PT 109 is a 1963 biographical movie which shows the events of John F. Kennedy's actions in command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 as an officer of the United States Navy during World War II. The movie was adapted by Vincent Flaherty and Howard Sheehan from the book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII by Robert J. Donovan.
The movie stars Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin, James Gregory, Robert Culp, Robert Blake and Michael Pate. Andrew Duggan is the (uncredited) narrator, and George Takei, who appears in an uncredited role as the helmsman of a Japanese destroyer, would subsequently become famous as Sulu of Star Trek. The exteriors for the movie were filmed at Little Palm Island (formerly Little Munson Island), a resort in the Florida Keys. Power and fresh water were run out to the island for the movie, allowing the resort to be built years later. The former owner was the local Monroe county sheriff.
The most dramatic special effect is what appears to be a full-size set with live actors appearing to be crushed by the bow of a destroyer.
Plot summary
U.S. Navy Lieutenant, junior grade John F. Kennedy (Cliff Robertson) uses his family's influence to get himself assigned to the fighting in the Solomon Islands in World War II, much to the surprise of Commander C.R. Ritchie (James Gregory). He collects a crew, including Ensign Leonard J. Thom (Ty Hardin), "Bucky" Harris (Robert Blake) and Edmund Drewitch (Norman Fell), and energetically repairs the damaged PT 109.
On one mission, the PT 109 is sent to rescue a paramarine patrol trapped on an island. Kennedy successfully takes aboard the survivors, but barely gets out of range of Japanese guns before running out of fuel. The tide starts taking the boat back towards the island. In the nick of time, another PT boat arrives and tows the 109 to safety.
Another sortie is less successful. While on patrol one moonless night, a Japanese destroyer appears suddenly out of the darkness and cuts the 109 in two, killing two crewmen. Kennedy leads the survivors in swimming to a deserted island. After a few days, Kennedy encounters two natives and gives them a message carved on a coconut. Fortunately for the sailors, they take it to an Australian coastwatcher, who arranges for a rescue. Afterwards, Kennedy is eligible to transfer back to the U.S., but elects to stay in the fight.
Accuracy
In the movie, the PT 109 is reported missing and a search is started. According to National Geographic, and the original book, the boat explosion was observed from other PT boats in the vicinity and it was given up as lost. A memorial service was held at the motor torpedo boat squadron's forward operating base at Rendova while the crew was still marooned on the islands in the vicinity of Japanese-held Kolombagara Island.
Solomon Islanders Biuki Gasa and Eroni Kumana were portrayed as random natives, when in fact they were dispatched by the coastwatcher, Arthur Reginald Evans, to find them. The movie holds to the Donovan book version that Kennedy first suggested the idea of using a coconut for a message, using a knife to carve it. Gasa was later interviewed as suggesting the idea and sending Eroni to pluck a fresh coconut. The actors playing Gasa and Kumana were not credited either, though the senior native is mentioned by name when the large canoe arrives.
The scene rescuing ambushed Marines is actually covered by the chapter in the book about PT 59, which Kennedy commanded after the PT 109. It was an older model Elco PT boat that was converted to a gunboat with its torpedoes removed.
Availability
The movie is out of print on VHS although unopened copies sometimes turn up on on-line auction sites; it is not available in the United States on DVD. Video CDs meant for sale outside the US can be had online, though the quality is not as good as VHS. A comic book was created based on the movie, but with some different historical content.
Casting and President Kennedy
The White House had full approval of casting and aspects of the film. Among other actors considered for the lead were Peter Fonda who objected to having to do his screen test with an impersonation of JFK's voice, [1] Edd Byrnes (Jacqueline Kennedy's choice), Warren Beatty, and Jeffrey Hunter.[2] Kennedy selected Cliff Robertson after viewing their screen tests. Robertson met with President Kennedy who set three conditions on the film; that it be historically accurate, that profits go to the survivors of PT 109 and their families and President Kennedy had the final choice of lead actor.[3]
Kennedy also vetoed Raoul Walsh as the director of the film after screening Walsh's Marines Let's Go and not liking it.[4] Director Lewis Milestone was replaced by Leslie Martinson a prolific experienced Warner Brothers Television director.[5]
References
External links
|
Parts of the story of John F. Kennedy's PT-109 |
|
| Air and water craft |
|
|
| People |
|
|
| Places |
|
|
| Battles |
|
|
| Media |
|
|
| Museums, etc. |
|
|
