Away All Boats (1956)

Best movie of this year hands down!

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The ship that served as the "Belinda" in the movie was a sister ship to the one I served on in the Pacific Amphibious Force in the 1960s. She is a World War II Victory Class Attack Transport who main battery, as the Captain said, are her boats (we carried 26). The ships in one of the scenes with the sailing craft were all Atlantic Amphibious Force ships. The USS Sandoval (APA-194) was the "Belinda". The five inch gun, seen firing in the air attack scene, is at the USS Alabama (BB-60) Memorial along with the five inch guns off of other attack transports. When I see this movie I can see my own ship of so long ago. I hope those who see this movie will understand a little better what was involved in the over-the-beach invasions during World War II. Jeff Chandler did a good job of portraying a Captain who's job it was to put a new ship into commission and get the crew prepared for combat. A great many of the officers of these ships were Naval Reservists, some with merchant marine background as is the 1st Lieutenant in the movie, so many of them had years at sea and had commanded ships of their own. Thrown into active naval service they sometimes, as shown, hold a little resentment at being told what to do. The Executive Officer was shown to be, at best, lazy or uninterested. He comes around and volunteers for a hazardous duty which earns the admiration of the 1st Lieutenant. Overall, the movie was well done and, for the reasons stated above, believe it would be worth viewing by the younger generation.

AWAY ALL BOATS – 1956This is one of the better WW2 films about the unglamourous part played by the US Navy attack transport craft. These were the ships that moved the troops up to the landing beaches, then launched the landing craft that carried troops to said beach. This one starts in San Diego Navy yard with a new crew reporting to a just fitted out transport. The story is told mostly from the view of the new third in command officer, George Nader. Nader is an ex-Merchant Marine Captain that took a double rank drop to join the Navy. The new Captain is Navy veteran, Jeff Chandler, whose last ship had been sunk under him. Also in the cast as officers are Lex Barker, Richard Boone, Keith Andes and Charles McGraw. Other than Chandler, Boone, Nader and some of the below decks chiefs, everyone is new to the sea. Chandler takes the new ship out for a shakedown cruise to Pearl Harbour. He pushes the men hard and heavy to see how they take it. Sick bay is soon full with sea-sick types and various bumps and cuts. The heavy work load though does cause the men to learn their jobs. Once at Pearl Harbour, the ship is loaded with Marines and more training is needed. Once that is done, the ship heads for the war zone. First up is Japanese held Makin, then Kwajalein and so on through the Pacific. Several of the crew distinguish themselves while others are found lacking in ability and courage. Morale takes a big hit when the mail is constantly sent to the wrong place, and no liberty ports. The men are always at each other and fights become a routine daily event. Chandler steps in and orders the construction of a small 14 foot sailboat. Soon all the men are upset at the Captain instead of each other. But morale goes up as the Captain takes out the small craft out for a spin whenever they are at anchor. It is now April 1945 and the Invasion of Okinawa. The Japanese Army and Navy Air Forces are hurling hundreds of Kamikaze aircraft at the invasion fleet. The ships on picket line duty and the Combat Air Patrol take care of most of these. However, they are often overwhelmed and the fleet comes under attack. Everything the fleet can fire throws up as much flak as possible, but some aircraft still get through. The transport is hit several times and badly damaged. As the ship is being repaired, another attack of Kamikaze breaks through the CAP. A bomb laden Zero fighter hits the ship at the waterline, holing her. The Captain, Jeff Chandler is severally wounded and command falls to Nader.The ship is ordered to withdraw out of the combat area. Things now go from bad to worse, as the ship loses its propeller. The ship is also slowly filling with sea water and is in danger of rolling over and swamping. Needless to say the remaining crew work like demons to effect repairs to the hole in the side. They then launch the few landing craft to survive the air attacks. These are used to tow the ship from the danger area. Chandler sees that the ship will be saved, then dies.While there is the odd slow bit, the film as a whole is quite entertaining. It is interesting to see a film showing duty in a rather unheralded area of Naval combat. The action scenes are quite well done considering the era the film was produced. Look close and you will see an unbilled Clint Eastwood in several scenes. I also saw stunt-men turned actors, Charles Horvath and Bobby Hoy in small roles. .

At the opening scene this movie feels like a wartime morale flick but it quickly moves past that. I like that it gives us a story that is seldom told, namely that of a heavy troop landing ship. Reminds me of the HMAS Tobruk I spent some time on in the 80s. The "Belinda" is a work boat, not a glamorous warship & the spartan conditions aboard reflect that. As the ship was newly built it is reasonable that the sets all look spic'n'span.Overall it is a well made war film with a strong cast of good character actors. As others note, special effects clearly developed quite quickly in the 1945-55 period. Time well spent.

I am going to give reasons here why "Away All Boats" is just about the best naval drama ever put onto film. Self-evidently, this unpretentious but absorbing movie has a lot going for it, Among its assets are beautiful color photography, a stellar cast headed by Jeff Chandler as Captain Jeb Hawks, steady direction by Joseph Pevney, a very good cast, dramatic situations and very interesting characters. Standouts in the very unusually-large cast include Richard Boone, Charles Mcgraw, Keith Andes, Arthur Space, Frank Faylen and James Westerfield. All the creators and technicians involved have given this film a very spacious and attractive look. Kenneth Dodson's intelligent novel has been realized here as a very in-depth look at how the US Navy's officers and enlisted men got their job done in WWII. If anything was missing from the final product, it was three minor elements. Jeff Chandler, fresh off his most charismatic work in "Flame of Araby" here acts well but lacks his usual voltage to a degree; George Naderis attractive and adequate as his heir apparent, but Keith Andes should have played this vital role. And there could perhaps have been a bit more character development accorded to some of the other crewmen along the way in Ted Sherdeman's generally excellent film script. But the several battle scenes are very excitingly-mounted and staged; the dialogue is always above average; Hawks' warning the kamikaze planes away from his vessel is an unforgettable moment; and the long climax as the men try to save their ship after the captain has been killed, following his dying advice, is an unforgettable achievement. Julie Adams plays Nader's lovely wife, and there is comedy and incompetence, bravery and extreme ingenuity on exhibit throughout. This is an adult film about the Navy; but it is also about what it takes to be a successful human being, especially in a time of great danger or challenge. One of my favorite never-missed and always-recommended cinematic works.