Directed by Sam Wood, "Navy Blue and Gold" is a pleasantly charming movie about life at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The story focuses on three first-year midshipmen with very different backgrounds (except for a common love of football) who become roommates. My favorite actor James Stewart is the very definition of decency and patriotism with his characterization of "Truck" Cross, a shy, hard-working young man who has been passionate about the Navy for virtually his whole life, serving his country on a ship before being enrolled in the Academy. Tom Brown is fine as Richard Arnold Gates, Jr., the decent son of a wealthy New York family who is sometimes teased (and hazed) because of his size. Robert Young is superb as the very cynical Roger Ash, who is not nearly as straitlaced as his two roommates and who often involves himself in minor scrapes with Navy regulations. These three very different young men become the best of friends at the Academy.
By far the best scene in "Navy Blue and Gold," and perhaps James Stewart's finest & most dramatic moment on film to date, is the scene in which Truck does a slow burn as he listens to one of his instructors relate a story about Truck's father, a former commanding officer who was dishonorably discharged from the Navy for alleged derelict of duty. Enraged, Truck rises to his feet and passionately defends his father by telling the true story. As a result of his outburst, Truck finds himself in danger of being dismissed from the Academy, and it is this climactic moment that helps to bring out the better qualities of Roger Ash. He decides to do away with his cynicism, say a heartfelt prayer for Truck, and work harder on the gridiron. At the closing of this film, when Truck has been exonerated and the Navy has defeated the Army in football, Ash still maintains his integrity by surrendering his chance to ring the victory bell to the man who he feels really won the game, the elder Captain "Skinny" Dawes (Lionel Barrymore).
"Navy Blue and Gold" is a fine and heartwarming story. Aside from the three principal young actors portraying the plebes, this film boasts excellent performances from Florence Rice, Billie Burke, Lionel Barrymore, Samuel S. Hinds, Barnett Parker, Paul Kelly, Frank Albertson, and many others. For James Stewart, "Navy Blue and Gold" was a definite step in the right direction; when the famed director Frank Capra watched Stewart's performance in this film, he immediately recognized Stewart's idealism and decency, eventually offering Stewart major parts in three of his own classic pictures: "You Can't Take It with You" (1938), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), and "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946).
By far the best scene in "Navy Blue and Gold," and perhaps James Stewart's finest & most dramatic moment on film to date, is the scene in which Truck does a slow burn as he listens to one of his instructors relate a story about Truck's father, a former commanding officer who was dishonorably discharged from the Navy for alleged derelict of duty. Enraged, Truck rises to his feet and passionately defends his father by telling the true story. As a result of his outburst, Truck finds himself in danger of being dismissed from the Academy, and it is this climactic moment that helps to bring out the better qualities of Roger Ash. He decides to do away with his cynicism, say a heartfelt prayer for Truck, and work harder on the gridiron. At the closing of this film, when Truck has been exonerated and the Navy has defeated the Army in football, Ash still maintains his integrity by surrendering his chance to ring the victory bell to the man who he feels really won the game, the elder Captain "Skinny" Dawes (Lionel Barrymore).
"Navy Blue and Gold" is a fine and heartwarming story. Aside from the three principal young actors portraying the plebes, this film boasts excellent performances from Florence Rice, Billie Burke, Lionel Barrymore, Samuel S. Hinds, Barnett Parker, Paul Kelly, Frank Albertson, and many others. For James Stewart, "Navy Blue and Gold" was a definite step in the right direction; when the famed director Frank Capra watched Stewart's performance in this film, he immediately recognized Stewart's idealism and decency, eventually offering Stewart major parts in three of his own classic pictures: "You Can't Take It with You" (1938), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), and "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946).