Mister Roberts

Author	Thomas Heggen
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	War novel
Publisher	Houghton Mifflin
Publication date	1946
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN	NA

Mister Roberts is a novel, a Tony Award–winning play, and a 1955 Academy Award–nominated film. The title character, a naval Lieutenant Junior Grade, stands up for his crew against the petty tyranny of his ship's commanding officer during World War II. The novel was written by Thomas Heggen, who co-wrote the stage play with Joshua Logan, the play's director. Logan wrote the screenplay with Frank S. Nugent. For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A war novel is a novel in which the primary action takes place in a field of armed combat, or in a domestic setting (or home front) where the characters are preoccupied with the preparations for, or recovery from, war. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... i suck for crack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11Houghton Mifflin Company is a leading educational publisher in the United States. ... See also: 1945 in literature, other events of 1946, 1947 in literature, list of years in literature. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... “ISBN” redirects here. ... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... A Lieutenant, Junior Grade, is a division officer in the United States Navy. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Joshua Logan (1908-1988), a director and writer, was best known for Broadway and Hollywood shows such as Mister Roberts, Picnic, and South Pacific. ...

The novel

Heggen based his novel on his experiences aboard the USS Virgo (AKA-20) ([1]) in the South Pacific during World War II. The novel started out as a collection of short stories. Broadway producer Leland Hayward bought the rights to the novel with the aim of producing it as a play and hired Heggen to adapt it. Logan later re-wrote most of the play, in collaboration with Heggen. The play was a well received and a major hit. It won the 1948 Tony Award for Best Play. USS Virgo (AKA-20) was an Andromeda class attack cargo ship named after the constellation Virgo. ... For other uses, see Oceania (disambiguation). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Leland Hayward (September 13, 1902 - March 18, 1971) was a popular, powerful and wealthy Hollywood and Broadway agent and theatrical producer. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Tony Award for Best Play has been awarded since 1947. ...

Nearly all of the action takes place on a backwater cargo ship, the USS Reluctant that sails, as written in the play, "from apathy to tedium with occasional sidetrips to monotony and ennui." Hapag-Lloyd Container ship Container ship A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. ...

The play

The play opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on February 18, 1948. The stage version starred Henry Fonda, David Wayne, Robert Keith and Jocelyn Brando, who replaced Eva Marie Saint before the show opened. Fonda's brother-in-law, William Harrigan, played the Captain. The original production also featured Harvey Lembeck, Ralph Meeker, Steven Hill and Murray Hamilton. Fonda got out of a Hollywood film contract in order to star in the Broadway theatre stage production. Fonda won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. It ran for 1,157 performances. A view of Broadway in 1909 Broadway, as the name implies, is a wide avenue in New York City. ... The Neil Simon Theater, formerly known as the Alvin Theater, is a Broadway theatre located at 250 West 52nd Street in Manhattan, New York City which has produced many notable musicals and plays. ... Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was a highly acclaimed Academy Award-winning American film actor, best known for his roles as plain-speaking idealists. ... David Wayne (January 30, 1914 - February 9, 1995) was a Tony Award-winning American actor with a career spanning nearly half a century. ... Robert Keith (February 10, 1896/8 – December 22, 1966) was an actor who appeared in several dozen films, mostly in the 1950s as a character actor. ... Jocelyn Brando (born November 18, 1919 in San Francisco, California; died November 27, 2005 in Santa Monica, California) was an American character actress with rare film appearances. ... Eva Marie Saint (born July 4, 1924) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... William Harrigan (born 1894, died 1966) was an American actor who played standard roles in Hollywood during the thirties and forties. ... Late nebbishy Jewish sidekick and comedic actor who began acting in 1951 and ended his career in 1982, a few years before he died. ... Meeker as Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly Ralph Meeker (November 21, 1920 - August 5, 1988) was a film actor who appeared as Mike Hammer in Kiss Me Deadly. ... Steven Hill as District Attorney Adam Schiff in Law & Order Steven Hill (born February 24, 1922 in Seattle, Washington as Solomon Krakovsky) is an American film and television actor who was a founding member of Lee Strasbergs Actors Studio. ... Murray Hamilton (March 24, 1923 – September 1, 1986) was an American stage, screen, and television character actor. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ...

Tyrone Power starred in the London company. John Forsythe appeared in a national touring production. Many actors began their career in various productions and touring companies. Fess Parker began his show business career in the play, in 1951. Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. ... John Forsythe (born January 29, 1918 in Penns Grove, New Jersey), is an American stage, television and character actor who starred in three television series that spanned three decades such as single playboy father Bentley Gregg in the 1950s sitcom, Bachelor Father (1957 – 1962), as the unseen millionaire Charles Townsend... Fess Parker (born August 16, 1924) is an American film and television actor. ...

