in the cellar during a raid. Bill, a wounded officer from the Marblehead , asks Wassell to finish Ping's story: After he is sent to the jungle outpost, Wassell continues his research and finally identifies a specific genus of snail that carries the disease. Exultant, Wassell plans to propose to Madeline, but refrains from doing so when he gets a telegram informing him that Dr. Wayne has also discovered the source of the disease, and is being hailed a hero. Knowing that Wayne also wants to marry Madeline, Wassell gives up both his work and her. Back in the jungle, Wassell's prayers are answered by the arrival of a convoy of British trucks. The British commander lends Wassell a truck for his wounded and arranges to meet him at Java harbor, where a ship is leaving for Australia. Hoppy and Tremartini ride in a separate truck, which careens over the side of the road after a bomb blast. Wassell is unable to find them, and they are left to fend for themselves. Wassell and his men catch up to the British troops only to learn that all the transport ships except for the Janssen , have been sunk. The British troops remain in the jungle to fight the Japanese, while Wassell and his men return to Jilatjap to meet the Janssen . By the time they arrive at night, the Janssen has already set sail, but a lightning flash reveals that it is still in the harbor, and Wassell desperately puts his men in a boat and sails it alongside the ship. Despite the captain's orders against bringing wounded men on board, Wassell sneaks them on deck. Seeing he has no choice, the captain moves the wounded men below deck. Wassell is surprised to find Wayne aboard, and to learn that he is joined by his wife. The next day, as the crew learns that the Pecos was sunk in Java harbor, the Janssen engines suddenly go silent as Japanese bombers begin to strafe the ship. Wayne is wounded in the attack, and when Wassell sends for his wife, he discovers that she is not Madeline, who had shipped out on the Pecos . The Janssen is saved by a formation of "Flying Fortress" bombers, who defend it against further attack. In Australia, Wassell expects to be court-martialed for disobeying orders, but instead is commended by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a radio broadcast in which he praises Wassell's efforts to keep his men alive. The survivors of the Pecos include Madeline, and she is present when Wassell is awarded the Navy's highest honor, the Navy Cross.

