Coast Guard (1939) User Reviews

Semper Paratus

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 13 May 2013]

Air and sea rescue is certainly covered in the film Coast Guard with buddies Randolph Scott doing the flying and Ralph Bellamy doing the sailing. They're both dedicated Coast Guard men, but they are polar opposites in personality.

Ralph Bellamy is all about the job, but that doesn't mean doesn't want to settle down one day with a wife and kids. Randolph Scott is the Coast Guard's best pilot and he knows it. That enables him to get girls of all shapes and sizes. The last thing he wants to do is settle down even though co-pilot Warren Hymer thinks he ought to slow down a bit.

Both participate in the rescue of tugboat captain Walter Connolly with Bellamy pulling him out of the water and Scott flying him to a hospital. And both fall hard for Connolly's daughter Frances Dee. But she likes the bad boy in Scott.

This was truly revolutionary casting for Scott. Over at Warner Brothers this would have been perfect Cagney/O'Brien material. Randolph Scott actually does well in a Cagney type role. His legion of fans who are used to seeing his tight lipped and taciturn hero in his westerns will be surprised at this film.

The climax is a polar rescue of a stranded whaling ship and its crew and Bellamy needs a bit of rescuing at the end himself and of course its Randolph Scott the air ace of the Coast Guard who does the job. Need I tell you who gets Frances Dee for good and all time at the end.

The sea and the polar rescue scenes are done well given the limits of the times the film was made in. And Jim and Pat could not have done the buddy roles any better at the Brothers Warner.

No standing by for action. It's here!

[mark.waltz · 6/10 · 10 May 2021]

Terrific sequences involving storms at sea with rocking boats and quaking airplanes quickly get you into this film that stars Randolph Scott and Ralph Bellamy as Coast Guard pals involved in all sorts of adventures as well as a romantic triangle. The lady is Frances Dee, granddaughter of aging officer (Walter Connelly) whom Scott and Bellamy rescued in one of those storms. Bellamy meets her first so it seems that he'll win her heart, but Scott, not really the marrying kind, is the type who steps in and wins the heart of the girl before they've committed to the other guy. Of course, Bellamy was the type who always lost the girl in the end, so it's a matter of how long it happens before Scott steps in, which doesn't even take half an hour before the wedding bells ring for at least one of the men.

1939 had dozens of classics that are still well regarded over 80 years later, so when you discover one you've never heard of from that year, it is another delightful surprise like Hollywood was grabbing ahold of the best scripts and stories and winning races with each release. This has a ton of beautifully filmed montage scenes that when mixed in with the romantic interaction between the three leads and the longer action sequences has an immediate grasp on the audience.

This B movie also succeeds due to a light hearted witty screenplay and an enthusiastic, attractive cast (which includes the comic relief of Warren Hymer), with plenty to keep the audience entertained. There's very little wasted time here, and at just over 70 minutes, you know you're getting the best that Columbia had to offer. A beautiful surviving print with sensational sound makes this seem as fresh as it was back then. As the plot develops rather fast, there's plenty of time for plot twists so you never know where it will go, and those surprises makes this a delight.

Semper Paratus...

[xerses13 · 6/10 · 13 May 2013]

The fifth (5th) service is featured in this 1939 effort from Columbia Pictures, the COAST GUARD. This is the one that is constantly on patrol in the air and/or sea to safeguard those who underestimate the dangers on the water. In war it falls under the command of the U.S.N. and has proved just as effective at deterring our enemies.

COAST GUARD features a typical love triangle featured in the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood. Used constantly in both 'A' or 'B' efforts like this. The objective, Nancy Bliss (Frances Dee) attractive Grand-Daughter of Tobias Bliss (Walter Connelly). Whose Ship is in distress and rescued by Lt. Raymond 'Ray' Dower (Ralph Bellemy). Enter Thomas 'Speed' Bradshaw (Randolf Scott) and his side-kick O'Hara (Warren Hymer). Represnting the more glamorous Air branch of the service.

