''Shipmates Forever'' is a 1935 American

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

directed by

Frank Borzage Frank Borzage ( né Borzaga; April 23, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an American film director and actor. He was the first person to win the Academy Awards, Academy Award for Academy Award for Best Director, Best Director for his film ''7th Heaven ...

and written by

Delmer Daves Delmer Lawrence Daves (July 24, 1904 – August 17, 1977) was an American screenwriter, film director and film producer. He worked in many Film genre, genres, including film noir and war film, warfare, but he is best known for his Western (genre ...

. Set at the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

, the film stars

Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility and successfully transform ...

, Ruby Keeler,

Lewis Stone Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio's popular '' Andy ...

Ross Alexander Ross Alexander (born Alexander Ross Smith, Jr.; July 27, 1907 – January 2, 1937) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Alexander was born Alexander Ross Smith. Jr. in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Maud Adelle (nee Cohen) and Al ...

, John Arledge, Eddie Acuff, and Dick Foran. The film was released by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...

on October 12, 1935. Powell, Keeler, Alexander and Arledge combined previously with Borzage and Daves under similar circumstances of plot and character in '' Flirtation Walk'', a film about the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), commonly known as West Point, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York that educates cadets for service as Officer_(armed_forces)#United_States, comm ...

, the year before. The U.S. Navy provided technical assistance for the filming. Locations shots were made at the Naval Academy and a portion of the story's "final cruise" included footage of the battleship USS (BB-33), which conducted midshipmen cruises for the Navy in the 1930s. Rare footage of the Martin P3M flying boat is also featured.

Plot

Dick Melville (Powell) and June Blackburn (Keeler) meet during a naval review in

New York Harbor New York Harbor is a bay that covers all of the Upper Bay. It is at the mouth of the Hudson River near the East River tidal estuary on the East Coast of the United States. New York Harbor is generally synonymous with Upper New York Bay, ...

. Though both come from Navy families, Dick pursues a singing career and June, her father and brother both having been killed in the war, has vowed never to marry a Navy man. Admiral Melville (Stone), Dick's father, is the new superintendent of the Naval Academy and his dearest wish is that his son follow in his footsteps as a naval officer. He maneuvers Dick into enrolling as a

midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest Military rank#Subordinate/student officer, rank in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Royal Cana ...

by accusing him of being afraid of failing the entrance exams. Though with no intent of accepting a commission, Dick passes the tests, however he finds he cannot turn down the appointment because it would disappoint his father. Dick's roommates are "Sparks" Brown (Alexander), a radio operator from the South; "Coxswain" Lawrence (Arledge), a sailor appointed from the fleet; and "Cowboy" Lincoln (Acuff), from the West. All of the plebes receive hazing from the upperclassmen, but Dick is a special target of teasing because of his father and his fame as a singer. Dick hates the academy and decides to leave until June encourages him to finish what he started. Academically, he is at the head of his class, but he has made no friends. Dick sticks it out but the admiral worries about his isolation, as one of the goals of the academy is to create bonds between the midshipmen. Coxswain flunks out of school and castigates Dick for his attitude. After June moves to New York to become a professional dancer, Dick is more alone than ever. June returns for the annual Ring Dance but Dick finds excuses not to allow her the tradition of placing his

class ring In the United States and Canada, a class ring (also known as a graduation, graduate, senior, or grad ring) is a ring (jewellery), ring worn by students and alumni to commemorate their final academic year and/or graduation, generally for a high ...

on his finger. During Dick's final summer cruise, Coxswain is one of the ship's crew and proudly informs his former roommates that he has been accepted for readmission to the academy. His love of the Navy makes Dick uncomfortable and he places his ring on his finger one night on deck. During gunnery training, one of the ship's steam lines bursts and starts a boiler fire. Coxswain tries to shut off the fuel leads and is overcome by smoke and fire. Although Dick tries to save him, Coxswain is killed. Both men are badly burned and Dick is recognized as the survivor by his class ring. When he finally returns to the academy, Dick is greeted enthusiastically by his classmates. He proudly leads the Brigade of Midshipmen at the graduation parade, about to become a new

ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

Cast

as Richard John 'Dick' Melville III * Ruby Keeler as June Blackburn *

as Adm. Richard Melville *

as Lafayette 'Sparks' Brown * Eddie Acuff as Lincoln 'Cowboy' * Dick Foran as Gifford * John Arledge as Johnny 'Coxswain' Lawrence * Robert Light as Ted Sterling *

Arline Pretty Arline Pretty (September 5, 1885 – April 14, 1978) was an American film actress of the silent era. Life and career Pretty was born September 5, 1885, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother was a musician. For three years, Pretty acted on ...

as Nurse (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * {{Frank Borzage 1935 films 1930s English-language films Warner Bros. films American musical films 1935 musical films Films directed by Frank Borzage American black-and-white films 1930s American films Films scored by Bernhard Kaun Films set in New York City Films set in Maryland Films shot in Maryland Films about the United States Navy Films set at the United States Naval Academy English-language musical films