To the Shores of Tripoli

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If it weren't so clearly a product of the precise moment when the U.S. had just suffered the Japanese sneak attacks of December 1941, To the Shores of Tripoli might easily be mistaken for the definitive parody of World War II Hollywood jingoism by a latter-day satirical troupe--say, the SCTV gang. Smartass child of privilege John Payne is sent to Marine boot camp to learn about responsibility and being a team player. Although shot on location at San Diego, the sunny Technicolor training exercises look more like a musical-comedy summer stock company working out. Drillmaster Randolph Scott and fiery-haired nurse Maureen O'Hara love Payne in spite of his myriad obnoxious qualities, and he does have the right stuff, as he demonstrates at the drop of a hat--and the rest of his civilian clothes--the minute he hears about Pearl Harbor over the radio. The finale, a troopship embarkation turned full-scale production number, has to be seen to be disbelieved. --Richard T. Jameson

Description

Darryl F. Zanuck's production about a playboy who joins the Marines and discovers selfless valor. John Payne and Maureen O'Hara star.

Customer Reviews:

I Wanted and Paid for TECHNICOLOR --- [surprise]....I got Black & White instead!!.......2007-03-21

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 big Marine field music ensemble....enjoy.... Semper Fi, Mac....SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

What are the other reviewers talking about????.......2007-01-12

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?

To the Shores of Tripoli.......2005-10-09

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.'

Valor of Marines, Beauty of Maureen O'Hara (VHS Is in Color).......2005-03-17

First, let me tell you about this re-issue in 'Fox War Classics.' According to the previous reviewers, the studio unaccountably released this DVD in black and white while the original print was shot in color (thank you guys for telling me that). So I decided to try the VHS of this film (of the same series), and it came with Technicolor version though its 'modified from the original.' If I am not mistaken, the original print was not in so-called widescreen, so the modification for VHS ratio does not lose much.

The film itself, released in 1942 immediately after Pearl Harbor, is not that awful. Its story may look cliche to most of modern viewers, but still is interesting, largely thanks to its actors and color. A playboy Chris Winters (John Payne) is sent to the US Marine Corps where a veteran Sergeant Dixie Smith (Randolph Scott) is given the task of training him. They took instant dislike to each other; the private is only thinking of fun, and getting out of the marine base to earn a desk job in Washington helped by his girlfriend Helene (Nancy Kelly, later Oscar-nominated for 'The Bad Seed') while the sergeant dedicates himself to the ideal of being good soldier.

Considering the fact it is a war-time film (and I am a Japanese, so it is kind of strange to talk about American films of that time), 'To the Shores of Tripoli' is much less jingoistic than I thought. Some comical moments are inserted between the training sequences (Panye's private feigns injury, and O'Hara's nurse 'cures' him smearing mustard on his body, leaving a mark of huge V). And Scott's sergeant certainly 'whips' the boys into good marines, but his methods are nothing terrifying.

But the real star may be Maureen O'Hara as a nurse Mary Carter (actualy a senior officer to Chris), of whose love cocky Chris tries to win. Surprisingly, there is considerable amount of chemistry between Maureen O'Hara and John Payne, and you will see both stars together later in much better films, most notably Christmas classic named 'Miracle on the 34th Street.' (Interestingly, they also star in a film 'Tripoli' in 1950, which I haven't seen. Somebody any future plan of re-release?)

Someone said somewhere on the Internet that Maureen O'Hara is the Queen of Technicolor. I still don't know it's meant for joke or serious, but as far as 'To the Shores of Tripoli' goes, the color is the first (if not only) reason for you to see the film. As you know, Technicolor renders much different nuance to the screen, giving each color some silky touch, which can never be found in digitally shot films. Though the beautiful colors sometimes fade because of the time that has elasped, they are still good, old-fashioned, and elegant in this film.

SO ... what's the point of watching it in black and white anyway? Wait for the further re-release of DVD, or buy a VHS video.

Stupid ... just like a Fox.......2003-01-12

To phrase this as kindly as possible ... the folks at Fox Home Entertainment are dumber than dirt, especially when it comes to their library of classic movies. They've pulled off some spectacular marketing fiascos over the years ... such as releasing the 1939 box-office smash "Jesse James" on laserdisc in a faded, washed-out print back in the early 1990's; and more recently, pushing their (badly) colorized versions of several Shirley Temple classics into the marketplace on DVD instead of the glorious black and white originals.

But the DVD edition of "To the Shores of Tripoli" represents a new low for the company. This movie received an Oscar nomination for Edward Cronjager's and William Skall's gorgeous candybox TECHNICOLOR cinematography. The title frame of the film itself says: "'To the Shores of Tripoli' in TECHNICOLOR." The DVD box itself says, "1942, COLOR, 86 minutes" under the advertising blurb; and then proclaims "Photographed in TECHNICOLOR" in the credits area. But guess what?!!? The DVD was mastered from a BLACK & WHITE re-release print, and not the original Technicolor negative! Hello, 11th-Century Fox! That churning sound you hear is former studio head Darryl F. Zanuck spinning 'round and 'round in his grave. Unfortunately, this movie is just not worth watching unless you get to marvel at Maureen O'Hara's beautiful tresses in all their flame-colored glory!

But that's not the only blunder on this disc or its packaging. In the box describing the DVD's features, the aspect ratio is correctly noted as 1.33:1, Full Frame Format. However, the last line on the bottom of the box's back panel notes: "WIDESCREEN VERSION: Presented in a letterbox format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition." Huh! Who proofreads this stuff? And while I'm on a rant ... the actress featured on the front of the DVD looking soulfully at John Payne - and who is also featured in a scene still on the back of the box - is none other than fourth-billed Nancy ("The Bad Seed") Kelly, who played the distaff second lead in the film. NOT that you would know from reading the DVD box, since Fox didn't bother to give the future Oscar-nominee even a small feature credit.

Amazon.com

Description

Darryl F. Zanuck's production about a playboy who joins the Marines and discovers selfless valor. John Payne and Maureen O'Hara star.

Customer Reviews:

I Wanted and Paid for TECHNICOLOR --- [surprise]....I got Black & White instead!!.......2007-03-21

What are the other reviewers talking about????.......2007-01-12

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?

To the Shores of Tripoli.......2005-10-09

Valor of Marines, Beauty of Maureen O'Hara (VHS Is in Color).......2005-03-17

Stupid ... just like a Fox.......2003-01-12

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

I Wanted and Paid for TECHNICOLOR --- [surprise]....I got Black & White instead!!.......2007-03-21

What are the other reviewers talking about????.......2007-01-12

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?

To the Shores of Tripoli.......2005-10-09

Valor of Marines, Beauty of Maureen O'Hara (VHS Is in Color).......2005-03-17

Stupid ... just like a Fox.......2003-01-12

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