High Barbaree (film)

Last updated
High Barbaree
High Barbaree FilmPoster.jpeg
Directed by Jack Conway
Written by Anne Morrison Chapin
Whitfield Cook
Cyril Hume
Based onHigh Barbaree
1945 novel
by Charles Nordhoff
James Norman Hall
Produced by Everett Riskin
Starring Van Johnson
June Allyson
CinematographySidney Wagner
Edited by Conrad A. Nervig
Music by Herbert Stothart
Production
company
Distributed by Loew's Inc.
Release date
  • May 1947 (1947-05)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,173,000 [1]
Box office$3,083,000 [1]

High Barbaree (aka Enchanted Island) is a 1947 American drama war film directed by Jack Conway. It stars Van Johnson and June Allyson, in the third of their six screen pairings. The screenplay based on the novel High Barbaree (1945) by authors Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. [2]

Contents

Plot

In Hawaii, during World War II, U.S. Navy pilot Alec Brooke (Van Johnson) commands a flying boat, named the "High Barbaree". During a bombing mission against a Japanese submarine, his PBY Catalina is shot down with all but one of his crew killed, but still able to stay afloat, adrift far from Allied territory. While the crippled aircraft is slowly floating, the two survivors hear the voice of "Tokyo Rose" (Audrey Totter) invoking memories of their past. Alec shares a series of recollections with fellow survivor, Lt. Joe Moore (Cameron Mitchell). His memories concern his boyhood sweetheart in a small Iowa town, Nancy Fraser (June Allyson), now a Navy nurse serving on a ship in the Pacific theater, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Thad Vail (Thomas Mitchell).

Alec and Moore now convert the flying boat into a sailboat by lashing up parachutes as a sail, and head for High Barbaree, a mythical island that his uncle claimed to have once seen in fact. As water supplies dwindle and both men begin to succumb to the conditions, Alec continues his story of a childhood where he had dreamed of becoming a doctor like his father (Henry Hull). After completing the first two years of medical training, he had chosen to become a pilot and rose to the ranks of vice-president of the Case Aviation company, even winning the hand of the boss's daughter (Marilyn Maxwell). When Nancy comes back for a visit, a terrible tornado destroys the company and town, and because his father suffers a broken arm, Alec takes over the emergency medical care of the victims that are in the town auditorium. Nancy, dismayed at his engagement to another woman and his choice of career, leaves as soon as the airport reopens; they lose contact and Alec cannot tell her that he has rethought both decisions.

The coming of war precludes Alec continuing his medical career, and as a pilot in the highly specialized PBY flying boats that harass the Japanese fleets, he is particularly successful until his last mission. After Joe dies, and Alec goes into a coma, High Barbaree seems only a dream when rescue comes at the last moment, as his uncle steers to the location he had once charted and finds Alec. On board, Nancy and the recovering Alec are finally reunited.

Cast

The judicious use of combat footage enhanced the production values of High Barbaree. PBY (High Barabee).jpg
The judicious use of combat footage enhanced the production values of High Barbaree.

Production

After a period of inactivity for Van Johnson where he had brooded about his decision not to enlist in World War II, the studio cast him with one of his favorite co-stars, June Allyson, who had been a close friend ever since the pair had performed on Broadway and had been budding stars in Hollywood. Other principal roles such as the father, mother and uncle were ably cast by Hollywood veterans while the significant role of the young Alec was handled by Claude Jarman Jr., the star of The Yearling (1946). [3]

The studio followed the plotline of the original novel which had a "Romeo and Juliet" ending with Allyson's character dying, Johnson hearing that her ship had been sunk, and subsequently dying before he is rescued. When previewed in Los Angeles with this ending, 40% of the audience cards wanted a happy ending with Johnson not dying. A costly $50,000 remake had both of the screen lovers surviving. [4]

The saga of the Consolidated PBY Catalinas flown in the Pacific theater featured predominantly in the film, and were often shown in interiors as well as through the inter-cutting of PBYs in flight from combat footage. These flying boats, first used for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, were also specially modified to operate as night raiders. While location shooting took place at Location filming took place at King City, Arcadia, California, aerial sequences took place at the U.S. Navy's North Island, San Diego, and in the coastal waters off Coronado Island, California with principal photography wrapped on August 14, 1946. [5]

The use of the Ryan Aircraft plant in San Diego as the site for the lead actor's test flying adventures included a lively wringing out of the Stinson L-1 Vigilant [N 1] and Ryan ST trainer, flown by Paul Mantz. [6]

Tornado footage from The Wizard of Oz was reused in this film. [3] [7]

Reception

Released at a time when war films had ebbed, the studio marketed High Barbaree as a romantic comedy with the pairing of America's sweethearts. The film was not universally well received as the packaging seemed contrived and the storyline was laboriously drawn out with numerous flashbacks that detracted from the action of the South Pacific air war, where the aerial sequences stood out. [8] Bosley Crowther of The New York Times saw the film as dull and "uninspiring", with a "screenplay from a novel by Nordoff and Hall did not do much more than a blueprint of romantic and sentimental clichés." [9] British film magazine Picturegoer thought 'clichés abound' and that the story was told 'at rather long length and wordily', but praised the performance of Thomas Mitchell as an old seafaring uncle. [10]

