Presumably the success of To Hell and Back prompted Universal to fork out a bit more cash in this tale of the Navy in World War Two. We have the studio's favourite cross dresser, Jeff Chandler and second favourite gay, George Nader, pulling out the Brylcream and flexing their pecs as two officers on board a ship. There is some conflict with Nader moving down a rank to join the navy, and Chandler being a martinet, and a snide officer causing troubles... There's also Lex Barker, and some craggy faces like Charles McIntire, Richard Boone and Charles McGraw as well as Julie Adams whose flash back doesn't happen until about an hour in.
It's an episodic plot - flashbacks to romance, training montages, war games, various attacks at places like Saipan; there's some terrific battle sequences, especially at the end - I loved Chandler screaming at an incoming kamikaze plane; and lots of Universal technicolour and acting. Worth watching especially if you're interested in the American navy in World War Two but not quite successful as human drama.
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