Stand by for Action

1942
Approved
1h 49m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

751

YOUR RATING

Charles Laughton, Robert Taylor, and Brian Donlevy in Stand by for Action (1942)

Play trailer2:11

1 Video

13 Photos

War

During WW2, two Navy officers take command of an obsolete, World War I-vintage, destroyer that is assigned to convoy-escort duty in the Japanese-controlled waters of the South Pacific.During WW2, two Navy officers take command of an obsolete, World War I-vintage, destroyer that is assigned to convoy-escort duty in the Japanese-controlled waters of the South Pacific.During WW2, two Navy officers take command of an obsolete, World War I-vintage, destroyer that is assigned to convoy-escort duty in the Japanese-controlled waters of the South Pacific.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

751

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total

Videos1

Trailer 2:11

Stand by for Action

Photos13

+ 5

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The bands around the waists are inflatable life preservers.

Goofs
Masterman tells the captain "forward gun disabled," but his lips say "aft gun."

Quotes
Lieut. Comdr. Martin J. Roberts: Mr. Masterman, aboard a destroyer the executive officer has got to be a jack of *all* trades.
Lieut. Gregg Masterman: I'm a jack, all right.

Connections
Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Robert Taylor (1962)

Soundtracks
Anchors Aweigh
(1906) (uncredited)
Music by Charles A. Zimmerman
Lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles and R. Lovell
Sections played during the opening credits
Reprised in the score at the end

User reviews22

Review

Featured review

WW-II Propaganda w/ Humorous twists

WW II Propaganda film, good entertainment

This is the story of a young officer (Taylor) dismayed to be deployed on an old ship, a WW I destroyer with convoy escort duty. Even worse, he has to contend with a Skipper (Donlevey) who runs the ship by the book but with unseen compassion and talent. Laughton plays the fleet commander, a crotchety admiral who soon realizes the true caliber of Donlevey tho he is frustrated by the tactics Donlevey takes.

If you like WW II movies this is definitely "OK+"... not great, but entertaining throughout.

Chill Wills and Walter Brennan add to the story with both comic and tradgic portrayals.

Some very good action scenes as well.

I'd Check it out if you enjoy WW II sea stories.