A gruff Marine sergeant and a handsome new recruit compete for the affection of a nurse.A gruff Marine sergeant and a handsome new recruit compete for the affection of a nurse.A gruff Marine sergeant and a handsome new recruit compete for the affection of a nurse.
- Harry
- (as Maurice Kains)
- Navy Nurse in China
- (uncredited)
- Navy Nurse
- (uncredited)
- Marine in Barracks
- (uncredited)
- Extra
- (uncredited)
- Guard at Door of Besieged Clinic
- (uncredited)
- Marine
- (uncredited)
- Dog
- (uncredited)
- Hangchow Leader
- (uncredited)
- Navy Nurse
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the production, Lon Chaney formed a close friendship with Marine Corps Gen. Smedley Butler, which lasted for the rest of Chaney's life.
- GoofsIn the final sequence, when Sergeant O'Hara (Lon Chaney) is drilling the new recruits, the top buttons of his uniform are undone, unpardonable by Marine standards, particularly in the case of this hard-nosed veteran.
- Quotes
Marine Major: Burns, are you an American citizen?
Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: Sure! Do I look like a Persian?
Marine Major: Ever been married?
Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: Not me! I'm America's sweetheart!
Marine Major: Ever been in jail?
Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: No.
[Major stands up. Burns stands up and says an oath. Sits back down]
Pvt. George Robert 'Skeet' Burns: Well, Maje old kid... now I'm a Marine.
Marine Major: You're damned right you are! Stand up!
[Gestures for Burns to leave his office]
Sgt. O'Hara: Terrible! Madden, put a uniform on this! Try to make it look human! Don't shoot him before we find out where his parents live.
- Alternate versionsIn 2000, Turner Classic Movies presented on TV a version with an orchestral score by Robert Israel (II) and a running time of 103 minutes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (1949)
William Haines (one of MGM's most important male stars) plays a young man who hitches a free ride on a train of recruits heading for boot camp, with no intention of entering training, just to get closer to the racetrack. O'Hara puts him through the ringer in basic training, determined to make a man of him. A reluctant recruit, who seems to get into an inordinate amount of trouble, battles stubbornly with the by the book O'Hara throughout his initial enlistment period. Then, both become engaged in a war conflict, battling side by side, such that each earns the other's respect. This one utilizes a love triangle to spice up their conflict through the years, with Norma Dale (Eleanor Boardman), a Navy nurse at the base. The picture is full of action, laughs and holds a lot of love interest. In addition, the photography is great.
The adviser for the film was the San Diego base commander, General Smedley Butler. A legendary tough as nails Marine; he and Chaney became friends. Butler never fought in a major war, but won two Medals of Honor fighting in skirmishes around the globe. General Douglas MacArthur described Butler as "one of the really great generals in American history." This film is unequivocal in its approval for the Marines (and vice versa). Chaney was even made an honorary Marine. Though the film took 57 days to shoot and a production cost of nearly $500,000, it was a great success for both the three stars of the film and MGM, earning the largest profit of all Chaney's MGM films. Next to Flesh and the Devil, it was MGM's second most profitable film of the year and the high profits, combined with massive critical acclaim, which would lead to Chaney being casted in several more aligned rolls.
Chaney's real appearance was seen so rarely, it is in some way, the quality of a disguise. Silent film acting is dependent on a actor's articulation in screen-filling close-up's. As a child of deaf-mute parents, Chaney "had a deaf face" meaning he could communicate eloquently through his facial expression. The story is little more than a lighthearted p.r. job for the USMC, but Chaney himself absolutely dominates the picture, and for that very reason, in Tell It To The Marines, Chaney conceives a deeply compassionate man, set apart from 80 years of "tough guy with a heart of gold" clichés. It certainly is one of the gems of Chaney's career. This is, nevertheless, a superb example of the brilliant accomplishments of the late silent era. Just look deeply into the brilliant Lon Chaney's eyes.
- Ziggy5446
- May 11, 2007
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Det brinner i öster
- Filming locations
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, San Diego, California, USA(personal knowledge)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $433,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1