Director:
Cecil B. DeMille	Director
Edward Salven	Assistant Director
Oscar Rudolph	Assistant Director
Arthur Rosson	2nd Unit Director
Harry Caplan	2d unit asst dir
Danny McCauley	2d unit asst dir
Martin Santell	2d unit asst dir
Edwin Maxwell	Dial supv
Arthur Pierson	Dialogue Director
Cast:
Gary Cooper	as Dr. Corydon M. Wassell
Laraine Day	as Madeline
Signe Hasso	as Bettina
Dennis O'Keefe	as "Hoppy" Hopkins
Carol Thurston	as Tremartini
Carl Esmond	as Lieutenant Dirk van Daal
Paul Kelly	as Murdock
Elliott Reid	as Andy Anderson
Stanley Ridges	as Commander Bill Goggins
Renny McEvoy	as Johnny
Oliver Thorndike	as Alabam
Philip Ahn	as Ping
Barbara Britton	as Ruth
Melvin Francis	as Francis
Joel Allen	as Kraus
James Millican	as Whaley
Mike Kilian	as Borghetti
Doodles Weaver	as Hunter
Lester Mathews	as Dr. Ralph Wayne
Ludwig Donath	as Dr. Vranken
Richard Loo	as Dr. Wei
Davison Clark	as Dr. Holmes
Richard Nugent	as Captain Carruthers
Morton Lowry	as Lieutenant Bainbridge
George Macready	as Captain Balen
Victor Varconi	as Captain Ryk
Edward Fielding	as Admiral Hart
Harvey Stephens	as Captain in charge of evacuation
Frank Wilcox	as Captain's aide in evacuation
Minor Watson	as Rear Admiral, Australia
Edmund MacDonald	as Rear Admiral's aide
William Severn	as Little English boy
Edith Barrett	as Mother of little English boy
Catherine Craig	as Mrs. Wayne
Frank Puglia	as Javanese temple guide
Si Jenks	as Arkansas mail carrier
Irving Bacon	as Missionary
Ottola Nesmith	as Missionary's wife
Sybil Merritt	as Javanese girl
Maria Loredo	as Fat Javanese girl
Loretta Luiz	as Pretty Javanese girl
Luke Chan	as Chinese boatman
Oie Chan	as Chinese boatman's wife
Yu Feng Sung	as Chinese priest
Moy Ming	as Chinese tea vendor
Hugh Beaumont	as Admiral Hart's aide in Surabaya
Roy Gordon	as Commander USN, Surabaya
Ferdinand Schumann-Heink	as Ensign watch office USN, Surabaya
Charles Trowbridge	as Captain USN, Surabaya
Gus Glassmire	as Captain USN, Surabaya
Joe Gilbert	as Telegraph operator USN, Surabaya
Albert Ruiz	as Radio operator USN, Surabaya
Edward Earle	as Officer USN, Surabaya
Allen Ray	as Officer USN, Surabaya
Elliott Sullivan	as Officer USN
Isabel Cooper	as Little sergeant
Jody Gilbert	as Boilermaker
Linda Brent	as Fashta
Olga Maria Thunis	as Dutch nurse
Hugh Prosser	as Bosun's mate
Anthony Caruso	as Pharmacist's mate
Chuck Hamilton	as Stretcher bearer
Sven-Hugo Borg	as Dutch guard
Bruce Warren	as Chief petty officer
Louis Jean Heydt	as Ensign
Frank Lackteen	as Japanese conductor
Dave Scott	as Civilian
Larry Lawson	as Civilian
Forrest Taylor	as Civilian
Doris Lilly	as Civilian
Warren Ashe	as Loading lieutenant, evacuation
George Lynn	as Lieutenant Smith, evacuation
Fred Kohler Jr.	as Bosun's mate, evacuation
Larry Thompson	as Paymaster "Moffat," evacuation
Louis Borell	as Dutch sergeant, evacuation
Daniel de Jonghe	as Dutch civilian, evacuation
Sam Flint	as Dr. Holmes' board member
Lloyd Whitlock	as Dr. Holmes' board member
