Nov. 25, 1964 - Opening today is “Ensign Pulver,” a sequel to the 1955 film, “Mister Roberts.” “Ensign Pulver” stars Robert Walker Jr. (right), Burl Ives, Walter Matthau (left), and Tommy Sands and features Millie Perkins, Larry Hagman, Kay Medford, Peter Marshall, Jack Nicholson, and Richard Gautier in supporting roles.
The film was directed and co-directed by Joshua Logan, who directed and co-wrote the 1948 “Mister Roberts” stage play on Broadway and who also shot scenes for the 1955 film after director John Ford fell ill.
The story of “Ensign Pulver” concerns the U.S.S. Reluctant, a cargo ship in the waning days of World War II, which is at anchor beside a tropical island. The ship’s captain is as much of a “Captain Bligh” as ever.
Several of the film’s events — such as attacking the Captain while he is watching a film and one of the sailors trying to obtain compassionate leave to deal with the funeral of his child — were taken from Thomas Heggen’s original 1946 novel Mister Roberts. The characters of Pulver (Walker Jr.), Doc (Matthau), the Captain (Ives), and several crewmen return from the first film but are played by different actors.
In the original film, Jack Lemmon won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Pulver, James Cagney played the Captain, William Powell was Doc, and Henry Fonda portrayed Mister Roberts.
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