Destroyer 80 years old

You'll Always Remember . . . And Never Forget . . . Destroyer

Destroyer

Flagwaving story of a new American destroyer, the JOHN PAUL JONES, from the day her keel is laid, to what was very nearly her last voyage. Among the crew, is Steve Boleslavski, a shipyard welder that helped build her, who reenlists, with his old rank of Chief bosuns mate. After failing her sea trials, she is assigned to the mail run, until caught up in a disparate battle with a Japanese sub. After getting torpedoed, and on the verge of sinking, the Captain, and crew hatch a plan to try and save the ship, and destroy the sub.

Credits

Destroyer Cast

Name Character
Regis Toomey He was 45, 93 years old when he died as Lt. Cmdr. Clark
Lloyd Bridges He was 30, 85 years old when he died as 2nd Fireman (uncredited)
Milburn Stone He was 39, 75 years old when he died as Radioman (uncredited)
Robert McKenzie He was 62, 68 years old when he died as Justice of the Peace
Benson Fong He was 26, 70 years old when he died as Japanese Sonar Man (uncredited)
Glenn Ford He was 27, 90 years old when he died as Mickey Donohue
Edmund Cobb He was 51, 82 years old when he died as 1st Workman
Edgar Buchanan He was 40, 76 years old when he died as Kansus Jackson
Edward G. Robinson He was 49, 79 years old when he died as Steve Boleslavski (as Edward G.Robinson)
Curt Bois He was 42, 90 years old when he died as Yasha
Kenneth MacDonald He was 41, 70 years old when he died as Naval Officer
Bud Geary He was 45, 48 years old when he died as 2nd Ship Fitter (uncredited)
Addison Richards He was 40, 61 years old when he died as Ferguson
Eddy Waller He was 54, 88 years old when he died as Riveter (uncredited)
Edward Brophy He was 48, 65 years old when he died as Casey (as Ed Brophy)
Tris Coffin He was 34, 80 years old when he died as Doctor #1 (uncredited)
Shirley Patterson She was 20, 72 years old when she died as Bigbee's Girl (uncredited)
Virginia Sale She was 44, 93 years old when she died as Spinster
Marguerite Chapman She was 25, 81 years old when she died as Mary Boleslavski
Richard Loo He was 39, 80 years old when he died as Japanese Submarine Commander
Charles McGraw He was 29, 66 years old when he died as Assistant Chief Engineer (uncredited)
Jack Gardner He was 33, 66 years old when he died as Sailor
Dennis Moore He was 2, 18 years old when he died as Communications Officer (uncredited)
Larry Parks He was 28, 60 years old when he died as Ens. Johnson (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel He was 35, 69 years old when he died as Sailor
Mickey Rentschler He was 19, 45 years old when he died as J.V. Talker
Leo Gorcey He was 26, 51 years old when he died as Sarecky
David Holt He was 16, 76 years old when he died as Sobbing Sailor
John Tyrrell He was 42, 48 years old when he died as Marine
Mauritz Hugo He was 34, 65 years old when he died as Survivor
Eddy Chandler He was 49, 54 years old when he died as Chief Gunner's Mate
Pierre Watkin He was 53, 70 years old when he died as Admiral
Bobby Jordan He was 20, 42 years old when he died as Sobbing Sailor
George Sherwood He was 51, 90 years old when he died as Workman
Roy Brent He was 39, 75 years old when he died as Sailor
Warren Ashe as Lt. Marton
Cliff Clark He was 54, 63 years old when he died as Commandant
Lester Dorr He was 50, 87 years old when he died as 1st Ship Fitter
Stanley Brown He was 56, 1 years old when he died as Marine / Fireman
George Magrill He was 43, 52 years old when he died as Marine
Eddie Hall He was 37, now 43 years old as Austin (uncredited)
Frank Melton He was 5, 60 years old when he died as Doctor
Dorothy Vernon She was 67, 94 years old when she died as Justice of the Peace's Wife
Lynton Brent He was 46, 83 years old when he died as Doctor
Stephen Keyes He was 27, 86 years old when he died as Seaman Guard
Gertrude Messinger She was 32, 84 years old when she died as Girl
Charles Sherlock He was 1, 38 years old when he died as Chief Machinist's Mate
Charles D. Brown He was 56, 61 years old when he died as Doctor
Gene Rizzi as Survivor (uncredited)
Craig Woods He was 25, 56 years old when he died as Bigbee
Roger Clark He was 4, 58 years old when he died as Chief Engineer
Dean Benton as Moore
John Merton He was 42, 58 years old when he died as Chief Quartermaster
Al Hill He was 51, 62 years old when he died as Knife-Eating Sailor
Neil Reagan He was 34, 88 years old when he died as Lt. J.C. Randolph

Destroyer Crew

Name Department
Franz Planer as Director of Photography. He was 49 (68) years old when He died Camera
Lewis Meltzer as Screenplay. He was 32 (84) years old when He died Writing
Gene Havlick as Editor. He was 49 (65) years old when He died Editing
Borden Chase as Screenplay. He was 43 (71) years old when He died Writing
Lionel Banks as Art Direction. He was 42 (48) years old when He died Art
Frank Wead as Story. He was 47 (52) years old when He died Writing
Frank Wead as Screenplay. He was 47 (52) years old when He died Writing
William A. Seiter as Director. He was 53 (74) years old when He died Directing
Destroyer poster
Destroyer (80 years)

You'll Always Remember . . . And Never Forget . . . Destroyer

  • Release day: Thursday, August 19, 1943
  • Runtime: 99 minutes