J. W. Johnston	as Dr. Holmes' board member
Cyril Ring	as Dr. Holmes' board member
Patrick O'Moore	as Hoppy's driver
Jack Luden	as Captain Carruthers' driver
Donald Stuart	as Cockney soldier
George Eldridge	as Damage control officer USN, battle
Forbes Murray	as Captain USN, Australia
Paul McVey	as Commander USN, Australia
Frank Mayo	as Commander USN, Australia
Thomas Quinn	as Lieutenant commander USN, Australia
Oliver Follansbee	as Lieutenant commander USN, Australia
Ralph Linn	as Lieutenant s.g. USN, Australia
Roy Darmour	as Lieutenant j.g. USN, Australia
Glen Stephens	as Lieutenant j.g. USN, Australia
Henry Victor	as Mate of the Janssens
Carl Neubert	as Mate of the Janssens
Louis Arco	as Mate of the Janssens
Gavin Muir	as Mate of the Janssens
Richard Abbott	as Dutch petty officer of the Janssens
Will Thunis	as Dutch radio operator of the Janssens
Ivan Triesault	as Pharmacist's mate of the Janssens
Frederick Brunn	as Lookout of the Janssens
Philip Van Zandt	as Dutch gunner
Frederick Giermann	as Dutch gunner
Tony Paton	as Steward of the Janssens
Angel Cruz	as Javanese steward of the Janssens
Leota Lorraine	as White-haired Dutch woman
Mary Currier	as English woman
John Mylong	as Joyful passenger
Arthur Loft	as Dutchman
Rudolph Anders	as Wounded Dutch seaman
Gordon Richards	as Englishman
Walter Fenner	as Dutch diplomat
Gretl Dupont	as Dutch diplomat's wife
Grace Lem	as Chinese passenger
Hooper Atchley	as Passenger
Ronnie Rondell	as Passenger
Ann Doran	as Praying woman
Stanley Price	as Sobbing man
Kenneth Gibson	as Man who flicks hat brim
Maxine Fife	as Evacuee
Ameda Lambert	as Evacuee
Carla Boehm	as Evacuee
Phyllis Perry	as Evacuee
Marion de Sydow	as Evacuee
Betty Alden	as Other woman in lifeboat
Fred Nurney	as Dutch lieutenant colonel, bivouac
Lane Chandler	as Dutch lieutenant colonel, bivouac
Boyd Irwin	as British major
John Meredith	as British radio officer
Julia Faye	as Anne, Dutch nurse
Mildred Harris	as Dutch nurse
Greta Granstedt	as Dutch nurse
June Kilgour	as Dutch nurse
Beth Hartman	as Dutch nurse
Gloria Dea	as Javanese nurse
Forrest Dickson	as Javanese nurse
Geraldine Fisette	as Javanese nurse
Eric Alden	as U.S. sailor
Richard Barrett	as U.S. sailor
John Benson	as U.S. sailor
Carlyle Blackwell	as U.S. sailor
John Bogden	as U.S. sailor
George Bronson	as U.S. sailor
Edgar Caldwell	as U.S. sailor
Tony Cirillo	as U.S. sailor
James Cornell	as U.S. sailor
Clint Dorrington	as U.S. sailor
James Courtney	as U.S. sailor
Renald DuPont	as U.S. sailor
Edward Howard	as U.S. sailor
Henry Kraft	as U.S. sailor
Buddy Messinger	as U.S. sailor
Harlan Miller	as U.S. sailor
Alexander McSweyn	as U.S. sailor
Malcomb Smith	as U.S. sailor
Harry Templeton	as U.S. sailor
William P. Wilkerson	as U.S. sailor
Robert Wilbur	as U.S. sailor
Joe Bautista	as Javanese orderly
Joe Dominguez	as Javanese orderly
Roque Espiritu	as Javanese orderly
Rodric Redwing	as Javanese orderly
Frank Elliott	as English doctor
Russ Clark	as Chief petty officer, Marblehead
