Midshipman Jack
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Christy Cabanne
Bruce Cabot
Betty Furness
Frank Albertson
Arthur Lake
Florence Lake
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Because he has difficulty obeying rules, midshipman Jack B. Austin is forced to repeat his final year at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis and is assigned to oversee a shipment of new students. After weeks of intense drilling and instruction, Jack transforms his group of "plebes," which includes Russell H. Burns, an enlisted sailor, and the spoiled, wealthy Allen S. Williams, into presentable Navy men. However, while he is teaching his students the value of obedience and loyalty, Jack pursues Ruth Rogers, the daughter of his superior officer, and breaks curfew after a regimental hop to spend time with her. When Jack is caught sneaking to his dormitory by Clark Simpson, his friend and a rival for Ruth's affections, Clark reports him to Captain Rogers, who puts Jack on probation. Jack then learns from a disapproving Ruth that Russell had covered for him and was "put on report" as well. After lecturing Russell about protecting his career, Jack, whose proposal of marriage was turned down by Ruth, teams up with his students on a "sub chaser" boat race. Eager to win, Russell orders Allen, the helmsman, to change the boat's course and cut through a restricted seaplane landing area without consulting Jack. The boat crashes into a seaplane, and Russell, injured while trying to lessen the plane's impact, is rushed to surgery. Convinced that Russell's naval career will be over if he is held responsible, Jack accepts the blame for the accident and prepares to leave Annapolis. Before he goes, however, Russell regains consciousness and asks for him. While Ruth and her father listen, Russell admits that he changed the boat's course and tells Jack that all of the "plebes" respect and adore him. Impressed by Jack's confession that the "rules of the game are important," as well as his positive influence on his students, Rogers drops his investigation and allows Jack to graduate. Confident now that Jack has matured into a responsible Navy man, Ruth accepts his proposal.
Director
Christy Cabanne
Cast
Bruce Cabot
Betty Furness
Frank Albertson
Arthur Lake
Florence Lake
John Darrow
Purnell Pratt
Margaret Seddon
Crew
Glendon Allvine
Thomas Atkins
Charles Burke
Merian C. Cooper
Al D'agostino
Bailey Fesler
Alfred Gilks
Nick Musuraca
Argyle Nelson
Van Nest Polglase
Clem Portman
Artie Schmidt
John Sherwood
Max Steiner
Byron Thomas
Frank Wead
Harry Wild
Ralph Wild
F. Mcgrew Willis
Basil Wrangell
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title of this film was The Glory Command. The film's onscreen prologue reads: "Dedicated to Henry Latrobe Roosevelt, who as Assistant Secretary of the Navy keeps alive the Navy tradition begun by Theodore Roosevelt in 1895 and so gallantly continued by Franklin D. Roosevelt." Dorothy Jordan and Joel McCrea were announced as the film's stars in a late May 1933 Hollywood Reporter news item. Bruce Cabot replaced McCrea in early June 1933, so that McCrea could do retakes for another RKO production, Bed of Roses. According to Film Daily and Hollywood Reporter news items, Luana Walters and Jean Carmen were cast in the production, but their participation in the final film has not been confirmed. Scenes from the film were shot at the United States Naval Academy and other locations in Annapolis, MD, according to news items. In July 1933, Film Daily announced that select scenes from the screenplay were to be performed on the "Hollywood on the Air" radio program, with the film's stars recreating their screen roles. Although based on a different script, RKO's 1937 production Annapolis Salute, which also was directed by Christy Cabanne, bears a strong resemblance to this film.
