To the Shores of Tripoli (1942)

Hokey - yes, but I like it.

Okay, Okay - by modern standards, this film is very hokey. A real flag-waver that gets cheesier as it progresses. But I love the on-screen combination and chemistry of Maureen O'Hara and John Payne. Their first of 4 films together, this movie was actually being film when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The script and ending were quickly changed to reflect the headlines and the sentiment of the day. The film was rushed in to theaters within a few months of completion and became a big poster for enlistment.
Most modern audiences know Payne and O'Hara from the Christmas classic, "Miracle on 34th Street", which is their third pairing. Their second ("Sentimental Journey" ) and forth ("Tripoli", a Paramount release) are not available on either VHS or DVD - what a shame. July 17, 2008

It Doesn't Do What It Says On The Tin.

GREAT! A war film starring Randolph Scott and John Payne - well, er, no, actually. If they made this movie today it would probably be described as a romantic comedy, and the only fighting is between the Marines themselves and between John Payne and Maureen O'Hara. In fact, the film ends at the point where America enters the War, and the errant John Payne rejoins his unit.

If you like Rom-Coms then this is a very enjoyable little piece, but personally, as a kid growing up watching old movies on tv, I grew tired of movie titles that suggested one thing but gave another. "Tell It To The Marines" would probably have been more appropriate (is there such a movie?).

At least my copy is in glorious Technicolour. July 9, 2008

I Wanted and Paid for TECHNICOLOR --- [surprise]....I got Black & White instead!!

What a huge disappointment from 20th Century-Fox studios...I saw this movie since 1942...hundreds of times in vivid, vibrant and primary TECHNICOLOR...I loved it; hell, I even joined the US Marines...the dust/jacket claims the DVD is in Technicolor in three [3] different places..."FLASH"...it's in Black & White, my man...all of the reviews [below] depict the screen/play one way or the other [to each his/her own]...I was hoping with anticipated joy to see this DVD in glorious TECHNICOLOR...what a low/letdown by 20th Century-Fox Public Relations Dept...anything for a buck in this generation!!...alas; one vivid scene that hallmarks this movie is the dress blues graduation day, it seems the USMC , by design, compiled a slew of silver tubers assembled with an abundance of other field music Marines to give out with the martial strains of the, "Marines Hymn"...you will never hear a huge Marine Band of this size ever sound-off like this ever again...it is a unique rendition and sound [non pareil]...you are in for a singular treat...dress blues on parade with the big Marine field music ensemble...as for the picture, I loved it and this Marine Corps movie in 1942 stand alone for the reason why so many joined up resulting in a huge/record surge of volunteer enlistments into the Corps to war vs Japan... my joy would have been 10 fold if I received the Technicolor DVD as black and white doesn't measure up at all. Semper Fi, Mac....SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF March 21, 2007

What are the other reviewers talking about????

I just bought the DVD of this title and mine is in breathtaking Technicolor. Was this a problem that was corrected or did the other reviewers have the color turned off on their TV sets? January 12, 2007

To the Shores of Tripoli

Shortly before the United States' entry into World War II carefree wiseacre playboy Chris Winters (John Payne) joins the Marine Corps and journeys to a training camp in San Diego. While there he falls under the spell of nurse 2nd Lieutenant Mary Carter (Maureen O'Hara) and under the thumb of nail-tough drill sergeant Dixie Smith (Randolph Scott.) Before long the feckless young Winters is counting the days until his rich fiancée Helene Hunt (Nancy Kelly) can pull the strings that will get him out of the Corps.

TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI (1942) was released in March of that year, and filming of the movie began before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Even though it incorporates some `At War' features - dedicating the movie especially to the Marines on Wake Island, for instance - this is a relatively blithe look at a nation preparing for war. Beyond marching and then more marching (this is the marchingest movie you'll ever see) boot camp seems a breeze. Even Scott's tough drill sergeant is a pussycat compared to most later examples of the type. Although the leatherneck vows he'll either break down or drive out the `worthless pup' Payne, Payne is the `Skipper's son,' and Payne's decision to tent with and tutor the unit's Gomer Pyle shows us there's something redeemable beneath the glib and polished exterior. O'Hara, as usual strong and beautiful as the navy nurse, pairs up well with Payne (their chemistry together would product the classic `Miracle on 34th Street' five years later.) With a tidy love story wrapped up in an early recruitment movie, TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI is solid entertainment. If it's a little light, it probably served it purpose of demystifying, a bit, the boot camp experience.

Edward Cronjager and William Skall were nominated for Academy Awards for Best Color Cinematography. For some mysterious reason Fox has released this as a black-and-white movie. No decent Technicolor prints available? It's a double shame, because the red-haired O'Hara was known as `The Queen of Technicolor.'
October 8, 2005

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