Stand By for Action Is Playing on TCM on July 5 (USA)

Stand by for Action (1943) is playing on Turner Classic Movies on Fri, July 05, 2013 12:30 PM est. Closed captioned.

Aside from the obvious encouragement to enlist this film has a good story line and contains truth, compassion and heroism. Stand By For Action was based on the book Cargo of Innocents, hence the inclusion of the women and babies found in the lifeboat. This is one of my favorite roles for Charles Laughton who is quite believable as a crabby naval officer from the early 20th century. It is also a great role for Robert Taylor who portrays a character entirely lost to Americans of the last 50 years; that is an ivy-league, privileged rich young man forced to learn his experience from real working class men who, as Laughton’s character exclaims “Built the navy”. Walter Brennan appeals to the side of every man who comes to love a ship or car or job for its own sake. Brian Donlevy does an excellent job as the farm boy turned navy captain, and Chill Wills is good as ever as the guy everyone wishes would have been his “Chief”. Youngsters need to see this movie because it reflects well on an America known to their grandparents, and the rest of us should review it once in awhile so as not to forget what we once were. Added plus: a thrilling, realistic sea battle complete with “fog-of-war”. Review by Paul Arnold for the IMDB

About giraffe44

I became a Robert Taylor fan at the age of 15 when his TV show, "The Detectives" premiered. My mother wanted to watch it because she remembered Mr. Taylor from the thirties. I took one look and that was it. I spent the rest of my high school career watching Robert Taylor movies on late night TV, buying photos of him, making scrapbooks and being a typical teenager. College, marriage and career intervened. I remember being sad when Mr. Taylor died. I mailed two huge scrapbooks to Ursula Thiess. I hope she got them. Time passed, retirement, moving to Florida. Then in 2012 my husband Fred pointed that there were two Robert Taylor movies that evening on Turner Classic Movies--"Ivanhoe" and "Quentin Durward." I watched both and it happened all over again. I started this blog both for fans and for people who didn't know about Robert Taylor. As the blog passes 200,000 views I'm delighted that so many people have come by and hope it will help preserve the legacy of this fine actor and equally good man.

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5 Responses to Stand By for Action Is Playing on TCM on July 5 (USA)

SusanaG. says:

July 1, 2013 at 5:39 pm

I’ve always had some mixed feelings about this movie. But over countless viewings, I’ve come to the realization that a rather silly plot and a very solid (male) cast–especially the great Charles Laughton–can really make things going. And, of course, even though there’s no romance here… how couldn’t you love Lieut. Gregg Masterman playing tennis! 😉

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giraffe44 says:

July 2, 2013 at 3:09 pm

It’s kind of two movies in one–a patriotic drama and a kind of silly comedy. It was intended to keep morale up in the early days of World War II. The cast is excellent–Mr. Taylor of course, Laughton, Brennan, Donlevy and the rest. I did love the tennis!

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Becky Parker (@SportingBecky) says:

January 17, 2019 at 7:29 am

Hi giraffe44,

WOW.. glad I found this movie… Watched it last night. It so good! One of the best realistic fighting, war movies, acting. Robert Taylor was so great in this movie..

Becky

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- giraffe44 says:
  
  January 17, 2019 at 8:53 pm
  
  Becky, you should try Bataan, as well. Mr. Taylor is at his least glamorous and most compelling. Judith
  
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  - Becky Parker (@SportingBecky) says:
    
    January 17, 2019 at 11:59 pm
    
    Hi Judith…. been trying to find Bataan online, not able to. I will keep looking.
    
    Becky
    
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