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Stand by for Action

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During World War II, Gregg Masterman (Robert Taylor) goes from playboy to patriot when he is called for duty. As the privileged draftee swiftly ascends the ranks within the Navy, Rear Adm. Stephen Thomas (Charles Laughton) assigns him to serve under Lt. Cmdr. Martin J. Roberts (Brian Donlevy), a tough World War I veteran. Despite the extreme contrast between their military careers, Masterman and Roberts must join forces if they hope to defeat the mighty Japanese battleship headed their way.

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Stand by for Action

Audience Reviews

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Steve D @RT35616104 01/01/2024 There are better options but it isn't bad. See more Bill T @Spuzzlightyear 02/19/2023 A very.. ODD war movie about an old ship that's brought back into action and the collection of salty seamen collected to run it. It runs as a very straightforward, straight laced war movie until the half way point, until they rescue 2 women and 20 babies and THEN it becomes this weird lighthearted comedy about the babies on the war boat. It tries to veer back on course in the third act, but you can tell it's trying desperately to balance itself out (there's more sublots of a soldier returning for duty after many years, and uh. Charles Laughton! But it's all somewhat hopeless. Obvious ending here, Not worth yo.r while, See more Grant S @grantss 06/05/2010 Fine WW2 naval drama. Not entirely realistic, and a touch overly sentimental, but still good fun and well worth watching. See more Read all reviews
Stand by for Action

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Z. Leonard

Director

Robert Taylor

Lieut. Gregg Masterman

Charles Laughton

Rear Admiral Stephen Thomas

Brian Donlevy

Lieut. Cmdr. Martin J. Roberts

Walter Brennan

Chief Yeoman Henry Johnson

Marilyn Maxwell

Audrey Carr
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Stand by for Action

Stand by for Action (1942) Stand by for Action (1942) Stand by for Action (1942) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During World War II, Gregg Masterman (Robert Taylor) goes from playboy to patriot when he is called for duty. As the privileged draftee swiftly ascends the ranks within the Navy, Rear Adm. Stephen Thomas (Charles Laughton) assigns him to serve under Lt. Cmdr. Martin J. Roberts (Brian Donlevy), a tough World War I veteran. Despite the extreme contrast between their military careers, Masterman and Roberts must join forces if they hope to defeat the mighty Japanese battleship headed their way.
Director
Robert Z. Leonard
Producer
Robert Z. Leonard, Orville O. Dull
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 31, 1942, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 26, 2015
Runtime
1h 49m