Griff Barnett	as Janssens passenger
Isabelle LaMal	as Janssens passenger
Frances Morris	as Janssens passenger
Cecil Weston	as Janssens passenger
Hazel Keener	as Janssens passenger
Milton Kibbee	as Janssens passenger
Sam Flint	as Janssens passenger
William Hall	as Navigator
John James	as Mechanic
William Challee	as Radio man
George Magrill	as Sailor
Rita Gould	as Mother
William Forrest	as Civilian
Mike Lally	as Civilian
Jack Norton	as Passenger in companionway
Sarah Edwards	as Passenger in companionway
Cinematography:
Victor Milner	Director of Photography
William Snyder	Director of Photography
Glen E. Richardson	Stills
Paul Perry	2d unit 2d cam
Lothrop Worth	2d unit 2d cam
George Lancaster	2d unit asst cam
Edward Movius	2d unit asst cam
Fred Deiterich	2d unit asst cam
Robert King	2d unit Technicolor asst cam
Writer:
Alan LeMay	Screenwriter
Charles Bennett	Screenwriter
Jeanie MacPherson	Contr to trt
James Hilton	Contract Writer
Producer:
B. G. DeSylva	Executive Producer
Cecil B. DeMille	Producer
Sidney Biddell	Associate Producer
Editing:
Anne Bauchens	Editing
Music:
Victor Young	Music Score
Dance:
Jack Crosby	Dance supv
Art Director:
Hans Dreier	Art Director
Roland Anderson	Art Director
W. Teal	Head tech des
Joseph Sternad	Tech des
A. Thunberg	Tech des
L. Simmel Jr.	Tech des
William Flannery	2d unit art dir
Visual Effects:
Gordon Jennings	Special Photography Effects
Farciot Edouart	Process Photography
Wallace Kelley	Process Photography
George Dutton	Special Effects
Wallace Kelley	Process Photography
Loyal Griggs	2d unit transparencies
Make-Up:
Wally Westmore	Makeup Supervisor
Max Asher	2d unit makeup
Costume-Wardrobe:
Natalie Visart	Costumes
Elois Jenssen	Ward sketch artist
Richard Bachler	2d unit ward
Harriet Altland	2d unit ward
John Morris Foster	2d unit ward
Art Department:
George Sawley	Set Decoration
Henry Bumstead	Set Design
A. Lowenthall	Set Design
E. Osborne	Set Design
Dan Sayre Groesbeck	Scenic painter
Joseph Thompson	Props
Carl Coleman	Props
Sound:
Hugo Grenzbach	Sound Recording
John Cope	Sound Recording
Film Production - Main:
Lt. Comdr. H. D. Smith United States Navy (Ret.)	Tech supv
Capt. Fred F. Ellis B.M.M. (Ret.)	Tech supv
Jelte Dirk Wiersma	Dutch tech adv
General Eugene L. Eubank	Technical Advisor
Joe Dominguez	2d unit tech adv
Elsie Peacock	Tech adv, nurses
B. Cecelia Smukler M.D.	Medical tech adv
J. Howard Payne M.D.	Medical tech adv
Wei F. Hsueh	Tech adv for Chinese seq
Curtis Mick	Bus mgr
Frank Caffey	Unit Manager
C. K. DeLand	2d unit asst prod mgr
Marian Crist	Research dir
Andy Durkus	2d unit head grip
Post Production:
Robert Brower	Associate (Color)
Leonard Doss	2d unit Technicolor col dir
Wilfrid M. Cline	2d unit Technicolor tech
Robert King	2d unit Technicolor asst cam
Misc. Crew:
George H. Blandord	Double for Edmund MacDonald
Nacio Herb Brown Jr.	Double for Gary Cooper
Harry Lucenay	Double for Minor Watson
Billie Lee	Double for Laraine Day
Kenneth Ray	Double for Stanley Ridges
James Dundee	Stunts

