PARACHUTE BATTALION (1941) Robert Preston, Nancy Kelly & Edmond O'Brien | Drama, Romance, War | B&W

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Parachute Battalion is a 1941 American war film directed by Leslie Goodwins and starring Robert Preston and Nancy Kelly. The supporting cast includes Edmond O'Brien, Harry Carey, and Buddy Ebsen. It was produced and distributed by RKO Pictures.

SYNOPSIS
In this pre-Pearl Harbor recruiting poster, colonel's estranged son Bill Burke, football hero Donald Morse, and hillbilly Jeff Hollis enlist in the paratroopers. Their training at Fort Benning, Georgia is followed in semi-documentary style, with time out for personal dramas and the romantic rivalry of Bill and Don over the sergeant's daughter.

Three men enlist in the United States Army in the summer of 1941.[Note 1] Bill Burke (Edmond O'Brien) is doubtful of his own courage and enlists while intoxicated. Don Morse (Robert Preston), an All-American football player at Harvard, enlists to avoid being engaged to two women simultaneously, told that army privates are not allowed to marry. Jeff Hollis (Buddy Ebsen) is a hillbilly cajoled into enlisting by the daughter of a feuding family.

They meet on the train to Fort Benning, Georgia, for training as parachute infantry. Don and Bill's attempts to become better acquainted with pretty fellow passenger Kit Richards (Nancy Kelly) annoy her father, Bill "Old Thunderhead" Richards (Harry Carey), until they reveal that they are Army recruits.

In camp, they are surprised to discover that Richards is a master sergeant newly assigned to their unit as chief instructor and a pioneer of the concept. Richards reports to the commandant, his old friend and Bill's father. Bill was named after Richards and they agree to keep Bill's identity a secret from the rest of the company to avoid favoritism. Bill accepts a blind date and finds out it is Kit. When Don tries to date her, Richards encourages Bill to "stick around as long as you like."

The two descend together and Don reveals that he repacked Bill's chute, saving both their lives. Friends again, they destroy the objective. At the ceremony awarding them their parachute wings, Richards gives his blessing to Kit and Bill, while Don sets his sights on another woman.

CAST&CREW
Robert Preston as Donald Morse
Nancy Kelly as Kit Richards
Edmond O'Brien as Bill Burke
Harry Carey as Bill Richards
Buddy Ebsen as Jeff Hollis
Paul Kelly as Tex
Richard Cromwell as Spence
Robert Barrat as Col. Burke
Edward Fielding as Chief of Infantry
Erville Alderson as Pa Hollis
Selmer Jackson as Thomas Morse
Grant Withers as Captain

Directed by Leslie Goodwins
Written by John Twist
Major (John) Hugh Fite
Produced by Howard Benedict, Harry Carey, Buddy Ebsen
Cinematography J. Roy Hunt
Edited by Theron Warth
Music by Roy Webb
Production Company RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date September 12, 1941
Running time 75 minutes
Country United States
Language English

NOTES
A closeup shot of orders issued to the battalion is dated "July 26, 1941."