Box Office

The film was a hit, earning $2,231,000 in the US and Canada and $852,000 elsewhere, but because of its high cost recorded a loss to MGM of $149,000. [1] [11]

Adaptations

On January 24, 1949 Lux Radio Theatre broadcast a 60-minute radio adaptation of the movie with Van Johnson reprising his film role. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying boat</span> Aircraft equipped with a boat hull for operation from water

A flying boat is a type of seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in having a fuselage that is purpose-designed for flotation, while floatplanes rely on fuselage-mounted floats for buoyancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consolidated PBY Catalina</span> American 1930s flying boat

The Consolidated Model 28, more commonly known as the PBY Catalina, is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft designed by Consolidated Aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. In US Army service it was designated the OA-10, in Canadian service as the Canso and it later received the NATO reporting name Mop. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other nations. The last military PBYs served until the 1980s. As of 2021, 86 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as a waterbomber in aerial firefighting operations in some parts of the world.

<i>Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo</i> 1944 American war film by Mervyn LeRoy

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is a 1944 American war film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The screenplay by Dalton Trumbo is based on the 1943 book of the same name by Captain Ted W. Lawson. Lawson was a pilot on the historic Doolittle Raid, America's first retaliatory air strike against Japan, four months after the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The raid was planned, led by, and named after United States Army Air Forces Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, who was promoted two ranks, to Brigadier General, the day after the raid.

<i>The Great Waldo Pepper</i> 1975 film by George Roy Hill

The Great Waldo Pepper is a 1975 American drama film directed, produced, and co-written by George Roy Hill. Set during 1926–1931, the film stars Robert Redford as a disaffected World War I veteran pilot who missed the opportunity to fly in combat, and examines his sense of postwar dislocation in 1920s America. The cast includes Margot Kidder, Bo Svenson, Edward Herrmann and Susan Sarandon. The Great Waldo Pepper depicts barnstorming during the 1920s and the accidents that led to aviation regulations by the Air Commerce Act.

<i>Island in the Sky</i> (1953 film) 1953 film by William A. Wellman

Island in the Sky is a 1953 American aviation adventure drama film written by Ernest K. Gann based on his 1944 novel of the same name, directed by William A. Wellman and starring and coproduced by John Wayne. Because of its realistic depiction of an actual aircraft crash, some consider the film as among the classic aviation films. The film also features Andy Devine, Lloyd Nolan, James Arness and Paul Fix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippe Cousteau</span> French diver and cinematographer (1940–1979)

Philippe Pierre Cousteau was a French diver, sailor, pilot, photographer, author, director and cinematographer specializing in environmental issues, with a background in oceanography. He was the second son of Jacques Cousteau and Simone Melchior.

<i>A Guy Named Joe</i> 1943 American film directed by Victor Fleming

A Guy Named Joe is a 1943 American supernatural romantic drama film directed by Victor Fleming. The film was produced by Everett Riskin and stars Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne and Van Johnson. The screenplay, written by Dalton Trumbo and Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, was adapted from a story by Chandler Sprague and David Boehm, for which they were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Story.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kermit Weeks</span> American pilot and aircraft collector

Kermit Weeks is an American aviation enthusiast, pilot, and aircraft collector. He has competed in aerobatics, designed aircraft, and promoted aviation and vintage aircraft restoration.

<i>Jet Pilot</i> (film) 1957 film by Josef von Sternberg

Jet Pilot is a 1957 American Cold War romance film directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring John Wayne and Janet Leigh. It was written and produced by Jules Furthman, and presented by Howard Hughes. Filming lasted more than eighteen months, beginning in 1949. The last day of shooting was in May 1953, but the Technicolor film was kept out of release by Hughes due to his tinkering until October 1957, by which time Hughes had sold RKO. Universal-International ended up distributing Jet Pilot. This was Hughes's last film work before his death of kidney failure on April 5, 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stinson L-1 Vigilant</span> WW2 American liaison aircraft

The Stinson L-1 Vigilant is an American liaison aircraft designed by the Stinson Aircraft Company of Wayne, Michigan and manufactured at the Vultee-Stinson factory in Nashville, Tennessee. The aircraft was operated by the United States Army Air Corps as the O-49 until 1942.

