August 1 - PT 109

Today’s film is a war movie with a scene that happens on August 1. Watch this motion picture tonight and enjoy.

PT 109

John F. Kennedy uses his families influence to get assigned to command of a patrol torpedo boast the PT 109. It is in poor shape, but under Kennedy’s direction, the boat is restored to fighting shape. One mission, where they sent to rescue stranded Maries almost ends in disaster as they run out of fuel, but fortunately another PT boat tows them back to base. They go out on patrol on August 1, 1943 [1:16:02 to 1:20:51]. The boat was idling on one engine so their wake could not be spotted when they were rammed by a Japanese destroyer. Kennedy, even though his back was injured got all the survivors to a nearby island deep in enemy controlled waters.  Kennedy later makes contact with natives who take him to an Australian coastwatcher and arranges a rescue. Even though now eligible to be transferred back to the USA, Kennedy elects to stay in combat.

Director - Leslie H. Martinson

Producer - Bryan Foy

Screenplay - Richard L. Breen

Released – June 19, 1963

Runtime – 2 hours 20 minutes

Starring –

Cliff Robertson as LTJG John F. Kennedy

Ty Hardin as ENS Leonard J. Thom

James Gregory as CDR C.R. Ritchie

Robert Culp as ENS George "Barney" Ross

Grant Williams as LT Alvin Cluster

Lew Gallo as Yeoman Rogers

Errol John as Benjamin Kevu

Michael Pate as Lieutenant Reginald Evans, RANVR

Robert Blake as Charles "Bucky" Harris

Biff Elliot as Edgar E. Mauer

Norman Fell as Edmund Drewitch

Joseph Gallison as Harold Marney

John Ward as John Maguire

       

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2014.