Here Comes the Navy (1934)

55% of users liked it
(253 ratings)

James Cagney is Chesty O'Connor, a tough-as-nails, always-ready-for-a-fight shipyard worker, who loses out to US Navy CPO Biff Martin (Pat O'Brien) in a fight over a girl -- he not only loses the girl, but his job, and decides he wants a rematch. But to get it, he has to join the navy, which he… More James Cagney is Chesty O'Connor, a tough-as-nails, always-ready-for-a-fight shipyard worker, who loses out to US Navy CPO Biff Martin (Pat O'Brien) in a fight over a girl -- he not only loses the girl, but his job, and decides he wants a rematch. But to get it, he has to join the navy, which he does, along with his buddy Droopy (Frank McHugh). And he's assigned to the same ship as Martin, but he can't goad the chief petty officer into a fight and doesn't seem to understand much about navy discipline or regulations. He manages to get on the wrong side of virtually everyone on the ship, and especially Martin, because he's attracted to the latter's sister (Gloria Stuart), who would like nothing more than to make peace between the two men in her life. None of this is close to being sorted out, along with a few misunderstandings that only worsen the feelings between the two men, before O'Connor is transferred off the ship and into a naval air service unit, as part of a dirigible crew. It's there that O'Connor begins to straighten up and fly right, and during an airborne exhibition, that he starts to show what he's really made of, in a way that neither Martin nor his sister can ever forget. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Lloyd Bacon
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 21, 1934 Wide

Critic Reviews

Frank S. Nugent, New York Times
A fast-moving comedy enriched by an authentic naval setting.
Variety Staff, Variety
It's light on story, and because of that it borders on being an elaborate newsreel.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
[A] fast-moving, wisecracking sailors-at-sea story.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Nominated for best picture Oscar, this is the first film James Cagney, in a Navy uniform, made after the introduction of the Code and his first appearance with frequent co-star Pat O'Brien

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Cast

            James Cagney as Chesty O'Connor

            Pat O'Brien as Biff Martin

            Gloria Stuart as Dorothy Martin

            Frank McHugh as Droopy

            Dorothy Tree as Gladys

            Robert H. Barrat as Cmdr. Denny

            Willard Robertson as Lieutenant Commander

            Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Floor Manager

            Eddie Acuff as Marine Orderly

            James P. Burtis as C.P.O.

            Eddy Chandler as Supply Sergeant

            Nick Copeland as Workman

            Joseph Crehan as Recruiting Officer

            Ida Darling as Aunt

            Edward Earle as Navy Chaplain

            Maude Eburne as Droopy's Ma

            William "Wild Bill" Elliott as Bit

            Robert Emmett Tansey
            
            Eddie Fetherstone as Sailor

            Chuck Hamilton as Hood at Dance

            Howard Hickman as Captain

            George Irving as Admiral

            Frank LaRue as Foreman

            Lorena Layson as Second Girl

            Sam McDaniel as Porter

            Martha Merrill as First Girl

            Henry Otho as Riveter

            Eddie Shubert as Skipper

            John Swor as Attendant

            Fred 'Snowflake' Toones as Sailor

            Pauline True as Hat Check Girl

            Niles Welch as Officer

            Leo White as Professor
See full cast

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