I recently acquired the DVD of this movie in a three DVD set that included Donovan's Reef and Hatari.
On the whole I've found that In Harm's Way meets my criteria - I was entertained but I'm afraid that there were several things that stretched credibility beyond usual limits.
First the Japanese planes shooting at two people on a beach before they attacked Pearl Harbour was a bit far-fetched and then the incredible flaming car with flames pouring out of the passenger area after the head-on collision with the truck was way over the top. And then later for Liz's purse and shoes to be in pristine condition after being in that blazing inferno and her being recognizable when Paul came to identify her pushed this whole 'bit' into being just plain silly.
And later the very obvious use of model ships in some shots that were not quite big enough to pass for real ships somewhat spoiled the effectiveness of the images of the ships. Much later at almost the end of the movie when Admiral Torrey 'wakes up' on the hospital ship after almost 3 weeks the gauze 'hat' that the costume dept plunked on his head looked nothing like a professionally applied dressing and after almost 3 weeks any open wounds would have been well healed and not needing to be bandaged any longer. Also to have an unconscious patient in a closed room by himself, lying face up and with no IV or catheter was a glaring omission. Anyone 'asleep' aka unconscious for any length of time would, even in the 1940s, have had IV fluids 24/7 which would require a catheter 24/7 as well but what they did have beside his bed was a stainless steel pitcher and a drinking glass half full of what was probably water, not exactly what an unconscious patient needs. Until those scenes with Admiral Torrey on the hospital ship the medical scenes were actually quite well done but that silly looking gauze hat actually had me laughing. I guess it was easier to just plunk it on his head when they needed to do a retake but if you'll notice most of the time he looked like he was afraid to move his head because it would shift around because it was so loose.
What held this movie together for me were the performances. As always I thoroughly enjoyed Patricia Neal's performance as well as the performances by Paula Prentiss, Tom Tryon, Kirk Douglas, Stanley Holloway, Burgess Meredith and of course 'The Duke'. Young Brandon De Wilde's transformation was interesting to watch as well as convincing and Patrick O'Neal's sleazy Commander Neal Owynn was very well done too.
It is a different kind of war movie and well worth watching in spite of the above mentioned problems that I have with the film. I have watched it a few times and will again at some point because in spite of its sometimes silly shortcomings, because of the performances, I was entertained.
On the whole I've found that In Harm's Way meets my criteria - I was entertained but I'm afraid that there were several things that stretched credibility beyond usual limits.
First the Japanese planes shooting at two people on a beach before they attacked Pearl Harbour was a bit far-fetched and then the incredible flaming car with flames pouring out of the passenger area after the head-on collision with the truck was way over the top. And then later for Liz's purse and shoes to be in pristine condition after being in that blazing inferno and her being recognizable when Paul came to identify her pushed this whole 'bit' into being just plain silly.
And later the very obvious use of model ships in some shots that were not quite big enough to pass for real ships somewhat spoiled the effectiveness of the images of the ships. Much later at almost the end of the movie when Admiral Torrey 'wakes up' on the hospital ship after almost 3 weeks the gauze 'hat' that the costume dept plunked on his head looked nothing like a professionally applied dressing and after almost 3 weeks any open wounds would have been well healed and not needing to be bandaged any longer. Also to have an unconscious patient in a closed room by himself, lying face up and with no IV or catheter was a glaring omission. Anyone 'asleep' aka unconscious for any length of time would, even in the 1940s, have had IV fluids 24/7 which would require a catheter 24/7 as well but what they did have beside his bed was a stainless steel pitcher and a drinking glass half full of what was probably water, not exactly what an unconscious patient needs. Until those scenes with Admiral Torrey on the hospital ship the medical scenes were actually quite well done but that silly looking gauze hat actually had me laughing. I guess it was easier to just plunk it on his head when they needed to do a retake but if you'll notice most of the time he looked like he was afraid to move his head because it would shift around because it was so loose.
What held this movie together for me were the performances. As always I thoroughly enjoyed Patricia Neal's performance as well as the performances by Paula Prentiss, Tom Tryon, Kirk Douglas, Stanley Holloway, Burgess Meredith and of course 'The Duke'. Young Brandon De Wilde's transformation was interesting to watch as well as convincing and Patrick O'Neal's sleazy Commander Neal Owynn was very well done too.
It is a different kind of war movie and well worth watching in spite of the above mentioned problems that I have with the film. I have watched it a few times and will again at some point because in spite of its sometimes silly shortcomings, because of the performances, I was entertained.