The film's title card reads: "Gary Cooper in Cecil B. DeMille's The Story of Dr. Wassell." Opening credits also include the following acknowledgment: "Based upon the story by Commander Corydon M. Wassell, USN (MC), as related by him and fifteen of the wounded sailors involved...and also upon the story by James Hilton." In his autobiography, Cecil B. DeMille noted that he closed the film with a statement informing the audience that Benjamin Hopkins, on whom the character "Hoppy" was based, survived the war. This epilogue was not seen in the viewed print, however.
       According to DeMille's autobiography and other published contemporary accounts, Paramount was inspired to make this film after President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a April 28, 1942 radio broadcast, in which he detailed Wassell's heroic deed. A portion of Roosevelt's speech reads as follows: "[Wassell] was a missionary, well known for his good works in China....he entered the service of his country and was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy. Dr. Wassell was assigned to duty in Java, caring for wounded officers and men of the cruisers Houston and Marblehead, which had been in heavy action in the Java Seas. When the Japanese advanced across the island, it was decided to evacuate as many as possible of the wounded to Australia. But about twelve of the men were so badly wounded that they could not be moved. Dr. Wassell remained with these men, knowing that he would be captured by the enemy. But he decided to make a desperate attempt to get the men out of Java....He first had to get the twelve men to the sea coast-fifty miles away....The men were suffering severely, but Dr. Wassell kept them alive by his skill, and inspired them by his own courage....On the seacoast, he embarked the men on a little Dutch ship. They were bombed and machine-gunned by waves of Japanese planes. A few days later Dr. Wassell and his little flock of wounded men reached Australia safely..." A New York Times article and DeMille's autobiography both noted that Paramount commissioned author James Hilton to write a book about Wassell, on which the film would later be based. The published book was also used as a treatment for the screenplay.
       Material in the Paramount Collection at the AMPAS Library reveals the following information about the production: In an unusual arrangement with Paramount, Cecil B. DeMille was not paid for his work as producer/director on this film. Although Dr. Corydon Wassell is not listed as a technical advisor onscreen, Paramount paid for him to live in Los Angeles between October 1942 and October 1943, and noted in a memo that the studio's "arrangement with the Navy and Dr. Wassell is that he will be available to us as long as we want to keep him in connection with the...production." According to Hollywood Reporter, Wassell was to appear in a mob scene in the picture. Albert Dekker was initially cast in the film, but withdrew because he felt the part was unsuitable for him. Various scenes were shot at the following locations: Metapa, Tapachula and other Mexican locations; Placerita Canyon and San Diego, CA; Pyote and Victoria, TX; and Florida. According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, background shots were taken in Mexico City.
       Hollywood Reporter news items add the following about the production: The role of Wassell was initially offered to Joel McCrea. Lynne Overman was cast as "Commander Bill Goggins," but died before production began, and was replaced by Stanley Ridges. Actors Alan Ladd, Robert Preston, Henry Wilcoxon and Bruce Lester were cast in the film at various points, but withdrew after being called into military service. Dennis O'Keefe replaced Preston and Ladd as "Hoppy," and Henry Wilcoxon was first cast as "Dr. Ralph Wayne." Others considered for the role of Hoppy were Richard Whorf, James Brown, Dana Andrews, Walter Reed, Barry Sullivan, Michael O'Shea and Alan Baxter. Veronica Lake, Elena Verdugo, Yvonne de Carlo and Simone Simon were tested for the role of "Tremartini," and Maureen O'Hara, Marjorie Reynolds, Ruth Hussey and Pamela Blake were considered for the role of "Madeline." Eighteen-year-old Melvin Francis, who was among the wounded men rescued by Wassell, appears as himself in the film. Cecil B. DeMille's son Richard was slated for a small part in the film; however, he was inducted into the Army and therefore does not appear in the film. Laraine Day and Signe Hasso were borrowed from M-G-M. A news item noted that DeMille was considering using a plot device featuring "gremlins." The War Production Board approved a $206,908 budget for sets for the film, well above the $5,000 limit previously established for all films made during wartime. Paramount built a replica of the Dutch ship Janssens based on blueprints and photographs of the original ship. Five percent of the film's gross earnings were donated to the Navy Relief Society as part of Paramount's agreement with the Navy. In addition, the proceeds of the premieres were donated to the Naval Aid Auxiliary. Gary Cooper and Carol Thurston reprised their roles in a Lux Radio Theatre broadcast on 23 October 1944.
       Although some critics hailed The Story of Dr. Wassell as a great film, others were critical of DeMille's presentation of Wassell's story. Bosley Crowther in his New York Times review of the picture echoed the sentiments of many when he noted that the film was "a hopped-up melodrama about a young and romantically disposed doc who shepherds a group of wounded out of Java under the most fantastic circumstances imaginable. True, such a thing did happen. But not this way, we'll bet a hat!...The public...is vastly aware of the realities, the mammoth ordeals of this war....So it is not in the least surprising that folks should start in resentful shock when DeMille (or anyone) shows them hoopla warfare in a Technicolor blaze." Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings and George Dutton were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Special Effects for their work on the film. The film was voted one of The Film Daily Ten Best Pictures of 1944.

Released in United States May 14, 1996

Released in United States on Video May 14, 1996

c Technicolor

Released in United States May 14, 1996

Released in United States on Video May 14, 1996

Based on the book Story of Dr. Wassell by James Hilton (Boston, 1943).

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