John Brooks Top notch acting. Fonda as always who can seemingly accommodate any role, Cagney as the (symbol of) evil in the film excellent, Jack Lemon and his top seamless acting (it seems you could drop this guy anywhere, comedy drama lead role second dense script light script, he'll get it done anyhow just as well) and the rest of the cast. Top stuff.The film for entertainment value is pretty good, makes for a pretty smooth viewing but perhaps a tad long running in over 2 hours and certainly a bit linear (where other films will add intricacies and more depth to the plot...) but there are good morals to enjoy fairly well conveyed: one is karma, work towards good, quietly and without displaying your intentions, and good will come back your way; humility is a virtue; the theme of fulfillment versus fantasy; also, that one man is not merely replaceable by the next in line and can mean the world to his environment; and finally, another theme is the one of fate.Interesting film. 7.5/10.

writers_reign As someone remarked here it's not always possible to revisit a film you watched several years ago and extract the same full measure of enjoyment out of it because the alchemy of the years between is inclined to tarnish it but Mr. Roberts for the most part does retain its luminescence so that what you originally rated 10/10 has slipped to perhaps 8 or 9. Much has been made of the fact that John Ford was the original director and this is evident by the likes of Ward Bond, Harry Carey Jnr and Duke Wayne's son, Patrick in supporting roles, all three having strong connections to Ford and while they don't necessarily enhance the film neither do they impair it. It's very much an actor's movie and it's especially rewarding to see three of the finest of the Old Guard - Hank Fonda, Jimmy Cagney and Bill Powell, handing the torch on to the best of the next generation in Jack Lemon. All have - and make the best of - outstanding moments and though difficult to select one out of the four for me Bill Powell just shades it by the tiniest margin. With acting of this calibre it's immaterial who directed what segment and what really matters is what's on screen and now, thankfully, DVD.

Jackson Booth-Millard From directors John Ford (My Darling Clementine, The Quiet Man, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance), Mervyn LeRoy (Little Caesar, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang) and uncredited Joshua Logan (South Pacific, Camelot, Paint You Wagon), it was purely because I found out that one of the leading actors won the Oscar that I watched this, but I hoped it would be great too. Basically the USS Reluctant, nicknamed "The Bucket", is the World War II re-supply ship serving in the South Pacific, and working on the ship is cargo officer Lt. JG Douglas A. 'Doug' Roberts (Henry Fonda). The war is coming to an end since the Germans have signed the surrender, but in the ocean the war seems to keep going, and Roberts feels that it is passing by and he will never see any action. Wanting to feel like he is worthwhile and experience new things he constantly requests Capt. Morton (James Cagney) to be transferred to a combat ship, but the Captain knows he cannot let one of his best officers in his crew. Roberts has a strong friendship with many of the zany members, including Ens. Frank Thurlowe Pulver (Oscar winning, and BAFTA nominated Jack Lemmon) and Lt. 'Doc' (William Powell), and he also helps them cope with the Captain's very strict commands, including not letting them ashore for almost a year. Eventually Roberts does manage to persuade Capt. Morton to let the men go ashore, but in return he must carry out orders without comment or objection, and obviously he may consider a transfer. The men do think that Roberts has given in to the Captain's reign, but they do find out what he was able to do for them, and they return the favour, meaning that by the end of the film he is able to go his own way, and Pulver becomes the new pain in the Captain's neck. Also starring Betsy Palmer as Lt. Ann Girard, Ward Bond as Chief Petty Officer Dowdy, Philip Carey as Mannion and Nick Adams as Reber. In the title role Fonda is really good at being both laid back and objectionable to the thundering moments from Cagney, and of course Lemmon nearly steals the show with his fantastically Oscar winning eccentric physical and vocal laughs, I will admit there were moments where I lost track of the story, but the actors and characters were great, the Second World War setting and stuff is interesting enough, the visual and dialogue based jokes are funny, and overall it is an enjoyable comedy drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Sound. Jack Lemmon was number 43 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars. Very good!

screenman A great cast bring this unpromising idea to life. Henry Fonda does his moral-man-in-crisis routine as the titular Mr Roberts. He's the capable cargo officer on board a US naval auxiliary vessel in the Pacific during WW2. Unfortunately; he's too good. Although he's bored to hell and desperate to fight at the sharp end, his tyrannical skipper - played by James Cagney - means to keep him secure and won't endorse his transfer requests. He disavows the crew any shore leave, raising frustration and enmity aboard.Jack Lemon adds a little variety as laundry officer, Pulver. He's idle, mostly pretty spineless, and looks out for number one.The movie has no particular plot. Almost all of the drama takes place in or on the confines of their little cargo vessel. There's arguments, conflict and small victories. The story and characters seem a little inconsistent at times, but the actors themselves keep the viewer entertained.It's not a work of genius, but it's certainly entertaining. A lacklustre sequel in 1964 called 'Ensign Pulver' isn't worth the time of day.