Actors - Mister Roberts

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	Actors - Mister Roberts

Mister Roberts is a Tony Award–winning play and a 1955 Academy Award–nominated film, both of which tell the story of a naval junior-grade lieutenant during World War II who stands up for his crew against the petty tyranny of the ship's commander. The film stars Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, Jack Lemmon, Betsy Palmer, Ward Bond, Philip Carey, Nick Adams, Ken Curtis, and Harry Carey, Jr. The film was adapted by Joshua Logan and Frank S. Nugent from the long-running play written by Logan and Thomas Heggen (winner of the 1948 Tony Award for Best Play), which itself was adapted from the novel by Heggen. It was directed by John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy and Joshua Logan (uncredited). Fess Parker began his show business career in the play in 1951.

The film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Sound, Recording Oscars; Jack Lemmon received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film was William Powell's last movie, although he passed away in 1984 (Powell was offered many chances to return to the screen, but refused). Fonda reprised the role he had played on Broadway. L. Ron Hubbard, during his life, claimed (without much evidence) that Mister Roberts was based on himself and his career aboard the combat support ship USS Algol. Hubbard had never served aboard Algol in a combat area, transferring to shore duty before Algol shipped for Okinawa.

Mister Roberts was followed by a film sequel, Ensign Pulver
, in 1964. The film was remade for television in 1984, and starred Robert Hays, Kevin Bacon, Charles Durning, Marilu Henner, Howard Hesseman and Joe Pantoliano. It was directed by Melvin Bernhardt. There was also a short-lived television series in 1965, featuring Roger Smith, Steve Harmon and Richard X. Slattery.

In his 1982 autobiography, My Life, Henry Fonda stated that (in his opinion) as good as the movie was, the play was even better.

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