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John Wayne, Susan Hayward, Dennis O'Keefe, William Frawley, Leonid Kinskey ... see more see more... , J.M. Kerrigan , Grant Withers , Paul Fix , Ben Welden , William Forrest , Addison Richards , Jay Norris , Duncan Renaldo , Roy Barcroft , Charles D. Brown , Chief Thundercloud , Tom London , Charles Trowbridge , Wally Wales , Crane Whitley , William Hall

The Fighting Seabees is Republic Pictures' rip-roaring tribute to the US Navy's Construction Batallions (C.B.), without whom no plane would ever have gotten off the ground during WW2. John Wayne stars... read more read more... as Wedge Donovan, head of civilian construction company stationed in a pre-Pearl Harbor South Pacific war area. Despite Donovan's pleas to the Navy brass, he is denied permission to train his men for combat, the better to stave off imminent Japanese attack. Only after incurring heavy losses is Donovan given a commission and his men officially enlisted in the Navy. The self-sacrifical climax, as Donovan destroys a Japanese tank batallion at the cost of his own life, is one of the best-staged action highlights of its kind. As Constance Chesley, Susan Hayward finds herself in the unenviable position of being the apex in a romantic triangle involving herself, Wedge Donovan and Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow (Dennis O'Keefe); her climactic speech, explaining how it's possible to love two men equally, is so well delivered that it transcends its essential corniness. Of the supporting cast, William Frawley stands out as Irish seabee Eddie Powers, who virtually signs his own death warrant when he begins singing happily just before an enemy sneak attack. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

4,327 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 2 hr.

Directed by: Edward Ludwig

Release Date: March 10, 1944

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001

Stats: 97 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (97)

  • moonrivers
    June 2, 2011
    moonrivers
    No more no less than a propaganda film, made during wartime. Wayne plays a construction chief convinced to the necessity of training construction workers to fight as well. There's a couple of good action scenes and Susan Wayward for the curious love angle ( she's the only femal... read moree around on a Japanese held island!). Standard fare.
  • bobbydiablo
    December 14, 2011
    bobbydiablo
    This is a straight up Hollywood- propoganda- you-better-we-can-beat-the-Japs flick. While briefly kinda sorta capsulizing the creation of the SeaBees construction battalion during World War 2 it's loaded with good ole John Ford/ Wayne Irish drinking buddies battling stock war foo... read moretage Japanese and USA Navy command. It's a paint by the numbers film but it's a great example of golden age Hollywood supporting the war effort in the 1940's.
  • 01MovieMan
    November 26, 2008
    01MovieMan
    All-American hero John Wayne takes a crew of construction workers and turns them into one of WWII's toughest fighting forces in this action-packed war classic. But first he has to convince the army b...( read more read more... )rass to let his civilians bear arms, and then he's g... read moreot to whip them into combat shape. Now Wayne is fighting for his life on a different battlefield when he's brought up on court-martial charges for leading his troops in an all-out assault against the Japanese. It's Wayne at his best, playing the kind of rough-and-tumble man of honor that made him a legend and Hollywood's biggest star. An entertaining combination of strong supporting performances by Daniel O'Keefe and ravishing, about-to-be superstar Susan Hayward.
  • abricru
    April 2, 2008
    abricru
    Love the pairing of Hayward and Wayne. Love the movie, but the romantic subplot has a silly ending to me.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
March 23, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

One of John Wayne's popular WWII movies, in which his hero shows the exepected rebellious independence. Full Review

Steve Crum
August 10, 2006
Steve Crum, Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

WWII flag waving + Duke Wayne = can't miss action.

Dennis Schwartz
February 11, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Standard WW2 flagwaver. Full Review

August 8, 2006
New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
September 25, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Linda Cook
September 20, 2005
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

No review available.

Robin Clifford
January 13, 2003
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews

No review available.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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