Mister Roberts

Towards the end of World War II, the crew of a small cargo ship is restless and bored. Lieutenant Roberts longs for a chance to confront the enemy, submitting countless transfer requests, all denied. Meanwhile, his best friend is preoccupied with women. Both despise their tough, nervous commander, who runs the ship through the public address system. When shore leave becomes possible, the commander denies it. Only after Roberts abandons his transfer requests does the commander lift the ban. A disastrous shore party leads to a quarrel between the officers, but Roberts finally receives his transfer and heads out to sea. Initially directed by John Ford, who fell ill during production, the film was completed by Mervyn LeRoy. It remains a witty, sharp comedy with standout performances from Cagney, Fonda, and Lemmon, whose portrayal earned him his first Oscar. The film also playfully explores masculinity, a theme that often preoccupied Ford.