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India Press Store - Pt 109
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List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $77.77
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Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Starring: Cliff Robertson, Robert Culp, Ty Hardin, James Gregory, Grant Williams
Directed By: Leslie H. Martinson
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786300269729
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 6300269728
Label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Release Date: 1992-04-01
Running Time: 140
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1963-06-19
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: BASED ON A TRUE STORY!
Comment: PT 109 is a 1963 biographical movie which shows the events of John F. Kennedy's actions in command of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 as an officer of the United States Navy during World War II. The movie was adapted by Richard L. Breen, Vincent Flaherty and Howard Sheehan from the book PT 109: John F. Kennedy in WWII by Robert J. Donovan.
The movie stars Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin, James Gregory, Robert Culp, Robert Blake, Andrew Duggan (the uncredited narrator), Michael Pate and George Takei (uncredited as helmsman on Japanese destroyer, best known as Sulu of Star Trek). The exteriors for the movie were filmed at Little Palm Island (formerly Little Torch Key), a resort in the Florida Keys. Power and fresh water were run out to the island for the movie, allowing the resort to be built years later. The former owner was the local Monroe county sheriff.
The most dramatic special effect is what appears to be a full-size set with live actors appearing to be crushed by the bow of a destroyer.
In the movie, the PT 109 is reported missing and a search is started. According to National Geographic, and the original book, the boat explosion was observed from other PT boats in the vicinity and it was given up as lost. A memorial service was held at the motor torpedo boat squadron's forward operating base at Rendova while the crew was still marooned on the islands in the vicinity of Japanese-held Kolombagara Island.
Solomon Islanders Biuki Gasa and Eroni Kumana were portrayed as random natives, when in fact they were dispatched by the coastwatcher, Arthur Reginald Evans, to find them. The movie holds to the Donovan book version that Kennedy first suggested the idea of using a coconut for a message, using a knife to carve it. Gasa was later interviewed as suggesting the idea and sending Eroni to pluck a fresh coconut. The actors playing Gasa and Kumana were not credited either, though the senior native is mentioned by name when the large canoe arrives.
The scene rescuing ambushed Marines is actually covered by the chapter in the book about PT 59, which Kennedy commanded after the PT 109. It was an older model Elco PT boat that was converted to a gunboat with its torpedoes removed
The White House had full approval of casting and aspects of the film. Among other actors considered for the lead were Peter Fonda who objected to having to do his screen test with an impersonation of JFK's voice, [1] Edd Byrnes, Jacqueline Kennedy's choice Warren Beatty, Jeffrey Hunter, and other stars.[2] Kennedy selected Cliff Robertson after viewing their screen tests. Robertson met with President Kennedy who set three conditions on the film; that it be historically accurate, that profits go to the survivors of PT 109 and their families and President Kennedy had the final choice of actor.[3]
Kennedy also vetoed Raoul Walsh as the director of the film after screening Walsh's Marines Let's Go and not liking it.[4] Director Lewis Milestone was replaced by Leslie Martinson a prolific experienced Warner Brothers Television director
Customer Rating:
Summary: One Story of the War
Comment: This is the story of one "patrol torpedo" boat, expendable forces used to attack the enemy to do the most damage at the lowest cost. The opening scene tells how JFK wrangled a front-line combat position instead of an office job is some safe rear echelon location. There is soon a warm welcome to the front. JFK wanted to learn what they didn't teach at Harvard (like some other wealthy men). An air raid shows that danger is near. Can JFK get his boat in shape in a week? The commander is not a happy man. PT 109 needs work, and gets it to pass inspection. Its engines are old. JFK had a taste for chocolate candy.
Their first combat assignment is to help evacuate Marines from an island and provide covering fire. What if they run out of gas? Will help arrive in time? What happens if the engines fail? They get an assignment to attack a Japanese supply fleet. Their base is attacked by Jap fighters. JFK scrounged a 37 mm anti-tank gun for his boat. The boats patrol in the dark, there is radio silence. The engines are muffled. Radar picks up a boat. A Jap destroyer runs into their ship and cuts it in two! Burning gasoline lights up the scene, men are rescued and brought to the floating wreck. The loss of PT 109 is reported, no survivors seen. The survivors swam to a deserted island to avoid capture. Planks are used as flotation devices. They land safely. Can they be rescued? Can they signal a friendly ship? "Nobody is giving up!"
Will they have to swim to another island? They can't fight against overwhelming odds. They travel to another island for food and water. JFK inscribed a message on a coconut so two natives can carry a message to Rendovo. The men are becoming dispirited. Then a reply is received. Friendly natives wave at a passing Jap Zero. A rendezvous is made after firing recognition shots. JFK leads a PT boat to the island that rescues the crew. They will be sent back to the states on leave. But JFK wants another boat to continue the war.
The credits name the actors in the crew. This is a slow-paced movie, but it is based on reality rather than Hollywood drama. JFK was the first President to have naval combat experience. His assassination was never solved in a court of law. There were a lot of changes to this country since his murder. [Why is this film never shown on TV?]
Customer Rating:
Summary: Where's The DVD
Comment: Hey---those of you who are in charge: How come this here movie isn't on
DVD or blu-ray, yet? Surely would like to see it happen, soon.
thank you
Customer Rating:
Summary: PT 109
Comment: Great movie! I wish I could get a copy to play it on my DVD player, instead of having to dig out and hook up my old VCR when ever I want to watch it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Oustanding movie about fine man, and very good future President!
Comment: The absolute best performance of actor
Robertson's career. Story of young Lt.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who VOLUNTEERED
for hazardous PT boat duty in World War
II, despite his, brother and father's
previous role in Patriotic America First
Committee, that TRIED in vain to keep the
US out of World War II. Just like Pilot/
Aviator Charles Lindbergh, Jr. Kennedy
backed the Soviets down in '62 and prob-
ably kept the world from nuclear war, but
the Establishment keeps lying about alled-
ged affairs AFTER HE'S BEEN DEAD AND GONE
AND CANNOT DEFEND HIMSELF! Absolute rubbish!
The Masons, Zionists and others may hate him
but real Americans have been telling the
truth about him for years; Col. L. Fletcher
Prouty, Tom Valentine, Bo Gritz, and yes,
Rich Salzer!
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Editorial Reviews:
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John F. Kennedy lived long enough to see this Hollywood account of his Navy career and his heroism following a ruthless attack by a Japanese ship on his small patrol craft. Cliff Robertson is an amiable choice to play Kennedy, though one won't find a lot of the late president's mannerisms in his performance. The key battle sequence, which finds Kennedy and his crew bloodied and battered while trying to stay alive in shark-infested waters, makes a big impression on young viewers. --Tom Keogh
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