Call Out the Marines
Encyclopedia
Call Out the Marines is a 1941 military comedy released by RKO in January 1942. It stars Victor McLaglen
and Edmund Lowe
playing the same characters with different names that they played in What Price Glory? and several sequel
s; however the original film trailer mentions What Price Glory? and The Cock-Eyed World
. The film features extensive stock footage from RKO's Soldiers of the Sea
that in some cases appear on process screens that the actors stand in front of.
) and Harry Curtis (Edmund Lowe
) who haven't seen each other for fifteen years meet at a racetrack. They both immediately drop their jobs of an attendant and cleaner to rekindle their friendship and brawl over which one will have Violet (Binnie Barnes
) for their girl. When visiting a clip joint
called the Shoreleave Cafe with Violet, they meet the owner, Jim Blake (Paul Kelly
). Blake was a former Captain of theirs who left the Corps under a cloud when he was blamed for a security breach. Blake is involved in espionage
where he is arranging to buy the plans for a new amphibious vehicle
.
Jimmy and Harry are called back to active service as Gunnery Sergeant
s with the 6th Marines where they crash the spy ring. The fast paced Hellzapoppin'
type comedy uses the spy plot as merely an excuse for five musical numbers by Harry Revel
and a variety of comedy sequences such as barroom brawls over thrown garter
s, spies and policemen with speech impediments, and jeep
, motorcycle and car chase
s.
and World War II
in the news, the majority of American minor and major film studios made comedies about military service. RKO's Call Out the Marines had a troubled production history with different stars and technicians announced in trade papers of the time for the film. The United States Marine Corps
, which had initially cooperated with the producers, was outraged over the completed film in December 1941 and ordered the film shelved as "bad for morale". However it was released after America entered the war.
Victor McLaglen
Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen was an English boxer and World War I veteran who became a successful film actor.Towards the end of his life he was naturalised as a U.S. citizen.-Early life:...
and Edmund Lowe
Edmund Lowe
Edmund Dantes Lowe was an American actor. His formative experience began in vaudeville and silent film. He was born in San Jose, California.-Film career:...
playing the same characters with different names that they played in What Price Glory? and several sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
s; however the original film trailer mentions What Price Glory? and The Cock-Eyed World
The Cock-Eyed World
The Cock-Eyed World is a musical film made by Fox Film Corporation, directed and written Raoul Walsh, based on the Flagg and Quirt story by Maxwell Anderson, Tom Barry, Wilson Mizner and Laurence Stallings...
. The film features extensive stock footage from RKO's Soldiers of the Sea
Soldiers of the Sea
Soldiers of the Sea is a 1939 RKO-Pathe News two-reeler short subject narrative featuring the U.S. Marine Corps.It was produced by Frederic Ullman Jr. and supervised by Frank Donovan. Through narration and film footage, the film shows and tells the history, mission statement, capabilities,...
that in some cases appear on process screens that the actors stand in front of.
Plot
Two ex-Marines, Jimmy McGinnis (Victor McLaglenVictor McLaglen
Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen was an English boxer and World War I veteran who became a successful film actor.Towards the end of his life he was naturalised as a U.S. citizen.-Early life:...
) and Harry Curtis (Edmund Lowe
Edmund Lowe
Edmund Dantes Lowe was an American actor. His formative experience began in vaudeville and silent film. He was born in San Jose, California.-Film career:...
) who haven't seen each other for fifteen years meet at a racetrack. They both immediately drop their jobs of an attendant and cleaner to rekindle their friendship and brawl over which one will have Violet (Binnie Barnes
Binnie Barnes
Gertrude Maud "Binnie" Barnes was an English-American actress. She was born in Islington to a Jewish father and an Italian mother and was brought up Jewish, although she converted to Catholicism later in life....
) for their girl. When visiting a clip joint
Clip joint
A clip joint or fleshpot is an establishment, usually a strip club or entertainment bar, typically one claiming to offer adult entertainment or bottle service, in which customers are tricked into paying money and receive poor goods or services, or none, in return...
called the Shoreleave Cafe with Violet, they meet the owner, Jim Blake (Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (actor)
Paul Michael Kelly was an American child actor who later as an adult became a stage, film, and television actor.-Child actor:...
