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CERTIFICATION | N/A |
DIRECTOR | Cecil B. DeMille |
ACTOR(S) | Gary Cooper, Laraine Day, Signe Hasso, Dennis O'Keefe, Carol Thurston more.... |
COLOR | Color (Technicolor) |
SOUND | Mono |
ASPECT | 1.37 : 1 |
YEAR | 1944 |
DURATION | 136 mins. |
GENRE | Drama (World War II) |
| 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
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