<i>High Flight</i> (film) 1957 British film by John Gilling

High Flight is a 1957 CinemaScope British Cold War film, directed by John Gilling and starring Ray Milland, Bernard Lee and Leslie Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-1 lifeboat</span> Powered lifeboat for air drop deployment

The A-1 lifeboat was a powered lifeboat that was made to be dropped by fixed-wing aircraft into water to aid in air-sea rescue operations. The sturdy airborne lifeboat was to be carried by a heavy bomber specially modified to handle the external load of the lifeboat. The A-1 lifeboat was intended to be dropped by parachute during Dumbo missions to land within reach of the survivors of an accident on the ocean, specifically airmen survivors of an emergency water landing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumbo (air-sea rescue)</span>

Dumbo was the code name used by the United States Navy during the 1940s and 1950s to signify search and rescue missions, conducted in conjunction with military operations, by long-range aircraft flying over the ocean. The purpose of Dumbo missions was to rescue downed American aviators as well as seamen in distress. Dumbo aircraft were originally land-based heavy bomber aircraft converted to carry an airborne lifeboat to be dropped in the water near survivors. The name "Dumbo" came from Walt Disney's flying elephant, the main character of the animated film Dumbo, appearing in October 1941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan Am Flight 526A</span> 1952 aviation accident

Pan Am Flight 526A, a Douglas DC-4, took off from San Juan-Isla Grande Airport, Puerto Rico, at 12:11 PM AST on April 11, 1952 on a flight to Idlewild International Airport, New York City with 64 passengers and five crew members on board. Due to inadequate maintenance, engine no. 3 failed after takeoff, followed shortly by engine no. 4. Nine minutes after takeoff, the aircraft ditched in rough seas 11.3 miles NW of San Juan Airport, broke apart and sank after three minutes. Panicking passengers refused to leave the sinking wreck. 52 passengers were killed, and 17 passengers and crew members were rescued by the USCG. After this accident it was recommended to implement pre-flight safety demonstrations for over-water flights.

<i>Dragonfly Squadron</i> 1954 film by Lesley Selander

Dragonfly Squadron is a 1954 American war film directed by Lesley Selander and starring John Hodiak, Barbara Britton and Bruce Bennett. The film is set in the period shortly before and during the invasion of South Korea by North Korean troops.

<i>Air Hostess</i> (1933 film) 1933 film

Air Hostess is a 1933 American Pre-Code aviation-themed melodrama based on a serial published in a 1919 True Story Magazine article called Air Hostess by Grace Perkins, also known as Dora Macy. Director Albert Rogell who had moved from shorts to B-films, had been interested in aviation having already helmed a similar feature, The Flying Marine (1929). In Air Hostess, the studio had attempted to merge flying and romance. Advertising stressed, "A date in the skies ... a rendezvous in the heavens...where love zooms with thrill after thrill ... but finds a happy landing!"

<i>Mission Over Korea</i> 1953 film by Fred F. Sears

Mission Over Korea is a 1953 American war film released by Columbia Pictures, directed by Fred F. Sears, from a story by former war correspondent Richard Tregaskis, author of Guadalcanal Diary. The film stars John Hodiak, John Derek, Audrey Totter and Maureen O'Sullivan.

<i>Captain Eddie</i> 1945 film by Lloyd Bacon

Captain Eddie is a 1945 American drama film directed by Lloyd Bacon, based on Seven Were Saved by "Eddie" Rickenbacker and Lt. James Whittaker's We Thought We Heard the Angels Sing. The film stars Fred MacMurray, Lynn Bari and Charles Bickford. Captain Eddie is a "biopic" of Rickenbacker, from his experiences as a flying ace during World War I to his later involvement as a pioneering figure in civil aviation, and his iconic status as a business leader who was often at odds with labour unions and the government.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ In High Barbaree, the Stinson L-1 Vigilant appears to be hovering and while the Stinson folks bragged that their Stinson L-1 Vigilant could actually accomplish this feat, in a strong headwind, the L-1 could be seen slowly flying backward.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. ↑ ""High Barbaree". Allmovie. Retrieved: September 16, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Quin, Elanor. "Articles: High Barabee." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: September 16, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Notes: High Barabee." Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved: September 17, 2012.
  5. ↑ Davis 2001, p. 106.
  6. ↑ Adcock 2005, p. 7.
  7. ↑ Marshall, Tim. "The OZ Tornado." Archived 2012-09-09 at the Wayback Machine Storm Track. Retrieved: September 17, 2012.
  8. ↑ Hardwick and Schnepf 1989, p. 57.
  9. ↑ Crowther, Bosley. "The High Barbaree (1947)." The New York Times, June 6, 1947.
  10. ↑ Picturegoer, p.12, 21 June 1947
  11. ↑ See also "Top Grossers of 1947", Variety, 7 January 1948 p 63
  12. ↑ "Network Television Features 'Look up' Here". The Pittsburgh Press. 1949-01-24. p. 29. Retrieved 2023-03-28.

Bibliography

  • Adcock, Al. US Liaison Aircraft in action (Aircraft in Action: No. 195). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 2005. ISBN   978-0897474870.
  • Davis, Ronald. Van Johnson: MGM's Golden Boy. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi, 2001. ISBN   978-1-57806-377-2.
  • Hardwick, Jack and Ed Schnepf. "A Viewer's Guide to Aviation Movies." The Making of the Great Aviation Films. General Aviation Series, Volume 2, 1989.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.