In Harm's Way

In Harm's Way (1965)

  • 50% of critics liked it
    (10 reviews)

  • 80% of users liked it
    (5,834 ratings)

In Harm's Way, based on James Bassett's novel Harm's Way, has enough plot in it for four movies or a good miniseries (when it was shown on network television in prime time, it was broken into two very full nights). On the morning of December 7, 1941, a heavy cruiser, commanded by Captain Rockwell… More

Unrated, 2 hr. 45 min.
Directed By
Otto Preminger
Written By
James Bassett, Wendell Mayes
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1965 Wide
On DVD
May 22, 2001

Critic Reviews

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    The intergeneration conflict, a recurrent motif in John Wayne's pictures, is most explicit in Otto Preminger's WWII drama, between Wayne and his soldiers as well as between him and his son--the Duke gets to impart lessons of manhood and honor to both

  • Geoff Andrew, Time Out

    It goes on and on, the slowness exacerbated by Preminger's customary long takes and by the endless parade of star cameos.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    A colossal bore.

  • Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

    Epic WWII production plays like star-studded soap opera at times.

  • Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide

    Preminger seems happier with long transition shots of the Hawaiian Islands and military class ships than it does with creating rhythm in the film's narrative.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

  • jay n


    Solid WWII drama with a most impressive cast even with many future stars in small roles. Some of the special effects are dated and obvious now but for the time frame were effective. John Wayne and Patricia Neal are unexpectedly quite well matched as a couple with her prickliness and… More

  • Dean M


    John Wayne leads the United States Navy into a monumental struggle against the Japanese. Kirk Douglas is the anti-hero who stirs up a fuss. The ships are models and the battles are conducted in a bathtub.

  • Moe E


    "Old Rock of Ages, we've got ourselves another war. A gut bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war."

Cast

See full cast