Mister Roberts (1955)

92% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(6,375 ratings)

Henry Fonda returned to films after an eight-year absence in this masterful adaptation of the actor's Broadway hit Mister Roberts. Written and partially directed by Joshua Logan, the film stars Fonda as Lt. Doug Roberts, chief cargo officer of the supply ship "Reluctant." WW2 is in its last few… More Henry Fonda returned to films after an eight-year absence in this masterful adaptation of the actor's Broadway hit Mister Roberts. Written and partially directed by Joshua Logan, the film stars Fonda as Lt. Doug Roberts, chief cargo officer of the supply ship "Reluctant." WW2 is in its last few months, and Roberts is itching for combat duty. But the Reluctant's surly, despotic captain (James Cagney), anxious to use Roberts to expedite his own promotion, refuses to sign any of Roberts' transfer requests. Helping to brighten Mister Roberts' humdrum existence are his best friends, Ensign Frank Pulver (Jack Lemmon, in an Oscar-winning performance) and the ship's philosophical doctor (William Powell, in his final film appearance). Most of the laughs are provided by Pulver, officer "in charge of laundry and morale." When he isn't wheeling and dealing to bring a bevy of beautiful nurses on board the Reluctant, Pulver is concocting elaborate schemes to avenge himself against the Captain -- even though he's spent 14 months on the Reluctant without ever meeting his nemesis. The film's highlights include the efforts by Roberts, Pulver, and Doc to mix a bottle of Scotch from Coca-Cola, Iodine, and other vital ingredients; and Mister Roberts' (and later Ensign Pulver's) assertion of manhood by tossing the Captain's precious palm tree overboard. Halfway through shooting, legendary director John Ford was replaced, ostensibly because of illness, by Mervyn LeRoy. One of the finest service comedies ever made, Mister Roberts spawned a less amusing sequel, Ensign Pulver (1964), as well as a 1965 TV sitcom. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: John Ford, Betsy Palmer
Written By: Joshua Logan, Frank S. Nugent
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 30, 1955 Wide
On DVD: Dec 22, 1998
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Henry Fonda stars, as brilliant as ever.
Variety Staff, Variety
James Cagney is simply great as the captain of the ship.
A.H. Weiler, New York Times
A strikingly superior entertainment.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
Still an expert mix of sentiment, comedy, patriotism and anarchy.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This stodgy film version of the famous Broadway success was one performance too many.
M. Faust, Common Sense Media
WWII dramedy is a true American classic.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Based on the stage hit, Fonda's most popular war movie casts him as the action-driven first officer of the Reluctant, a cargo ship miles away from the battle zone whose route is described by him as "from tedium to apathy" and back again.
, Time Out
The acting is the only reason to watch it.
Brad Laidman, Film Threat
Mister Roberts is a movie dedicated to anyone with a boring dead end job who wants to be a hero and has to decide whether to live honorably anyway.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The success of the uninspired movie is a testament to star performances from the talented cast rather than to the film's directors.
, Film4
The setting is a supply ship in the war torn Pacific, but there's little action and the piece soon wears out what little welcome it might have had.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Moving, funny film version of the play.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Mister Roberts is yet another testament to the legend and greatness of Henry Fonda. John Ford's (half) direction (Mervyn LeRoy took over after Ford went batshit drunk) offered some of the greatest shots this side of Monument Valley. James Cagney also turns in a great performance… More
Mister Roberts is yet another testament to the legend and greatness of Henry Fonda. John Ford's (half) direction (Mervyn LeRoy took over after Ford went batshit drunk) offered some of the greatest shots this side of Monument Valley. James Cagney also turns in a great performance if you can handle him playing a total asshole and his scenes with Fonda are great also. A young Jack Lemmon also does a great job as does William Powell in his final screen role. Mister Roberts is also full of great characters even if the story doesn't really go anywhere unexpected or far. The scene where Lemmon read that last letter pissed me off in ways any human language can never hope to describe but that final scene kind of turned it around.
Ken S

Good Old Fashion Fun
xGary X

Enjoyable if lightweight naval comedy set on a cargo ship during WWII. The presence of Henry Fonda and James Cagney adds dramatic credibility and Jack Lemmon supplies the comic relief, but it's a little inconsequential.
Danny R

A marvelously entertaining classic film that brought the beloved Broadway comedy hit to the silver screen, superbly directed by John Ford & Mevyln Leroy. Henry Fonda reprise his brilliant Tony-winning role of Lt. Doug Roberts, who is eager to be transferred to a battleship in the… More
A marvelously entertaining classic film that brought the beloved Broadway comedy hit to the silver screen, superbly directed by John Ford & Mevyln Leroy. Henry Fonda reprise his brilliant Tony-winning role of Lt. Doug Roberts, who is eager to be transferred to a battleship in the war zone rather than serve on a cargo supply ship named "Reluctant" which is dominated by a petty, tyrannical Captain who is fierce adversary of Lt. Roberts, played with great relish by the great James Cagney in a truly memorable performance, Jack Lemmon won his first Academy Award as the hapless, lecherous, rambunctious and opportunistic Ensign Pulver who is a laugh riot and is unforgettable, Lemmon steals the show in every scene which he appears, and in his final film William Powell proves once again to a master of comedy timing as "Doc," the world -weary medic of the ship. A superb comedy that endures the test of time, an American classic.
ashley h

Henry Fonda was robbed of an Oscar. I adore jack Lemmon,and this is one of the best WW2 dramadies
Sunil J

The premise seemed a bit blah at first but when i watched it, I was very amused and the actors are all very likeable.
Moe E

Just saw this again the other night on AMC...Great movie w/ Henry Fonda, James Cagney, Jack Lemmon, Ward Bond and I believe, a very young Patrick Wayne.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Henry Fonda as Lt. Doug Roberts

            James Cagney as Captain Morion

            William Powell as Doc

            Jack Lemmon as Ens. Frank Thurlowe Pulver

            Betsy Palmer as Lt. Ann Girard

            Ward Bond as C.P.O. Dowdy

            Philip Carey as Mannion

            Nick Adams as Reber

            Ken Curtis as Dolan

            Frank Aletter as Gerhart

            Fritz Ford as Lindstrom

            Buck Kartalian as Mason

            William Hudson as Olson

            Harry Tenbrook as Cookie

            Perry Lopez as Rodrigues

            Robert Roark as Insigna

            Patrick Wayne as Bookser

            Tige Andrews as Wiley

            Jim Moloney as Kennedy

            Shug Fisher as Johnson

            Danny Borzage as Jonesey

            Jimmy Murphy as Taylor

            Kathleen O'Malley as Nurse

            Maura Murphy as Nurse

            Mimi Doyle as Nurse

            Lonnie Pierce as Nurse

            Gregory Walcott as Shore Patrolman

            James Flavin as MP

            Jack Pennick as Marine Sergeant

            Harry Carey Jr. as Stefanowski

            William Henry as Lt. Billings

            Duke Kahanamoku as Native Chief

            Stubby Kruger as Schlemmer

            Martin Milner as Shore Patrol Officer

            Harold Kruger as Schlemmer
See full cast