MINESWEEPER (1943) Richard Arlen, Jean Parker & Russell Hayden | Adventure, Drama | B&W | Cinema Gem

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Minesweeper is a 1943 American black-and-white World War II film, produced by William H. Pine and William C. Thomas, directed by William A. Berke, that stars Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, and Russell Hayden. The film was distributed by Paramount Pictures. A former navy deserter returns to duty after the attack on Pearl Harbor under an assumed name as a sailor aboard a minesweeper.

Synopsis

LT. Richard Houston is an officer in the U.S. Navy who deserted during peacetime service to escape gambling debts, and took up life as a hobo. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor spurs him to rejoin the Navy under the assumed name of Jim "Tennessee" Smith. Houston is assigned to serve aboard a minesweeper, where he carries out numerous successful efforts to defuse mines in the San Diego harbor while struggling to keep his identity secret.

Complicating matters, Houston gets involved in a love triangle, competing with Seaman Elliot Nash for the affections of Mary Smith, niece of Chief Petty Officer "Fixit" Smith, who has taken a liking to Houston. Later, while gambling, Houston overstays his shore leave and Smith, having taken over his position, is killed by a mine.

Confessing to Mary that he was out gambling to get the money to buy an engagement ring, Houston is crestfallen that by being AWOL, he was responsible for the death of his friend. Houston nearly deserts again, but instead returns to his base to take on one last mission. Reporting back to duty, he finds that his immediate superior, Lt. Ralph Gilpin, has discovered his true identity. Nonetheless, even as a "prisoner-at-large", Houston volunteers to help clear the shipping lanes of mines to ensure a troop ship can safely leave the harbor to join a convoy off to the Pacific.

When Houston and Nash dive in San Diego harbor to find a Japanese mine, the two divers see that the mine reacts to the sound of an aircraft overhead, beginning to rise from its tethered location as the sound waves reach it. Nash relays the information to Lt. Gilpin on the diving launch, but Houston cuts Nash's oxygen line, forcing the crew on the diving launch to pull him up to safety. Working on his own, Houston attempts to open the control panel when the mine explodes, killing him. On board the diving launch, Nash tells the crew that Houston was a true hero.

Gilpin realizes that he can counter the threat of the mines by flying aircraft low over the water where they can be blown up after they rise to the surface. Looking at the cable he received about the deserter, he tears it up and drops it overboard.

A Consolidated PBY Catalina flying at low level triggers the release of the acoustically sensitive mines in San Diego harbor, allowing the minesweepers to blow up each mine. As the operation finishes, the Secretary of the Navy sends a message indicating that the Navy and Marine Corps Medal has been posthumously bestowed on Gunner's Mate First Class James Smith, United States Naval Reserve.

Cast & Crew

Richard Arlen as Richard Houston - posing as Jim "Tennessee" Smith
Jean Parker as Mary Smith
Russell Hayden as Seaman Elliot Nash
Guinn "Big Boy" Williams as CPO Ichabod Ferdinand "Fixit" Smith
Emma Dunn as Mom Smith
Charles D. Brown as Commander Lane
Frank Fenton as Lt. Ralph Gilpin
Chick Chandler as Seaman "Corny" Welch
Douglas Fowley as Cutter Lieutenant Wells
Billy Nelson as Bos'un "Freshwater" Heims
Grant Withers as CPO Gregg, In Charge of Diving Crew

Directed by:
William Berke
Written by:
Edward T. Lowe Jr.
Maxwell Shane
Based on:
Original story by Lowe & Shane
Produced by:
William H. Pine
William C. Thomas
Starring:
Richard Arlen
Jean Parker
Russell Hayden
Cinematography by:
Fred Jackman Jr.
Edited by:
Ted Bellinger
Howard A. Smith
William H. Ziegler
Music by:
Mort Glickman
Production Company:
Pine-Thomas Productions
Distributed by:
Paramount Pictures
Release Date:
November 10, 1943
Running Time:
67 minutes
Country:
United States
Language:
English