Away All Boats (1956) - based on Kenneth M. Dodson’s 1953 novel

In late 1943, former Merchant Marine captain Dave MacDougall (George Nader) accepts a demotion to lieutenant in order to join the Navy and fight in World War II, on his new amphibious attack transport ship, the Belinda. Captain Jebediah S. Hawks (Jeff Chandler) announces their orders, transporting 1,400 soldiers to Pearl Harbor, and outlines the ship’s shortcomings, and the inexperienced soldiers and sailors. Dave notes examples of the unskilled crew, including “Sacktime“ Riley (Jarl Victor), a lazy deckhand; Lieutenant Jackson (Kendall Clark), who thinks he can arrange the gear “scientifically;“ Gilbert Hubert (George Dunn), a filthy hillbilly who loves his job mulching garbage; and the executive officer, well-to-do naval reservist Commander Quigley (Lex Barker). They set sail. Soon, the Belinda suffers its first attack by the Japanese, and the gunners miss their targets. Hawks appears coldly harsh in his reprimand, but in private, labors under the heavy burden of ensur