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Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
Now this is a good story! "Mister Roberts" was originally a 1946 collection of short stories, written by Thomas Heggen, about a 26-year-old Naval Lieutenant (JG)'s life aboard a cargo vessel during WWII. In 1948, the stories were adapted into a stage play, written by Heggen and Joshua Logan, and starring Henry Fonda, that became a huge, long-running hit, earning a Tony Award for Fonda.
Jump ahead to 1955...Warner has the rights to the play, and wants to film it; but the Navy, unhappy with the unflattering portrayal of the ship's captain, balks at offering assistance. Enter John Ford, the greatest living director (and a retired Naval Admiral). He is hired to direct, and immediately pulls strings...the Navy WILL approve the film, now!
Now for the casting...Tony Award-winning Henry Fonda in the lead, right? Wrong! Warner feels that at 50, Fonda is too old for the part, and hasn't the 'Box Office' clout. They want Marlon Brando, or maybe William Holden. But neither actor is available. Then Tyrone Power (who'd played "Roberts" in London), is considered...but Ford nixes that. "Hire Fonda," he says, bluntly, "or I won't direct." Fonda and Ford had made five films together, and are good friends. So Fonda is hired.
James Cagney, 56, is everybody's first choice as the Captain, and Spencer Tracy is considered for the Ship's Doctor. But when Tracy discovers he'd get third billing, he turns down the role. However, legendary star William Powell IS available. Powell, at 63, is planning to retire (after a 30-year film career, he was having an increasing problem remembering dialogue), but he'd like to make his swansong in a truly good film. So, he's in.
Only Ensign Pulver is left to be cast, and everybody is blown away by the screen test of 30-year-old Jack Lemmon. Although he'd only made three films, he'd worked extensively on television, and had the makings of a big star...so, the cast is complete, and everything should be great, right?
Wrong! Ford, long-known as a brilliant director but also a bully and mean-tempered, immediately goes after Cagney, telling him to shape up, or he'd knock his block off. The first time Ford says this, Cagney is stunned into silence...the second time, Cagney slips off his jacket, and says, "Ready when you are." Ford does a double-take, then leaves Cagney alone!
Looking for a new target, Ford decides to go after his friend, Fonda. He and Fonda begin HUGE arguments about the direction of the film. Ford wants to emphasize comedy, and add even more, Fonda (who knew the author of the book and play, and had played the role on stage for two years), says the script is fine, and not to destroy the thrust of the story. Ford launches a series of screaming tirades, upsetting everybody. Forda asks, quietly, for the two of them to have a meeting with the producers, and work things out. Ford agrees. The day of the meeting, as Fonda enters the room, Ford sucker punches him, knocking him to the floor!
Ford would be released from the film, stage play co-author/director and screenplay writer Josh Logan finishes up a couple of Ford's scenes, then Mervyn LeRoy takes over the Director's chair, for the remainder of the film (working from Ford's notes). Officially, it is announced that Ford is leaving the production for emergency gall bladder surgery ("I have the medical charts to prove it!" Ford insists, to the dubious press), but Fonda and Ford's 16-year friendship is over.
"Mister Roberts" becomes a big Warner hit, and Lemmon wins an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor!
A long story, but a good one, right?
2:30 PM
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