Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Jack Lemmon. These screen legends portray principals aboard a U.S. Navy cargo ship during the last days of WWII. The chief cargo officer is antsy to see combat duty, but the half-cracked captain won't sign his transfer papers. So his pals Ensign Pulver and the ship's doctor help him to make the best of it. 1955/color/123 min/NR/widescreen.

Henry Fonda re-created his Broadway hit for this 1955 film that was mostly directed by Fonda's frequent collaborator, John Ford (Young Mr. Lincoln, My Darling Clementine)--an ailing Ford was replaced at some point by Mervyn LeRoy--and the results are exceptionally fine. A perfect cast, including James Cagney's irascible captain, William Powell's thoughtful physician, and Jack Lemmon's Oscar-winning Ensign Pulver, give Fonda the right boost to portray his ennui-burdened officer with dignity, self-effacing humor, and not a trace of self-pity. A wonderful film. --Tom Keogh