The film

Mister Roberts
Movie poster of 1955's Mister Roberts
Directed by	John Ford Mervyn LeRoy
Produced by	Leland Hayward
Written by	Thomas Heggen (novel, play) Joshua Logan (play, screenplay) Frank S. Nugent
Starring	Henry Fonda James Cagney William Powell Jack Lemmon
Music by	Franz Waxman
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	July 30, 1955
Running time	123 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

The film starred Henry Fonda as the title character. Interestingly, Fonda was not the original choice to star in the film version and was only hired because director John Ford insisted on it; the studio thought Fonda had been on stage and off the screen so long that he was no longer a movie box office draw. Also featured were James Cagney as Captain Morton, William Powell (in his last feature film) as "Doc", Jack Lemmon as Ensign Pulver, Betsy Palmer, Ward Bond, Philip Carey, Nick Adams, Ken Curtis, Harry Carey, Jr. and Martin Milner. The screenplay was written by Joshua Logan and Frank S. Nugent. The movie was directed by John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy and Joshua Logan (uncredited). Ford was replaced by LeRoy after difficulties with Fonda and a gall bladder attack that necessitated emergency surgery. Image File history File links 1955. ... For other persons named John Ford, see John Ford (disambiguation). ... Mervyn LeRoy (October 15, 1900 - September 13, 1987) was an American film director, producer and sometime actor. ... Leland Hayward (September 13, 1902 - March 18, 1971) was a popular, powerful and wealthy Hollywood and Broadway agent and theatrical producer. ... Joshua Logan (1908-1988), a director and writer, was best known for Broadway and Hollywood shows such as Mister Roberts, Picnic, and South Pacific. ... Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was a highly acclaimed Academy Award-winning American film actor, best known for his roles as plain-speaking idealists. ... James Francis Cagney, Jr. ... William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 - March 5, 1984) was an American actor, noted for his sophisticated, cynical roles. ... John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001), better known as Jack Lemmon, was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor and comedian. ... Franz Waxman (December 24, 1906, Königshütte, Upper Silesia (now Chorzów, Poland) - February 24, 1967, Los Angeles, California), born Franz Wachsmann, was a German-born Jewish-American composer, known for his bravura Carmen Fantasy for violin and orchestra and for his musical scores for films. ... “WB” redirects here. ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was a highly acclaimed Academy Award-winning American film actor, best known for his roles as plain-speaking idealists. ... For other persons named John Ford, see John Ford (disambiguation). ... James Francis Cagney, Jr. ... William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 - March 5, 1984) was an American actor, noted for his sophisticated, cynical roles. ... John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001), better known as Jack Lemmon, was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor and comedian. ... Betsy Palmer (born November 1, 1926) is an American actress. ... Ward Bond (April 9, 1903 - November 5, 1960) was an American film actor. ... Phillip Carey, in a still from One Life to Live. ... Nick Adams born Nicholas Aloysius Adamshock (July 10, 1931, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania -- February 7, 1968, Hollywood, California), was an American actor. ... Ken Curtis (born July 2, 1916; died April 29, 1991), Singer-Actor, best known as Festus of Gunsmoke fame. ... Harry Carey, Jr. ... Martin Sam Milner (born December 28, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American actor best known for his performances in two popular television series, Adam-12 and Route 66. ... Joshua Logan (1908-1988), a director and writer, was best known for Broadway and Hollywood shows such as Mister Roberts, Picnic, and South Pacific. ... For other persons named John Ford, see John Ford (disambiguation). ... Mervyn LeRoy (October 15, 1900 - September 13, 1987) was an American film director, producer and sometime actor. ... Joshua Logan (1908-1988), a director and writer, was best known for Broadway and Hollywood shows such as Mister Roberts, Picnic, and South Pacific. ...

The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Sound, Recording Oscars; Jack Lemmon received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film was William Powell's last movie, although he died decades later, in 1984. Powell was offered many chances to return to the screen but refused, apparently believing that 35 years of film acting was enough. // The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Academy Awards, awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which are voted on by others within the industry. ... The Academy Award for Sound Mixing is an Academy Award that recognizes the finest or most aesthetic sound mixing or recording, and is generally awarded to the production sound mixers and re-recording mixers of the winning film. ... John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001), better known as Jack Lemmon, was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor and comedian. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to male actors working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...

Cast

Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was a highly acclaimed Academy Award-winning American film actor, best known for his roles as plain-speaking idealists. ... James Francis Cagney, Jr. ... William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 - March 5, 1984) was an American actor, noted for his sophisticated, cynical roles. ... John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001), better known as Jack Lemmon, was a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor and comedian. ... Betsy Palmer (born November 1, 1926) is an American actress. ... Ward Bond (April 9, 1903 - November 5, 1960) was an American film actor. ... Phillip Carey, in a still from One Life to Live. ... Nick Adams born Nicholas Aloysius Adamshock (July 10, 1931, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania -- February 7, 1968, Hollywood, California), was an American actor. ... Ken Curtis (born July 2, 1916; died April 29, 1991), Singer-Actor, best known as Festus of Gunsmoke fame. ... Harry Carey, Jr. ... Patrick Wayne (born July 15, 1939, in Los Angeles, California), is an American entertainment personality. ... Tige Andrews (March 19, 1920 - January 27, 2007) was a Syrian--American character actor. ... Martin Sam Milner (born December 28, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American actor best known for his performances in two popular television series, Adam-12 and Route 66. ...

