Navy Blue and Gold

Plot

MGM's Navy Blue and Gold prettily dresses up some of the oldest cliches in the "military cadet" movie genre. The film charts the progress of three Annapolis "plebes," all played by actors in the age range of 24 to 30. Wisecracking Roger Ash (Robert Young) is a cynic, wide-eyed Richard Gates Jr. (Tom Brown) is overeager), and reclusive Truck Cross (James Stewart) harbors a dark secret. When not going about their appointed duties, Ash and Cross battle over the attentions of heroine Patricia (Florence Rice), Gates' sister. All the while, Captain Skinny Dawes (Lionel Barrymore), the traditional crusty old seafarin' man with a heart of gold, tries to instill the love of Honor, Duty and Country in all three heroes. The plot is resolved in a climactic football game, with everyone showing his true colors (blue and gold, of course!) Many of the plot devices and stereotypical characters in Navy Blue and Gold would continue to resurface in similar films for the next five decades -- even in the R-rated Officer and a Gentleman (1980). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Review

Even in 1937, the story of Navy Blue and Gold was not exactly fresh; in the decades since then, it has become downright clichéd. As such, there's little to the basic plot that is going to engage most viewers today. We know the character types, we know the complications that the plot will throw at them, and we know more or less how they will triumph in the end. We even know how things are going to turn out with the ailing Captain whose health seems to depend upon a victory over Army in the big football game. Fortunately, Navy has Robert Young and Jimmy Stewart, as well as Lionel Barrymore, around to keep us interested when the script fails. (It also has Tom Brown as the third young cadet, but Brown is merely pleasant, not memorable.) Young could play this kind of role in his sleep, but he brings conviction to the part and pulls a few small acting surprises to keep us interested. Stewart, early in his career here, is great fun to watch, as sincere and honorable as one could wish but with a certain hint of rawness that makes him all the more watchable. And, of course, no one could play Lionel Barrymore better than Lionel Barrymore. Throw in some fine support in small roles and let director Sam Wood take advantage of his predilection for sports and for heightened drama, and the result is a film with a trite story that still can be recommended. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

Cast

• Robert Young - Roger Ash
• James Stewart - John "Truck" Cross
• Florence Rice - Patricia Gates
• Billie Burke - Mrs. Alyce Gates
• Lionel Barrymore - Capt. "Skinny" Dawes

Tom Brown - Richard Arnold Gates, Jr.; Samuel S. Hinds - Richard A. Gates, Sr.; Paul Kelly - Tommy Milton; Barnett Parker - Albert Graves; Frank Albertson - Weeks; Minor Watson - Lt. Milburn; Robert Middlemass - Academy Superintendant; Phillip Terry - Kelly; Pat Flaherty - Coach of Southern Institute; Matt McHugh - Heckler; Ted Pearson - Harnet; Paul Barrett; Don "Red" Barry - Fellow Back; Donald Douglas - Lt. North; Tom Hanlon; Eddie Hart - Official; John Hiestand - Commentator; Robert Hoover - Parr; Dennis Morgan - Lieutenant of Marines; Will Morgan - Classman; Walter Soderling - Dr. Ryder; Katharine Stevens; Jack Pennick - Fireman; Roger Converse - Size Inspector; Charles Waldron - Commander Carter

Credit

Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, Urie McCleary - Art Director, Dolly Tree - Costume Designer, Sam Wood - Director, Robert J. Kern - Editor, Edward Ward - Composer (Music Score), John F. Seitz - Cinematographer, Sam Zimbalist - Producer, Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer, John Hoffman - Special Effects, George Bruce - Screenwriter, George Bruce - Book Author

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