). Blake was a former Captain of theirs who left the Corps under a cloud when he was blamed for a security breach. Blake is involved in espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
where he is arranging to buy the plans for a new amphibious vehicle
Amphibious vehicle
An amphibious vehicle , is a vehicle or craft, that is a means of transport, viable on land as well as on water – just like an amphibian....
.
Jimmy and Harry are called back to active service as Gunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant
Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the United States Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer...
s with the 6th Marines where they crash the spy ring. The fast paced Hellzapoppin'
Hellzapoppin' (film)
Hellzapoppin' is a 1941 Universal Pictures adaptation of the musical of the same name directed by H.C. Potter. The cast includes Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson , Martha Raye, Mischa Auer, Shemp Howard, and The Six Hits.The credits for the movie assert that "any resemblance between Hellzapoppin and a...
type comedy uses the spy plot as merely an excuse for five musical numbers by Harry Revel
Harry Revel
Harry Revel was an English composer of musical theatre.Revel was born in London. Before emigrating to the United States in 1929, he wrote musicals for productions in Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna and London....
and a variety of comedy sequences such as barroom brawls over thrown garter
Garter
Garter can refer to:*Garter , an item of clothing used to hold up stockings*Order of the Garter, the senior British order of chivalry*Ladies of the Garter , female members of the mediaeval Order of the Garter...
s, spies and policemen with speech impediments, and jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
, motorcycle and car chase
Car chase
A car chase is the vehicular pursuit of a suspect by law enforcement officers. Car chases are often captured on film and broadcast due to the availability of video footage recorded by police cars and police and media helicopters participating in the chase...
s.
Cast
- Victor McLaglenVictor McLaglenVictor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen was an English boxer and World War I veteran who became a successful film actor.Towards the end of his life he was naturalised as a U.S. citizen.-Early life:...
as Jimmy McGinnis - Edmund LoweEdmund LoweEdmund Dantes Lowe was an American actor. His formative experience began in vaudeville and silent film. He was born in San Jose, California.-Film career:...
as Harry Curtis - Binnie BarnesBinnie BarnesGertrude Maud "Binnie" Barnes was an English-American actress. She was born in Islington to a Jewish father and an Italian mother and was brought up Jewish, although she converted to Catholicism later in life....
as Violet 'Vi' Hall - Paul KellyPaul Kelly (actor)Paul Michael Kelly was an American child actor who later as an adult became a stage, film, and television actor.-Child actor:...
as Jim Blake - Robert SmithRobert Smith (actor)Robert Cecil Smith was an American actor of the stage, television, and film. He began his career as a teenager, making his first appearance in the 1927 film Baby Brother...
as PFC Billy Harrison - Dorothy Lovett as Mary
- Franklin PangbornFranklin PangbornFranklin Pangborn was an American comedic character actor. Pangborn was famous for small, but memorable roles, with a comic flair. He appeared in many Preston Sturges movies as well as the W.C. Fields films International House, The Bank Dick, and Never Give a Sucker an Even Break...
as Wilbur the Waiter - Corinna MuraCorinna MuraCorinna Mura was a cabaret singer and diseuse. She had a small role in the classic film Casablanca as the woman playing the guitar while singing "La Marseillaise" at Rick's Café Américain....
as Zana Zaranda - George ClevelandGeorge ClevelandGeorge Alan Cleveland was a Canadian film actor. He appeared in over 180 films between 1933 and 1954.-Career:...
as Bartender - The King's Men as Quartet
- Six Hits and a Miss as Singing Group
Production
With the introduction of conscription in the United StatesConscription in the United States
Conscription in the United States has been employed several times, usually during war but also during the nominal peace of the Cold War...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the news, the majority of American minor and major film studios made comedies about military service. RKO's Call Out the Marines had a troubled production history with different stars and technicians announced in trade papers of the time for the film. The United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, which had initially cooperated with the producers, was outraged over the completed film in December 1941 and ordered the film shelved as "bad for morale". However it was released after America entered the war.