Now as expected 'Ray' does not stand a chance against 'Speed', Nancy quickly setting her cap for him and succeeding in marriage. 'Speed' though cannot break old habits which leads to a estrangement. Fear not, a improbable Artic Rescue of 'Ray' allows true love to triumph in the end, with the couple reunited.

Poor Ralph Bellemy, he started off strong with RKO in the early 1930s, but even then, when it came to getting the girl he struck out. If it was not Bruce Cabot or Gary Grant it was somebody else. This was one of the last roles for Walter Connolly who a year later would die (05/28/1940). Warren Hymer's career was spiraling down and he to would go just nine years later (03/25/1948). Bellemy, Dee and Scott would continue on for another two Decades or more.

Fun for the Cast and Action Scenes

[Michael_Elliott · 23 June 2013]

Coast Guard (1939)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Typical love triangle about Coast Guard friends Thomas (Randolph Scott) and Raymond (Ralph Bellamy) who have a falling out once Ray falls in love with Nancy (Frances Dee) but of course she prefers Thomas. The two become rivals but they must put that behind them when Ray goes missing in the Alaskian wilderness. COAST GUARD follows pretty much every cliché that you'd find in this type of film but thankfully the cast is terrific and we're given some wonderful visuals as well. Again, if you've seen any love triangle picture from this era then you're not going to see anything new or original here. In fact, the entire love story plays out just as you'd expect it to but I must say that the screenplay didn't do any favors to the Nancy character. During the opening scene she's a sweetheart falling for Ray. The next scene she's a cold-hearted woman going with Thomas. Then, when Ray is in danger, she's back to the sweetheart so the screenplay would have done better to keep her at one level or another. Still, the main reason to watch this is for the performances with Scott coming across extremely fun and especially early on when he plays the womanizer. The scenes of him doing whatever it takes to flirt with some nurses was quite funny but of course he's also believable once the action starts to take place. Bellamy is reliable as always but man this guy can't catch a break with the women. Dee is also good in her supporting part as is Walter Connolly in his small role. The film also offers up a couple terrific rescue scenes. The first happens during a violent storm at sea and the second is the climax during the rescue in Alaska. Both of them are quite exciting and well-shot considering the film had a low budget.

Best of friends fall in love with the same girl.

[michaelRokeefe · 6/10 · 8 June 2015]

Edward Ludwig directs this 72 minute wartime romantic drama for Columbia Pictures. Two Coast Guard pilots fall in love with the same woman. Lt. Ray Dower(Ralph Bellamy)is steadfast, loyal and dedicated; while his best buddy Lt. Tom "Speed" Bradshaw(Randolph Scott)is a hyper show off and self declared ladies man. The lovely Nancy Bliss(Frances Dee)has the two fliers wooing her and she ends up choosing "Speed". After awhile she tires of his he-man behavior and leaves him. Trying to win her back, Bradshaw is showing off in a Navy plane and crashes...losing his wings.

When Ray is lost in the Artic, wingless "Speed" will try and redeem himself by making a daring rescue. If successful this could definitely make a stronger bond with his buddy and may even win Nancy back. COAST GUARD is well paced and watchable. Rounding out the cast are: Walter Connolly, Stanley Andrews, Warren Hymer, Robert Middlemass and Don Beddoe.

Early Edward Ludwig stuff

[searchanddestroy-1 · 3 April 2023]

This amaing little adventure movie already shows us the skills of the future director of WAKE OF THE RED WITCH, JIVARO, CARIBBEAN or FLAME OF THE ISLANDS. It is so impressive , even now in 2023, the special effects are astounding, so imagine back in 1939. It's only such a shame that the screenplay is so lousy, nearly comedy oriented, at least very light hearted. So, please, if you try this one, do it ONLY for the special effects. Forget the rest. Even Randolph Scott in his early days of career is not wirth the watch. He is like wine, the older vintage the better it is.... It is an obvious tribute to the US coast Guards.