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items into other sections and removing inappropriate items. (June 2007)

• Mister Roberts was followed by a film sequel, Ensign Pulver, in 1964, with Robert Walker Jr. taking over the Lemmon role. It also starred Burl Ives as Captain Morton, Walter Matthau, Larry Hagman and Jack Nicholson.

• The auhor of the novel, Thomas Heggen, suffering from depression, committed suicide, in 1949, just a year after the play opened.

• The film was remade for television in 1984 as a live telecast, an extremely rare procedure for that period, and starred Robert Hays, Kevin Bacon, Charles Durning, Marilu Henner, Howard Hesseman, and Joe Pantoliano. The show was directed by Melvin Bernhardt. There was also a short-lived NBC television series in 1965, featuring Roger Smith, Steve Harmon and Richard X. Slattery.

• In his 1982 autobiography, My Life, Henry Fonda stated that (in his opinion) as good as the movie was, the play was even better.

• L. Ron Hubbard claimed (without much evidence) that Mister Roberts was based on him and his career aboard the combat support ship USS Algol. However, Hubbard never served aboard Algol in a combat area, transferring to shore duty before it sailed for Okinawa. (Another possible source for Mister Roberts is Mack McKinnie, who was a big band musician before the war and served as a naval officer in the Pacific.)

• The vessel which played the role of USS RELUCTANT (or "the Bucket") in the movie was in fact a light cargo vessel or AKL which was not even a USN vessel at all in WWII. It was actually a US Army FS class cargo vessel several of which were transferred to the Navy after WWII ended. As it was , an AKL carried a much smaller crew that the USS VIRGO which Thomas Heggen served on during the war. In the movie, Mr. Roberts says to Doc that there are "65 men" aboard which would have been far too many for an AKL. Also, the crew when going below to their berthing compartment are shown in the movie to be descending into the cargo hold. It is also reported that the USN AKL that was used to film the exterior scenes in the movie was the USS HEWELL (AKL-14)

• A surviving WWII crew member of the USS Virgo said that Virgo crew member and novel writer Thomas Heggen himself was psychologically a combination of Ensign Pulver and Lt.(jg) Roberts.

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Ensign Pulver is a 1964 American film and a sequel to the 1955 film Mister Roberts . ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Robert Walker, Jr. ... Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (14 June 1909 – 14 April 1995), an Academy Award winner, was an acclaimed American folk music singer, author, and actor. ... Walter Matthau (October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an Academy Award-winning American comedy actor best-known for his role as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple and his frequent collaborations with fellow Odd Couple star Jack Lemmon. ... Larry Hagman (born on September 21, 1931) is a popular American actor who is famous for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony Nelson on the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. ... Nicholson as Wilbur Force in The Little Shop of Horrors (1960). ... For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Robert Hays (born July 24, 1947), is an American actor, he is best known for his role in the 1980 movie Airplane! and in the 1982 sequel Airplane II: The Sequel as Ted Striker. ... Kevin Norwood Bacon[1] (born July 8, 1958) is an American film and theater actor who has starred in Footloose, Animal House, Stir of Echoes, Wild Things, JFK, and Apollo 13, among many others. ... Charles Durning Charles Durning (born February 28, 1923 in Highland Falls, New York) is an American actor of stage and screen, born to an impoverished Irish American Catholic family, which he left as soon as possible to ease the financial pressure on his mother. ... Marilu Henner (born April 6, 1952) is an American actress and producer. ... Howard Hesseman Howard Hesseman (born February 27, 1940 in Lebanon, Oregon) is an American actor. ... Joseph Peter Joe Pantoliano (born September 12, 1951) is an American actor. ... The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... Roger Smith from The Big O. Roger Smith is the main character in the anime television series and the manga, The Big O. He is Paradigm Citys top negotiator, and lives in the Illegal Residential Sector in a former bank with his butler Norman Burg and R. Dorothy Wayneright. ... Richard X. Slattery (1925-1997) was a character actor in film and television for many years. ... Lafayette Ronald Hubbard (March 13, 1911 – January 24, 1986), better known as L. Ron Hubbard, was an American pulp fiction writer,[2][3][4] creator of Dianetics, and founder of the Church of Scientology. ... Several ships of United States Navy were named USS Algol: USS Algol (AKA-54) USS Algol (T-AKR-287) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article is about the prefecture. ... A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. ...

External links

• Mister Roberts at the Internet Movie Database (film)
• Mister Roberts at the Internet Movie Database (TV show - 1965)
• Mister Roberts at the Internet Broadway Database